Noseweek Issue #239, 1st September 2019 By Susan Puren
Mossel Bay's economy will soon receive a major boost if the establishment of a fishmeal and fish oil plant gets the green light from the authorities. Afro Fishing, a local sardine-canning fishery, has raised foreign capital of nearly R350 million to expand its operations in the port. It is planning to process thousands of tons of pelagic fish species such as anchovies and red-eye herring at the plant and will provide an additional 200 people with seasonal work.
However, not everyone is excited about the project and about 420 residents have signed an online petition to stop the factory. Hundreds of people also registered as interested parties; they want to know what impact the factory will have on the scenic seaside town on the Garden Route and whether a stench will permanently hang over the town?
Afro Fishing Managing Director, Deon van Zyl, says the plant is applying for authorization to build a state-of-the-art plant that will use the best proven practices and technology available to combat the odor caused by fishmeal factories.
According to an air quality impact study conducted last year for the proposed project, a so-called wet scrubber will prevent unpleasant odors from being released into the atmosphere. According to the study re-generative thermal oxidation technology (RTO) will be used in addition. It is already being applied abroad and the Mossel Bay plant will be the first in South Africa to use it. A team involved in the planned project recently visited a fishmeal factory in Peniche, Portugal where RTO is used and is full of praise for the technology.
However, the vast majority of Mossel Bay's residents are still concerned that the town will follow the same path as Hout Bay and Gansbaai. In Hout Bay, there has recently been a flurry of complaints about the rotten smell coming from the local fishmeal factory and research is now even being done on the impact that bad smells can have on human health. In Gansbaai, the smell became so bad that a few years ago the fishmeal factory stopped working during holiday periods because the smell had a negative impact on tourist numbers.
The Mossel Bay community also fears that the factory is the precursor to the establishment of a fish farm or so-called aquaculture, such as those now envisaged for the West Coast. Fish farms can pose serious environmental risks and are also difficult to sustain. The fish that are kept in the unnatural conditions are fed fishmeal and with the factory in the harbor, aquaculture may now be a step closer.
The editor of the online news platform Mosselbayontheline, Elsa Wessels, says in South Africa, as in other African countries, the problems are worse because the relevant authorities rarely apply and enforce the necessary measures and legislation on water, air and environmental pollution.
"Will never-ending court cases await Mossel Bay residents, as is now the case in Saldanha Bay? And who's going to see that fish quotas are maintained and the right fish species are caught?” These are some of the questions that Wessels recently asked her readers.
Afro Fishing has existed since 2007 but changed owners last year. Records with the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPROZA) show that five of Afro Fishing's directors resigned in 2018. Shamera Daniels, a member of the Western Cape's sea fisheries industry, is still on the board with Johannes Breed the only new director appointed.
The 37-year-old Breed, a chartered accountant by profession, has served on the boards of eight South African companies in the fishing industry since last year. According to the online Fish Information Service (FIS), Breed is also the managing director of the Angolan company African Selection Trust (AST). AST's website says the company's vision is to restore existing fish factories and obtain maximum production that will bring employment and food security to Angola.
AST has been spreading its wings in Southern Africa since 2017 and owns a 60% stake in the Namibian company Seaflower Pelagic Processing (Pty) Ltd. Namibian state-owned Fishcor owns the other 40%. According to the Namibian daily, The Namibian, Breed, the economist Adriaan Louw and lawyer Maren de Klerk, represent AST on Seaflower Pelagic's board.
In 2017, the amaBhungane Center for Investigative Journalism reported that the Namibian fishing industry was outraged because an international interest group, referring to AST, benefited from the allocation of a huge fishing quota to the state-controlled Fishcor. According to the Daily Maverick, the quota comprises 50 metric tons of mackerel per year for 15 years with an estimated value of R120 million per year.
At the time, it was said that at least five Namibian companies could qualify as partners for Fishcor, but were overlooked. At least one, Bidvest Namibia, had to stop its operations in the meantime and about 1 200 people lost their jobs. Seaflower Pelagic has just commissioned a fish factory of nearly R540 million in Walvis Bay. The plant can process as many as 600 tons of mackerel per day.
If Johannes Breed is involved in AST's operations in both Angola and Namibia, then the logical question to ask is whether AST is also the investor behind the R350 million injection in Mossel Bay's Afro Fishing? What is AST's share in the other local fishing companies where Breed also serves on the boards? And what does all this mean for the local fishing industry?
Afro Fishing Managing Director, Deon van Zyl, denies that the company is a subsidiary of AST and was only prepared to say that the money for the Mossel Bay fishmeal factory is a privately acquired investment from abroad.
