A picture of encouraging economic growth focused on the extraction of natural resources, job-creation and profit was presented by the provincial government — along with warnings of climate collapse and a disastrous build-up of trash across the province.
This was contained in the 29-page policy and budget speech tabled in Bhisho last week by Eastern Cape economic development, environmental affairs and tourism (Dedeat) MEC Nonkqubela Pieters.
A number of her statements and claims were questioned by local environment and climate interest group Green Ripple (see adjacent report).
Reporting the positives, Pieters said government tourism projects were completed, cruise ship tourism was booming, new boat launch sites were planned including “two small harbours” to help small fishing co-ops access the sea, rhino poaching had declined and seven vacant Green Scorpion posts had been filled.
However, she said climate change was ravaging the province and the municipal solid waste crisis was growing, contributing to unpleasant aesthetics, climate change, pollution and biodiversity loss. Cycad poaching was on the rise.
She said the estuary management plans were being developed and facilitated by Dedeat “in response to the concerning degradation and state of our estuaries due number of factors, including coastal inundation and sea level rise, coastal flooding and infrastructure damages”.
“The strong winds in our coastline have caused noticeable damage through loss of beaches that are transformed from erosion and now are inaccessible and unsafe.
“Tourism coastal infrastructure projects at Cape Morgan, Hluleka, Mkhambathi, Silaka and Dwesa nature reserves have been completed, enhancing visitor experiences and supporting our coastal tourism strategy.”
She said the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency (ECPTA) was forging co-management agreements on fisheries management with communities, NGOs and the department of forestry, fisheries and environment to “unlock benefits resulting from fish spillovers from the marine protected areas”.
Six cruise ships docking in East London in 2024, and four the previous year, had caused “remarkable growth” in the tourism sector and she expected Buffalo City to enjoy a “R15m to R18m” economic benefit in the coming financial year.
A total of 37 cruise ships docked in Nelson Mandela Bay in 2023/2024 and up to 45 were expected, bringing a R81.5m expected benefit.
Pieters said Buffalo City offered “world-class safari experiences and rich cultural heritage”, including “authentic Xhosa cultural encounters and historic landmarks”.
The department had gazetted and published a list of 51 boat launch sites for public comment to help small-scale fishermen access the coastline, and environmental management plans were being drafted under the “guidance” of Dedeat in terms of the Integrated Coast Management Act (ICM).
Dedeat was “reviewing all the feedback” ahead of publishing the final list, she said.
“The public commenting period has now concluded, she said.
“Notably, two of these sites — Hamburg and Mzamba — have been identified as potential locations for small harbour development,” she said.
The launch sites were also important for “shark cage diving, scuba diving and film production related to marine tourism operations”.
She said Dedeat’s Tsweleni Rock Lobster [crayfish] Project, “a transformative initiative”, had created seven small-scale fishing co-operatives in Tsweleni Village, Port St Johns, who would “be strengthening the rock lobster industry and driving sustainable economic growth in their communities”.
Wild Coast crayfish would be bought by “aggregator Rekaaseed” who would then supply the market. This was working in other provinces.
Each co-op had received R400,000, R2.8m in total, to acquire the previously owned Wild Coast Abalone’s specialised “lobster holding” facility for R1.7m.
Money would also be spent on business support systems. The seven co-ops had also bought a second facility.
The sale of the lobsters held in “sea water-filled pools that replicate natural conditions” ensured that the lobsters were “alive and in optimal condition before being sold and transported”.
This operation strengthened market positioning, and increased product quality and market competitiveness, Pieters said.
She said the development estuary management plans were being facilitated by Dedeat “in response to the concerning degradation and state of our estuaries due number of factors, including coastal inundation and sea level rise, coastal flooding and infrastructure damages”.
“The strong winds on our coastline have caused noticeable damage through loss of beaches that are transformed from erosion and now are inaccessible and unsafe.”
She said the Kowie River environmental implementation plan was progressing well and the Tsholomnqa environmental management plan was also at the final stages. And there were published research findings that pointed to a rediscovery of “Coelacanth”.
She said Dedeat was reviewing the Coastal Management Programme to “guide sustainable use of our coastal resources while providing livelihoods”, and sector plans would be aligned with Operation Phakisa.
Pieters said the solid waste crisis required systemic changes, and government, industry and civil society were needed to safeguard the environment and human health.
In the 2023/2024 year, “yellow fleet” (compactor trucks and other machinery) were supplied to six municipalities — Walter Sisulu, Makana, Senqu LM, KSD, Great Kei and Port St Johns, and were making a “significant impact”.
In March, Elundini municipality received a compactor truck and Ntabankulu and Raymond Mhlaba municipalities were “awaiting delivery of their yellow fleet in the near future”.
She said the fleet would be used to clear illegal dumping hotspots.
She said Dedeat had “finalised 100% of all environmental impact assessment (EIA) applications” and this would trend would continue “to limit illegal developments and respond to climate change effects”.
She said the Green Scorpions had joined other law enforcement agencies to effectively combat environmental crime; there was still a problem with syndicates poaching cycads and other protected plants.
Eight joint law enforcement operations were conducted along the province’s vast coastline through Operation Phakisa’s Initiative 5.
This was “helping to curb unlawful developments, deforestation, marine resource exploitation, and illegal sand mining”, Pieters said.
“Our enforcement efforts have yielded significant results, with several successful prosecutions resulting in substantial fines and imprisonment terms for offenders.”
The department recovered more than 270 stolen cycads and, seven people in a suspected syndicate had been arrested. Jail sentences of up to 13 years were handed down.
The Green Scorpions would be inspecting 90 facilities with significant environmental impact for compliance this year.
The filling of the seven posts had strengthened the department’s capacity to protect natural heritage.
She said the threat of climate change to the province was growing.
A comprehensive environmental protection and climate resilience framework had been developed which integrated environmental management, biodiversity conservation, climate change adaptation and mitigation, and sustainable resource management.
Climate change vulnerability assessments had been conducted for all districts and had “informed the development of district-level adaptation plans” which identified key sectors “at risk from climate change effects and outlined specific interventions to build resilience”, the MEC said.
Daily Dispatch
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