Port shepstone: Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala will on Friday lead a stakeholder consultation session in Port Shepstone, KwaZulu-Natal, to discuss the development of a small harbour in the area. The South Coast has been identified as one of the areas in which a small craft harbour can be constructed, to boost the ocean economy in Ugu District, and also create investment opportunities and employment.

According to South African Government News Agency, this forms part of coastal government initiatives including the District Development Model (DDM), Eastern Seaboard Development (ESD), N2 Corridor and Operation Phakisa: Oceans Economy. The goal is to develop a project pipeline for new harbour and coastal infrastructure development along the coastline of South Africa. This marks one of the first small harbour development initiatives outside the Western Cape since the dawn of democracy.

The harbours identified for development include Port Shepstone in KwaZulu-Natal, Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape, and Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape. The initiative is part of government’s efforts to unlock the potential of the Ocean Economy, create job opportunities, and stimulate local economic growth within coastal communities.