Noseweek’s research shows that Norfund, the Norwegian Investment Fund for Developing Countries, started a private equity fund in Angola in 2010 and that several European banks and development funds have since joined Norfund. Angola Capital Partners (ACP) manages the fund. Its website is referring to six elected Angolan companies, including the African Selection Trust, in which billions have been invested for expansion over the last few years.
In Angola, it has brought progress for communities by creating jobs and empowering the local population. But in Namibia, more than a thousand people have reportedly lost their jobs, newspaper reports said.
The planned fishmeal and oil production is intended exclusively for the export market where it is used as a component of animal feed. About four kilograms of fish are needed to produce one kilogram of fishmeal. This means fish that could feed the local population is being exported to feed animals in other countries and their meat will then be imported as a source of protein for the local population. The cannery is currently supplying tinned fish to school feeding programs in in South Africa.
It's actually ironic how the fishing industry works because Afro Fishing's existing canning plant has imported thousands of tons of frozen sardines from Morocco since 2016 to still meet the local market demand after quotas were cut some time ago. This was a direct result of the drastic reduction in the total allowable catch (TAC) for sardines issued by the department of Forestry and Fisheries from 90 000 tons in 2014 to 23 964 tons in 2017.
School feeding scheme loses out as processing plant switches to importing pilchards and sardines for animal feed.
Van Zyl says Afro Fishing does not have fishing quotas itself but WILL buy pelagic fish from companies that do have rights.
But what about Mossel Bay residents’ fears about fish farms in the sea and on land and the environmental problems that can come with it?
Experts agree that the chances are slim that Afro Fishing will also start a fishing farm because fishmeal and fish oil are already in high demand worldwide and are getting top prices.
Yet it is not too far-fetched to believe that aquaculture may well be on its way to Mossel Bay. Johannes Breed's father, Jannie, was for many years the managing director of Ridge Solutions Aquaculture in Angola, where shrimp were widely grown for the export market. Then it has also been said that Mossel Bay is regarded as the most suitable place in South Africa to start a fish farm where Yellowtail can be farmed. And just last year there was a controversial briefing on aquaculture hosted by the Mossel Bay Municipality.
The planned developments may create jobs and give the Mossel Bay economy a huge boost, but at what cost?
Norfund is Norway’s Development Finance Institution that was founded in1997 by the Norwegian Government. Its mandate is to support the building of sustainable businesses in poor countries and contribute to economic and social development. The fund is an active strategic minority investor that is wholly owned and funded by the Norwegian Government.
At the end of 2018 Norfund’s committed portfolio was USD 2,6 billion and included more than 900 companies. Its strategy is to invest in sectors and countries where it can have the greatest impact, where the private sector is weak and access to capital scarce. The priority geographical areas are primarily sub-Saharan Africa.
Norfund invest in three sectors namely clean energy, financial institutions and Food and Agri-business.
In South Africa it has invested in the Bronkhorstspruit Biogas Plant where electricity is produced from manure. Bio2Watt is the first commercially viable biogas organic waste project in South Africa and is located on the premises of one of the largest cattle feedlots and an agricultural stronghold in Gauteng.
Three years (including a lengthy and costly legal battle) after the Mossel Bay Yacht & Boat Club (MBYBC) lost its annual lease agreement with Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA) to Mossel Bay Waterfront Pty Ltd in October 2016, the dust has still not settled on this coveted landmark.
The new lessee, a Mossel Bay-based, woman-owned micro-enterprise, officially took over the lease in February 2019 and huge expectations were created about the premises being transformed into an exciting and inclusive tourism hub with a top-notch restaurant sporting an extended deck, and a festive flea market vibe all around.
However, very few of the predicted enhancements and activities materialised since February. When the popular annual Mossel Bay Yacht Race from Simons Town was cancelled this year, and the Mossel Bay Skipper Foundation had to store their expensive vessels in an open field behind Santos Express, we questioned TNPA regarding their lack of support for sailing, as well as persistent rumours of financial problems and non-payment by the lessee.
TNPA immediately responded to the query with a strong-worded media release which we published with our other news on our Facebook page. (Scroll down).
This week, the Mossel Bay Yacht & Boat Club, in turn, responded to TNPA's media release. We publish both media statements as is, as well as a letter on the same issues that was published in the Mossel Bay Advertiser.
MOSSEL BAY YACHT AND BOAT CLUB - MOSSELBAAI SEILJAG EN BOOT KLUB Mossel Bay 6500 Mosselbaai 6500 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.http://www.mbybc.co.za
The Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club (MBYBC) wish to respond as follow on the media statement of TNPA as published in Mosselbayontheline on 7 November 2019:
The MBYBC does not intend to get involved in a war of words, but unfortunately, are forced to answer on some of the allegations as made by TNPA.
