Criticism mounts as minister neglects fishing communities
Image: File/Independent Newspapers
THE Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) was subjected to sharp criticism from Parliament's National Council of Provinces (NCOP) over its handling of small-scale fisheries, inadequate ocean patrols, and delays in issuing fishing permits — even as it unveiled a R9 billion budget aimed at climate resilience and job creation.
Deputy Minister Narend Singh defended the Department's plans, including R2.8bn for ecosystem restoration and 70 000 new work opportunities, but the legislators slammed the lack of tangible progress for struggling coastal communities.
The Department's flagship 'Fishing for Freedom' programme, designed to empower small-scale fishers, came under fire after MPs accused officials of sidelining Parliament and failing to address grievances in Saldanha Bay.
'The Committee visited small-scale fisheries in Saldanha Bay to hear their concerns, but the Department went there without informing us,' the PA's Bino Farmer said. 'These fishers can't live and fish sustainably because they don't have rights — they're forced into poaching. The system is biased toward big business.'
Small-scale fishing cooperatives, a critical lifeline for coastal towns, remain in limbo. While the DFFE pledged support for 15 cooperatives this year (out of a five-year target of 50), MPs highlighted bureaucratic delays. The MK Party's Seeng Mokoena demanded answers: 'Why are KZN fishers waiting endlessly for permits while infrastructure crumbles?'
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The legislators blasted the Department's target of just four patrols in South Africa's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) this year, warning it leaves the country vulnerable to illegal fishing by foreign vessels.
'Four patrols? That's a joke,' asked the DA's Nicolaas Pienaar. 'Chinese trawlers are pillaging our waters, and budget constraints aren't an excuse.' The Department's own data shows a five-year goal of 20 patrols, but with only four planned for 2025/26, critics say enforcement is critically underfunded.
Despite the DFFE's pledge to create nearly 70 000 jobs through environmental programmes, MPs questioned the feasibility. 'How many jobs have actually been created so far?' wondered the DA's Sonja Boshoff, referencing the Department's 2030 target of 1 million jobs.
A R100 million youth graduate programme aims to place 4 000 young people in environmental roles, but the FF+'s Hendrik Van den Berg remained sceptical: 'Are these just temporary EPWP jobs, or real, sustainable employment?'
The Department's Climate Change Act implementation faces funding shortfalls, while reliance on international donors raises concerns. Deputy Minister Singh admitted: 'Funding is a challenge,' but highlighted expected support from Germany, Italy, and the Global Environment Facility after the US withdrawal.
However, the EFF's Meisie Kennedy warned: 'Most municipalities can't manage waste. What's the plan to stop hazardous pollution?' The Department's own targets include 29 municipal clean-up campaigns and 54 000 tons of waste tires processed, but oversight remains weak.
Meanwhile, plans to add 100 000 hectares to conservation estates and publish an Elephant Conservation Strategy were met with cautious optimism.
In response, Deputy Minister Singh acknowledged frustrations but blamed scheduling conflicts for poor communication with Parliament. 'We'll engage directly with Saldanha Bay's fishers,' he said, adding that recruiting youth into cooperatives was a priority.
On climate funding, he confirmed R45 million was allocated for G20 meetings, crucial for securing international investment. 'The people we meet at the G20 are the movers and shakers,' he said.
With a clean audit but mounting scrutiny, the DFFE's five-year plan hinges on execution. As Farmer said: 'Officials are the problem.' For now, South Africa's oceans, fisheries, and environmental future hang in the balance, caught between bold promises and the harsh reality of implementation failures. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
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Deputy Minister Narend Singh defended the Department's plans, including R2.8bn for ecosystem restoration and 70 000 new work opportunities, but the legislators slammed the lack of tangible progress for struggling coastal communities. Image: File/Independent Newspapers THE Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) was subjected to sharp criticism from Parliament's National Council of Provinces (NCOP) over its handling of small-scale fisheries, inadequate ocean patrols, and delays in issuing fishing permits — even as it unveiled a R9 billion budget aimed at climate resilience and job creation. Deputy Minister Narend Singh defended the Department's plans, including R2.8bn for ecosystem restoration and 70 000 new work opportunities, but the legislators slammed the lack of tangible progress for struggling coastal communities. The Department's flagship 'Fishing for Freedom' programme, designed to empower small-scale fishers, came under fire after MPs accused officials of sidelining Parliament and failing to address grievances in Saldanha Bay. 'The Committee visited small-scale fisheries in Saldanha Bay to hear their concerns, but the Department went there without informing us,' the PA's Bino Farmer said. 'These fishers can't live and fish sustainably because they don't have rights — they're forced into poaching. The system is biased toward big business.' Small-scale fishing cooperatives, a critical lifeline for coastal towns, remain in limbo. While the DFFE pledged support for 15 cooperatives this year (out of a five-year target of 50), MPs highlighted bureaucratic delays. The MK Party's Seeng Mokoena demanded answers: 'Why are KZN fishers waiting endlessly for permits while infrastructure crumbles?' Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The legislators blasted the Department's target of just four patrols in South Africa's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) this year, warning it leaves the country vulnerable to illegal fishing by foreign vessels. 'Four patrols? That's a joke,' asked the DA's Nicolaas Pienaar. 'Chinese trawlers are pillaging our waters, and budget constraints aren't an excuse.' The Department's own data shows a five-year goal of 20 patrols, but with only four planned for 2025/26, critics say enforcement is critically underfunded. Despite the DFFE's pledge to create nearly 70 000 jobs through environmental programmes, MPs questioned the feasibility. 'How many jobs have actually been created so far?' wondered the DA's Sonja Boshoff, referencing the Department's 2030 target of 1 million jobs. A R100 million youth graduate programme aims to place 4 000 young people in environmental roles, but the FF+'s Hendrik Van den Berg remained sceptical: 'Are these just temporary EPWP jobs, or real, sustainable employment?' The Department's Climate Change Act implementation faces funding shortfalls, while reliance on international donors raises concerns. Deputy Minister Singh admitted: 'Funding is a challenge,' but highlighted expected support from Germany, Italy, and the Global Environment Facility after the US withdrawal. However, the EFF's Meisie Kennedy warned: 'Most municipalities can't manage waste. What's the plan to stop hazardous pollution?' The Department's own targets include 29 municipal clean-up campaigns and 54 000 tons of waste tires processed, but oversight remains weak. Meanwhile, plans to add 100 000 hectares to conservation estates and publish an Elephant Conservation Strategy were met with cautious optimism. In response, Deputy Minister Singh acknowledged frustrations but blamed scheduling conflicts for poor communication with Parliament. 'We'll engage directly with Saldanha Bay's fishers,' he said, adding that recruiting youth into cooperatives was a priority. On climate funding, he confirmed R45 million was allocated for G20 meetings, crucial for securing international investment. 'The people we meet at the G20 are the movers and shakers,' he said. With a clean audit but mounting scrutiny, the DFFE's five-year plan hinges on execution. As Farmer said: 'Officials are the problem.' For now, South Africa's oceans, fisheries, and environmental future hang in the balance, caught between bold promises and the harsh reality of implementation failures. Get the real story on the go: Follow the Sunday Independent on WhatsApp.
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