Patricia de Lille, the Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, will tour the recently refurbished Saldanha Habour today.
The improvements to the port are part of a large rehabilitation effort by the Western Cape Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) for 13 proclaimed fishing harbours. The improvements, which cost R501 million, were finished in March of this year.
The Small Harbours Repairs and Maintenance Program aims to improve the efficiency of the harbours in order to boost the local economy and better serve the local fishermen, tenants, and communities.
The work included the removal of sunken vessels, dredging of harbour basins, slipway repairs, shore crane replacements, security, civil, and electrical infrastructure upgrades, and security, civil, and electrical infrastructure upgrades at all 13 proclaimed fishing harbours.
To far, the project has produced 925 employment and provided over R116 million in funding to local SMMEs.
The majority of the SMMEs are Level 1/2 BBBEE businesses, and they are dispersed across the country, from Lamberts Bay on the upper West Coast to Stillbaai Harbour on the East Coast, covering all 13 harbours.
The project intends to increase investor trust in the harbours, and many existing tenants are wanting to expand their operations. There is also a lot of interest from potential investors, which will help the department attract private sector investment and generate revenue for the state.
The repair and maintenance program’s economic spillovers will eventually allow for more job creation and local economic growth around the Western Cape’s 13 designated fishing harbors.
Work on the slipway infrastructure at Saldanha Harbour, civil infrastructure, and electrical infrastructure work at both harbours were completed. A total of R98.6 million was spent on infrastructure upgrades at the two sites.
The principal contractors for the Saldanha Bay Harbour appointed SMMEs from the local community. The total value of work contracted to SMMEs was over R27 million.
Work possibilities for the project in Saldanha Bay benefited a total of 145 local residents.
According to the agency, this project exemplifies the importance of infrastructure development in boosting economic activity and creating much-needed jobs for individuals.
Minister de Lille and Deputy Minister Noxolo Kiviet will pay a visit to the newly completed project to showcase the numerous tasks undertaken.