Over a period of 63 years, MBYBC members have developed the land on which the MBYBC were situated, which initially was just a little piece of rocky shoreline.
The infrastructure associated with the Club and the premises have over time been transformed and routine maintenance has ensured that an asset of real value has been made available to a wide spectrum of the Mossel Bay inhabitants and the valuable holiday visitors.
These developments were entirely funded by contributions and subscriptions from the members. This includes the fifty walks on moorings that were built inside the harbour walls. When the MBYBC were forced to leave the premises at the end of January 2019, they were also forced to leave behind a fully developed Clubhouse, Braai area, slipway, parking area reclaimed from the sea and other assets, the replacement value which is worth well in excess of Ten million Rand and without receiving ANY compensation from TNPA.
Despite being a registered Public benefit and Non-Profit organization, the MBYBC had to pay commercial monthly rental rates, eventually amounting to R125,000.00 per month. This was done without missing a single payment in 63 years! The lease agreement stipulated that the MBYBC had to remove all plant & machinery as well as freestanding items and vacate the grounds in a clean condition at the termination of the lease. This was indeed done by MBYBC.
All damage that resulted from such removal was repaired & painted before the hand-over inspection took place. Port Security was on-site during this removal process and there were no reports of vandalism then or when the keys were handed over to the Port Officials.
After the premises were vacated, it became clear that TNPA was not happy with the fact that the MBYBC rightfully removed their MOVABLE assets (eg fridges, bar counter etc). They claimed these as they did all other improvements to the premises.
The National Port Authorities acted irrationally in allowing an entity to occupy State-owned property without a signed lease agreement, paying the necessary deposits and rental !
The Port & Property Manager should accept responsibility for this instead of blaming an organization that paid it's dues and served the Community with distinction for many years. It must be mentioned that the basis of the MBYBC's review to court was indeed the ability of the competitor company to pay the hefty monthly rent.
It is significant that no rent has been paid to date - and TNPA states that as yet no rental agreement has been signed. If the property was in such bad shape, it raises the question how it is possible that the new tenant could start trading virtually from day one after occupying the premises and generating significant income to this day.
Liquor and food are sold, portions of the property are sublet, membership, slipway & mooring fees are charged and the mooring rights are sold - all of this income being pocketed without paying any rent.
It is unheard of to be granted beneficial occupation for nearly a year while Government and the Taxpayer are losing out on millions of rand in rental income. We trust this clarifies the unfounded allegations made by TNPA which are rejected.
Best regards from the Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club!
The MBYBC team.
MEDIA STATEMENT
TNPA refutes rumours about Mossel Bay Waterfront
[Mossel Bay, South Africa, 6 November 2019]
Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Port of Mossel Bay places on record that there is nothing untoward about the status of its lease relationship with the Mossel Bay Waterfront Company. The current rumours brought to our attention are purely malicious.
The previous lease holder’s objections were heard before two courts of law, both of which ruled in favour of TNPA as the lessor.
TNPA took over the property in February 2019. At this time, it was discovered that the premises were in a poor state of maintenance and had been vandalised, including the removal of immovable furniture and building structures either during or immediately after the previous tenant’s departure.
The premises were in a dire state and unsuitable for occupation or lease due to poor maintenance and a damaged, non-compliant electrical system. The new occupant was therefore allowed a Beneficial Occupation to allow him time to fit out, refurbish and ready the premises. This is well within the parameters of TNPA’s Real Estate Management Policy and lease manual. Both the new tenant and TNPA have invested significantly to refurbish the building and are presently in the process of finalising the repairs and the lease agreement. The tenant will be expected to pay a deposit and rent, once the agreement has been signed between the two parties.
The new lessee was awarded this lease because of its strong business model that sets out to provide all members of society from all walks of life with an equal opportunity to participate in port activities – not merely an elite few. There have been several events and angling competitions hosted by the occupant, while water sports such as boating, sailing and scuba diving are all on offer from the premises. The premises is also now a SAMSA approved training centre offering several maritime courses never before offered in Mossel Bay. With the property now open to the general public, there has been significant growth as tourists are now able to enjoy virtually unrestricted use of the facilities.
The facilities have been upgraded, including the addition of a kiosk offering take-away meals for beach visitors. A one-stop shop will be opening at the end of November offering all marine users equipment and general goods for fishing and sailing trips.
The sailing community is still able to use these premises for sailing competitions. Sailing remains a big priority for Transnet National Ports Authority and the Mossel Bay Waterfront and discussions are well underway to start a sailing school early in the new year. Sea Cadets still use the premises and the Mossel Bay Waterfront intends placing some of these cadets on courses such as skippers, radio licence, first aid and pre-sea etc.
