Author Archives: Natalie Janse

Weekly Press Review – 13 April 2012

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With the amount of maritime-related stories making the news this past week, it may well be that mass media has finally noticed that we are a maritime nation. Sad, however, is that fact that most of the headlines relate to negative associations.

Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, Tina Joemat-Pettersson has once again rocked the fishing boat.  Information was leaked from a closed meeting between the minister and fisheries division staff where she allegedly said that she would take away the fishing rights of SA’s ‘Big Five’ fishing firms when they come up for review next year.  She allegedly stated that ‘white’ fishing companies needed to cede these rights to community fishermen.

These statements did nothing to please Chief executive of Feike, Shaheen Moolla, who points out that  the the big fishing companies are all black empowered, with at least 30 percent black ownership.

The interesting part of this story, however,  is that the minister apparently asked people in the meeting not to take notes or record her remarks.  Now why would she do that?

The navy also grabbed some column space this week as they hosted the Indian Oceans Naval Symposium. And the long finger of the media was not shy to point out some of their shortcomings.

At an operational cost of about R30 million per year, the submarine SAS Manthatisi has spent 18 months in service and an impressive 41 months out of service.  After questioning by IFP MP Albert Mncwango, Defense Minister Lindiwe Sisulu revealed that the vessel would be remaining on dry land for several  more months as it is awaiting a new battery to be delivered ‘later this year.’

The sub is apparently being used as a training and planning vessel in the mean time.  This seems like an extremely expensive training exercise.

Tomorrow (14 April 2012) marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic and her fateful final voyage has been on the minds of many maritime buffs this month.  It would seem that everyone has a theory as to what caused the terrible accident so many years ago, but is it not time to let her rest in peace. Even as the movie Titanic is being released in 3-D it seems that this poor ship will continue to generate interest well beyond this 100-year milestone.

Weekly Press Review – 4 April 2012

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Transnet Port Terminals (TPT) made the news this week by promising minimal disruption with the temporary shutdown of Pier 2 at the Durban container terminal(DCT) for refurbishment of berths.  Over the next 74 months, TPT plans to divert 400 000 twenty-foot equivalent units of container traffic from the DCT to the RoRo and Maydon Wharf terminals at the port.

The terminal executive at RoRo and Maydon Wharf, Zeph Ndlovu, said, ‘ TPT has put considerable effort into ensuring it can deal with the increased container demand while berths at DCT … are out of service.’

Fingers crossed that everything runs smoothly.

Things not running that smoothly however are the  government’s eight research and patrol ships, worth about R1 billion each which are lined up in False Bay awaiting an uncertain future – even as the Navy takes them into their fold, despite media scrutiny around the legalities of the Navy running civilian ships.

The next Fisheries research trip, scheduled for April is now in jeopardy.  If  fisheries management is not based on science, South Africa stands to lose its Marine Stewardship Certification for hake.  Surely this cannot be allowed to happen?

In more bizarre news some poor surfers and residents at Muizenberg were upset  after treknet fishing led to a net full of fish being pulled onto the beach at the popular Surfer’s Corner, interrupting surfing and bathing.  The surfers would like the treknetting to take place ‘further down’, while the fishermen promise that they are being considerate to the surfers.

Is it really necessary to debate who the beach belongs to when one group are trying to create a livelihood to feed their families and the other group are …..  going for a surf.  Maybe the surfers could try to ‘go further down’?

Weekly Press Review – 23 March 2012

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The DAFF tender is still firmly entrenched in the headlines of the last week. It now looks like the navy could be asked to step in and secure our waters, while the battle between DAFF, Smit Amandla Marine and Sekunjalo continues.  The Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries spokesman, Selby Bokaba, is giving nothing away, saying:  ‘I am unable to talk about the navy.  I have made it clear we are exploring various options.  Indeed there are more than two options available.’

According to Melanie Gosling, Environment writer for the Cape Times, South Africa stands to lose R1 billion and thousands of jobs within the fishing sector if the issues surrounding the tender to run the government’s fisheries vessels prevents this year’s research cruises from happening.  These vessels provide the data determining how many fish can be caught each year.

Decisions need to be made – and quickly.

Shaheen Moolla is in the press again this week responding to the opinion piece by Tina Joemat-Pettersson in the Cape Times last week.  The Minister’s feelings are certainly not spared as, once again, she is criticised for her proposed plan to move fisheries to Pretoria as well as her justification thereof.

While it is disconcerting to watch such a dismal saga unfold in the daily news – it is equally disconcerting to know that once again the maritime industry is shrouded in negative publicity when what it really needs is a massive PR boost to showcase it as the massive economic driver it actually is.  I’m not so sure that the dictum: all publicity is good publicity applies.

 

Weekly Press Review: 16 March 2012

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The Cape Times and other daily news portals have kept Minister Tina Joemat-Pettersson and her department firmly in the headlines this week.

She has been criticised for her planned relocation of the Marine and Coastal Management offices to Pretoria.  So many weighed in on the subject that the Minister herself  responded in the Cape Times offering her version of events and the ‘facts’ that support the reasoning behind the proposed move.

Me thinks she doth protest too much.

Further to the Sekunjalo tender confusion, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has turned the tables on Smit Amandla Marine,  who are now also being dragged through the mud due to accusations of conflicting interests and even possible charges of corruption that can apparently be lodged against the now non-existent Smit Pentow Marine.

It would seem that all those involved are keen only on how much mud can be slung and it is unlikely that this debacle will fade from media attention over the coming week. We look forward, however, to some real and responsible reporting from the mass media on this matter.