PORT NOLLOTH, Northern Cape — A R12 million government investment is set to restore crumbling boat-launching facilities for Northern Cape fishermen, marking a significant intervention for the coastal communities of Port Nolloth and Hondeklip Bay. After years of frustration over damaged infrastructure, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure has committed to fast-tracking both immediate repairs and long-term harbor development to support the local fishing industry.
Deputy Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Sihle Zikalala, alongside Northern Cape MEC for Roads and Public Works Bentley Vass, recently conducted an oversight visit to the two coastal communities to assess the damage and outline the path forward. The main launching quay in Port Nolloth was severely damaged by a storm approximately eight years ago, leaving the infrastructure in ruins. Similarly, fishermen in Hondeklip Bay have been battling with inadequate and damaged launching facilities for years.
Local fishermen have welcomed the renewed government attention but emphasize the urgent need for short-term resolutions. Community members have called for the immediate construction of a functional slipway and temporary accommodation at the public works-owned factory to sustain their daily livelihoods. Having heard previous unfulfilled promises, fishermen stressed that officials must now “practice what they preach” and deliver tangible, immediate results.
Outlining the department’s strategy, officials confirmed that the R12 million allocation will first be used to finalize current feasibility studies and business plans. Concurrently, the department is actively working to raise additional resources to repair the existing infrastructure.
The targeted timeline dictates that within the next 12 to 24 months, renovation and repair work must commence. This initial phase aims to ensure a safe slipway and reliable sea access so that fishermen can return to their trade freely. Looking further ahead, the government aims to begin construction on a larger, fully functional small harbor by 2028.
While this latest financial commitment signals a potential turning point for these historically neglected coastal communities, the pressure remains firmly on the government to translate these plans into on-the-ground delivery and restore the livelihoods of the Northern Cape’s fishing communities.