There are over 200 boats registered with Mossel Bay Waterfront as a launching facility and for the first time, there is now a tractor service available.
The Mossel Bay Waterfront has over 250 members who get to use all the facilities including a members’ bar, while the public bar and restaurant ensure unrestricted access for the general public at all times. It is indeed unfortunate that a campaign is underway to discredit the Port’s management and the new tenant while the entity is still newly established and already making a positive contribution in our community.
ENDS
Letter in Mossel Bay Advertiser on 7 November 2019:
Waterfront Company has never paid rent
Concerned businessman, writes:
In connection with the old yacht club premises in Mossel Bay, it came to my attention that the new tenant, the Mossel Bay Waterfront Company, of the premises, has since it moved in, never paid rent to Transnet National Ports Authority.
The contract was awarded to The Mossel Bay Waterfront Company after a tender process, whereafter the previous paid-up tenant, the Mossel Bay Yacht Club, was forced to move out.
The Mossel Bay Waterfront Company has been occupying the premises since February 2019 without paying rent.
This does not seem right as the property belongs to TNPA but it is also in the interest of the public as it's government property. In this case it is very unfair that TNPA is wasting the taxpayers' money by not collecting the rightful rent which was previously paid in full by the previous tenant. The lack of management by TNPA is starting to become obvious and cumbersome and one wouldn't want to put TNPA in a bad light because of this but its opinion in this regard will be appreciated.
Usually a tenant not paying the rent would have been evicted from a TNPA premises by now. This is a business premises after all. Money must matter. Otherwise, the old yacht club wouldn't have been forced to leave for R200 more rent on top of an already very high monthly rental.
This is how we reported on the planned grand opening on 16 April 2019:
Die ou Mosselbaai Boot- en Seiljagklub - nou die Mossel Bay Waterfront - is besig om 'n gedaanteverwisseling te ondergaan wat op 16 April amptelik ingewy gaan word. Albe Durand (regs) direkteur van die maatskappy Mossel Bay Waterfront is ná 'n duur en uitgerekte hofgeding van sowat R3 miljoen wat hy en Transnet met regskoste teen die bootklub gewen het, vuur en vlam om die perseel te omskep in 'n gesellige en toeganklike eet- en kuierplek vir alle Mosselbaaiers, en wat toerisme bevorder as deel van die nuwe waterfrontontwikkeling. Hier is hy en Greg Aberdeen, opsigter en "jetty-skipper", voor die kiosk-deel wat reeds op 16 April ingewy gaan word. Hulle is tans besig met groot opknappingswerk en 'n restaurant op die boonste verdieping word vir einde Mei beplan.
Hope, concern over multi-million rand Mossel Bay Waterfront development
30 September 2018
While huge plans for the multi-million rand harbour development in Mossel Bay are enthusiastically announced by the stakeholders and port authority, locals and small business owners are hovering on the cusp between cautious optimism and concern - especially since the public and small business owners have thus far been excluded from all discussions and stakeholder meetings. Read more: http://www.mosselbayontheline.co.za/index.php/mossel-bay-harbour
Mossel Bay Yacht & Boat Club must vacate premises
27 November 2018
Transnet National Ports Authority’s (TNPA) Port of Mossel Bay has welcomed the judgment by the Supreme Court of Appeal to dismiss with costs an appeal by the Mossel Bay Yacht and Boat Club (MBYBC) against the judgments handed down by the Western Cape High Court in favour of TNPA on two occasions, in the MBYBC’s Review Application.
Dit was weer twee weggesteekte kennisgewinkies agter in die plaaslike koerant (wat MIN mense raakgesien het) wat die potensiaal bevat om die karakter en seelewe van Mosselbaai onherroepelik te verander . . .
Die eerste was onderstaande kennisgewing van 'n werkwinkel en inligtingsessie oor die nuwe, hersiene riglyne van die Akwakultuur Ontwikkelings- en Bevorderingsprogram (ADEP) wat op 5 November in die D'Almeida Gemeenskapsaal aangebied is. Die departement van handel en nywerheid (dti) wil glo in samewerking met die departement van landbou, bosbou en vissery (DAFF) investering stimuleer deur lewensvatbare ondernemings in die akwakultuurbedryf finansieel te ondersteun.
Ons wag nog op terugvoering oor hoeveel mense dié kennisgewing raakgesien en die vergadering bygewoon het . . . en wat daaruit voortgevloei het.
Die tweede kennisgewing was dié van die omgewingskonsultant Melissa Mackay van Cape EAPrac oor die openbaredeelnameproses rakende Afro Fishing se omstrede aansoek om 'n multi-miljoenrand vismeel en -olieverwerkingsaanleg by sy bestaande sardyninmaakfabriek op Kaai 1 te bedryf.
Dié aansoek van Afro Fishing is in Februarie vanjaar ook in 'n weggesteekte kennisgewinkie aangekondig en het heftige publieke reaksie en teenkanting ontlok weens die onhoudbare reuk- en ander besoedeling wat dit dekades lank al elders in die land veroorsaak. (Foto onder). Die spertyd om as belanghebbende partye te registreer en skriftelike besware/kommentaar aan te teken, was binne 'n maand sedert die plasing van die kennisgewing op 22 Februarie 2019.
Die grootste publieke besware was oor die reuk-, water- en lugbesoedeling wat kenmerkend van só 'n aanleg is, asook die impak daarvan op die marienevoedselketting, toerisme en die infrastruktuur van die dorp betreffende padverkeer, waternood en afvalbestuur. 'n Aanlyn-petisie met oor die 400 handtekeninge is ook binne die spertyd gestuur.
Sedertdien is geen terugvoering ontvang of 'n woord gerep nie - tot verlede Vrydag se kennisgewing waarvolgens belanghebbendes voor op op Donderdag 12 Desember 2019 skriftelike terugvoer moet gee oor die konsep-verslag.
'n Inligtingsessie en vergadering sal ook op 20 November vanaf 16:00 in die Mosselbaai-stadsaal gehou word.
Beide kennisgewings laat egter die gevaarligte flikker - nie net oor die ondeursigtigheid van die onderskeie owerhede en besluitnemers se prosesse nie, maar ook oor die potensieel verwoestende impak wat albei industrieë op Mosselbaai se marienelewe, toerisme en infrastruktuur kan hê as gekyk word na wat elders in die land gebeur waar soortgelyke "Operasie Phakisa-projekte" (van oud-pres. Jacob Zuma) ONDANKS hewige publieke protes deurgestoomroller is.
Vismeel is deesdae 'n baie winsgewende wêreldbedryf danksy veral Oosterse lande se onuitputlike vraag na kunsmatige voeding in die akwakultuurbedryf waar gehokte vis oorwegend pille (pellets) gevoer word waarvan vismeel die hoofbestanddeel is.
Mosselbaai het nie 'n noemenswaardige akwakultuurbedryf nie en sover bekend, het geen plaaslike persoon/maatskappy amptelik aansoek gedoen om 'n akwakultuurbedryf hier te vestig nie . . . ?
Die twee regeringsinstansies (DAFF en DTI) se volgehoue druk om dit wel in Mosselbaai tot stand te bring, is "toevallig" ook baie gerieflik indien Afro Fishing se aansoek vir 'n vismeelfabriek goedgekeur word, want dan is die "kos" vir so 'n bedryf klaar beskikbaar . . . ?
Mosselbayontheline het in vorige berigte herhaaldelik gewaarsku teen die verwoestende impak van albei nywerhede in sonnige Suid-Afrika waar gebrekkige kundigheid, politieke staatskaping en korrupsie 'n deurslaggewende rol speel in die lewensvatbaarheid van sulke projekte . . . en dis veral van toepassing op 'n toeristedorp soos Mosselbaai wat toevallig ook die "kleinste werkende hawe" in die land huisves waar die erg omstrede en bankrot PetroSA dalk binnekort sy deure moet toemaak terwyl daar nog talle korrupsie-sake teen sy amptenare ondersoek word. . . .
Daar is ook telkens deur die burgemeester van die Garden Route Distriksmunisipaliteit, Memory Booysen, genoem dat Mosselbaai dieselfde paadjie as Saldanhabaai en Coega gaan volg . . . ?
Memory Booysen
Miskien is dit tyd om te gaan uitvind watter paadjie vir Mosselbaai voorlê .. . en wat oud-pres. Jacob Zuma se Operasie Phakisa werklik in die praktyk beteken?
Die robkolonie in Saldanhabaai het verdriedubbel soos die robbe skielik 'n "Drive Thru" restaurant ontdek het en die "gehokte vis" ontsnap voortdurend uit die onooglike vishokke en verorber boonop die plaaslike visspesies . . . ?
“The fishermen know where the fish is and where the fish are going, we just follow them. And now we have less space because of the farm, and we also have to consider climate change as well. Soon there won’t be anywhere to fish.”
So far, the fishers have already encountered issues with an increased seal population. Globally, aquaculture has tended to attract curious seals (Scotland had such a problem in 2011 that Scottish fish farmers shot 461 seals to protect their farms). The prospect of a hectare-wide cage of immobile fish is too difficult to ignore. Inge Frost, a local resident and founder of Save Langebaan Lagoon, said: “It’s like putting a KFC in the middle of the sea, they can smell it but they can’t access it. So they eat the stale McDonald’s nearby.” 1
Deon Warnick, who operates a fishing company called Vars Vis from his home in Langebaan, says the increase in seals in the area has taken its toll on his nets.
“The seals is destroying the nets. When the fish is in the nets, the seals grab the nets and break them,” Warnick told Daily Maverick.
The local community, including the fishers, are not convinced they will be offered jobs. All four of the fishers interviewed said they had not seen any jobs advertised in their community. When asked if he would accept a job working on the fish farm, 54-year-old Warnick responded with a resolute “No!”
“I don’t do that. I fish, I don’t farm fish,” he explained.
Professor Merle Sowman, head of the Department of Environmental and Geographical Sciences at the University of Cape Town, told Daily Maverick that government and business should respect small-scale fishers’ desires to “continue fishing the way they always have”. 3
She said the fishers are unsure of the legitimacy behind the promise of job creation.
“They are sceptical because they’re not convinced that the promises of job possibilities and of skills development will necessarily filter down to them, and there have been other proposals and other developments where in fact promises were made and they haven’t benefited.”
Die jongste, onafhanklike, wetenskaplike "State of the Bay"-verslag oor die watergehalte en situasie by Saldanhabaai-hawe en omliggende strandgebiede skets 'n donker prentjie . . . Die "ontsnapte" vis vreet die inheemse visspesies en selfs die oesters en mossels het oneetbaar geword weens die besoedeling . . . ?
Excerpt from State of the Bay Report 2019 (Saldanha Bay)
Lees meer hier en raak betrokke . . . VOOR dit te laat is?
Wat is die departement van handel en nywerheid (dti) se rol in die akwakultuurbedryf in SA?
Trade,Export and Investment Financial Assistance (Incentives)
Aquaculture Development and Enhancement Programme (ADEP)
Description
The Aquaculture Development and Enhancement Programme (ADEP) is an incentive programme available to South African registered entities engaged in primary, secondary and ancillary aquaculture activities in both marine and freshwater classified under SIC 132 (fish hatcheries and fish farms) and SIC 301 and 3012 (production, processing and preserving of aquaculture fish). The grant is provided directly to approved applications for new, upgrading or expansion projects.
The programme offers a reimbursable cost-sharing grant of up to a maximum of R20 million qualifying costs in machinery and equipment; bulk infrastructure; owned land and/or buildings; leasehold improvements; and competitiveness improvement activities as outlined in section 8 of the ADEP guidelines.
Objectives
The objective of the incentive is to stimulate investment by commercially viable enterprises in the aquaculture sector. The secondary objectives are to:
Create and/or sustain jobs;
Broaden participation;
Increase production; and
Geographical spread.
Benefits
ADEP’s contribution is up to 50% (capped at R20m) of qualifying costs for new, upgrading or expanding projects, in:
Machinery, equipment and tools;
Bulk infrastructure (only in water & electrical infrastructure):
Owned land (only applicable to small black enterprises);
Buildings (ponds, cages, tanks, etc.);
Leasehold improvements, capitalised in the balance sheet, where lease agreement is at least 10 years;
Rental costs, (only for small black enterprises), capped at R20 000 per month and claimable at stage two only.
Aquaculture feed, up to a maximum of 10% of total costs, (capped at 20% for small black enterprises)
Commercial vehicles or work boats (owned or capitalised financial lease), not to exceed 50% of total qualifying costs;
Competitiveness improvement activities (e.g. skills development) up to R500 000;
Environmental impact assessments (EIA) and permits authorisation and costs (only for small Black enterprises).
Mentorship (only or small enterprises), up to R200 per hour, 8 hours per day capped at R200 000 per approved project or application.
Grow-out facilities and operations [e.g. rafts, net closures, net pens, cages, tanks raceways and ponds; i Recirculating Aquaculture System (RAS), Ranching, etc.]
2. Secondary Aquaculture Operations (of local produce):
Terwyl daar vanoggend op Heroldsbaai met swaar harte afskeid geneem word van Heidi Scheepers (35) en haar seuntjie, Hugo (2), duur die soektog na Cozette (6) steeds voort en sal haar familie nooit rus voor sy ook opgespoor is nie.
Die begrafnis/gedenkdiens vir Heidi, Hugo en Cozette vind vanoggend om 10:00 by die Eden Kerk in George plaas.
Foto en voorblad: Die Scheepers-gesinstragedie het die publiek aangegryp en mense aangespoor om die mooiste foto-collages ter nagedagtenis aan Heidi, Cozette en Hugo te maak wat op 'n spesiale Facebook-blad gedeel is.
Die hartverskeurende gesinstragedie waarin Heidi en die kinders op Dinsdagaand 22 Oktober in raaiselagtige omstandighede omgekom het nadat hul voertuig op die serwituut-grondpad op pad na die Voëlklip-uitkykpunt op Heroldsbaai oor 'n afgrond gestort en in die see beland het, het dié skilderagtige kusdorpie geruk en ook landwyd mense aangegryp. Heidi se man, Etienne (36), het gesê hoewel die amptelike polisie-soektog na Cozette afgeskaal is, sal die familie nooit ophou soek of berusting vind voor sy ook gevind is nie.
Sunel Vermaak is een van die mense wat só aangegryp is deur die lot van dié eens gelukkige gesinnetjie dat sy spesiaal dié hartroerende video saamgestel en met ons gedeel het. "Jammer vir foutjies in die video - ek het so gehuil toe ek gisteraand die foto's saamstel . . . ", het sy gesê.
Die geregtelike nadoodse polisie-ondersoek duur voort en verskeie forensiese uitslae is nog uitstaande.
"Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment . . . Until it becomes a memory . . . "
Familie en vriende het vanoggend roerend afskeid geneem van Heidi Scheepers (35) en haar twee kinders, Cozette (6) en Hugo (2) tydens 'n emosionele gedenkdiens by die Eden Place-kerk in George. Aangrypende boodskappe en huldeblyke is aan dié jong Ma en kindertjies opgedra wat so vroeg weggeruk is.
Lees ook ons vorige berigte hier:
4 November 2019
Die see-soektog na Cozette Scheepers (6), die oorblywende lid van die Scheepers-gesin van Heroldsbaai wat nog nie gevind is sedert voorverlede Dinsdag se gesinstragedie by Voëlklip nie, is intussen afgeskaal.
Polisiewoordvoerder kapt. Malcolm Pojie het gesê weens beperkte mannekrag en gebrek aan verdere leidrade sal die see-soektog afgeskaal word, maar sporadiese patrollies sal steeds langs die kuslyn uitgevoer word. 'n Beroep word op die gemeenskap en hengelaars gedoen om enige drywende of vreemde voorwerpe in die see dadelik by die polisie aan te meld.
Nandi Goldschagg, 'n fotograaf van die omgewing, het dié simboliese foto van die soektog na Cozette Scheepers (6) en die publiek se soektog na antwoorde by die Voëlklip-uitkykpunt by Heroldsbaai geneem.
Cozette, haar ma, Heidi (35) en boetie Hugo (2) het op 22 Oktober vermis geraak ná wat veronderstel was om 'n vinnige gesinsuitstappie op die strand by Heroldsbaai te wees. Hul voertuig en Heidi en Hugo se liggame is intussen in die omgewing van Voëlklip uit die see gehaal, maar Cozette is nog nie gekry nie.
Polisieduikers, sowel as lede van die NSRI en noodreddingspanne is steeds op bystanddiens vir enige gebeure, het Pojie gesê.
Sitbankies by die Voëlklip-uitkykpunt bied 'n panoramiese uitsig oor Heroldsbaai se ongerepte kuslyn. Foto: Nandi Goldschagg van Simple Life Photography.
Geen moorddossier geopen
Pojie het wydverspreide gerugte oor 'n moordondersoek ontken en gesê geen misdaad word in dié stadium van die ondersoek vermoed nie. "Alle moontlikhede word ondersoek, maar in dié stadium is net 'n geregtelike doodsondersoek geopen", het hy gesê.
Mense word ook versoek om nie onbevestigde gerugte op media- en sosialemediaplatforms te versprei nie, maar eerder die ondersoekbeamptes te skakel as hulle oor feitelike inligting beskik wat met die ondersoek kan help.
Mense met vertroulike inligting is versoek om kol. Adelle van der Poll te skakel by 082 522 1994.
Intussen word 'n gedenkdiens vir Heidi, Cozette en Hugo eerskomende Saterdag om 10:00 by die Eden Place-kerk gehou.
Min dinge ontlok soveel emosionele reaksie as die onnatuurlike dood van jong kindertjies - veral as 'n oënskynlik gelukkige gesinnetjie in 'n skilderagtige kusdorpie soos Heroldsbaai op een na almal gelyk in tragiese omstandighede uitgewis word.
Die publieke druk om nou ná al die jare die serwituut-toegangspad van sowat 3km na die Voëlklip-uitkykpunt te sluit of veiligheidsrelings op strategiese plekke aan te bring ná Dinsdagaand se gesinstragedie waarin Heidi Scheepers (35) en haar twee kinders, Cozette (6) en Hugo (2) by 'n afgrond afgestort het, ontlok ook sterk teenkanting van inwoners wat dié omgewing goed ken en liefhet.
Voëlklip met sy panoramiese uitsig oor Heroldsbaai en die kuslyn, met 'n groot houtkruis as simbool van liefde op die voorgrond. Dié parkeerterrein by Voëlklip is egter nie die plek waar die Scheepers-gesin se voertuig by 'n afgrond afgestort het nie. Die tragedie het op die serwituut-pad op pad na die Voëlklip-uitkykpunt gebeur. Foto: Nandi Goldschagg.
'n Leser wat gereeld Voëlklip op haar eie besoek om die ongelooflike uitsig en natuurskoon te bewonder, het spesiaal 'n video van die toegangspad geneem om verwarring uit te skakel en te wys hoe mooi die omgewing werklik daar is. Die presiese plek waar die Scheepers se Volkswagen Caravelle-kombi oor die afgrond is en die swart kruis getref het wat vroeër daar opgerig is nadat drie jong mans daar afgestort het, is sowat 6 minute in die video. In vorige mediaberigte is verkeerdelik genoem dat die Scheepers se kombi by die parkeerarea van die Voëlklip-uitkykpunt afgestort het. Dit is egter nog 'n hele entjie verder.
Een inwoner het geskryf:
"IS VOËLKLIP NA 'N PAAR STERTES DAAR, WERKLIK SO GEVAARLIK? Ek merk in die oningeligte media dat Voëlklip by Heroldsbaai nou skielik so onveilig is dat dit met 'n teerpad en/of staal-relings beveilig of straks gesluit moet word.
Voëlklip is 'n pragtige, natuurlike plek met 'n asemrowende uitsig oor Heroldsbaai aan die oostekant en die hele kuslyn tot by Mosselbaai-punt aan die westekant. Walvisse in die wintermaande en skole dolfyne van selfs honderde kan regdeur die jaar daar besigtig word. Almal wat die pragtige plek ken en hulself al daar aan die natuur verwonder het, weet jy kan nie daar roekeloos of met jou dronk-lyf gaan rondjaag nie. Die plek is nie onveilig vir enige redelike mense nie.
Jy maak nie daar 'n ongeluk, behalwe opsetlik of nalatig nie. So moet dit asseblief nie gaan ontsier met 'n klomp onnodige staal-relings nie. Sit eerder net 'n paar spoed- en ander waarskuwingstekens op waar absoluut noodsaaklik. Meeste mense wat daar oor die jare dood is, is in elk geval vissermanne wat onder van die rotse af geslaan is en daar in die kolkende branders verdrink het.
Wat wel hartseer is, is dat sekere onkonsidirerende mense, (veral mense wat nie hul geliefdes daar op Voëlklip verloor het nie) ook nou hul eie onooglike betongrafte en grafstene daar op Voëlkliphoogte by die grond-parkeerterrein gaan oprig het. Dit lyk al soos 'n onversorgde munisipale bergraafplaas daar. Die George Munisipaliteit/Eden Streeksmunisipaliteit behoort eerder al hierdie permanente strukture wat die omgewing esteties besoedel permanent te verwyder. Slegs tydelike houtkruise of amptelik goedgekeurde publieke gedenkbankies van beton behoort daar toegelaat te word."
Intussen het voorlopige uitslae van die nadoodse ondersoek bevestig dat Heidi sowel as klein Hugo verdrink het. Die soektog na Cozette duur voort.
Die omgewing by Voëlklip is ook 'n baie gewilde hengelplek. Foto: Nandi Goldschagg
Olie van Transnet se olieputte wat al jare lank sporadies die riviertjie en omgewing in die spogwoonbuurt Bayview besoedel en ná reën 'n oliemoeras vorm, veroorsaak nie net erge grond- en waterbesoedeling nie, maar ook 'n gesondheidsgevaar en marienebedreiging omdat dit uiteindelik in die see by Bayview-strand beland.
Tog is daar blykbaar geen politieke wil of aanspreeklikheid van enige owerheidskant om dié volgehoue en toenemende besoedeling daadwerklik te bekamp nie.
Tot die stormwater-mangat naby die olieputte is vol olie, terwyl die grond in die omgewing swart en olie-deurdrenk is. Wanneer dit reën, loop die olieputte boonop oor sodat die hele omgewing in 'n swart oliemoeras omskep word.
Navrae hieroor het ons van bakboord na stuurboord verwys. Volgens Mosselbaai Munisipaliteit behoort die grond en olieputte aan Transnet en is dié staatsbeheerde maatskappy se afdeling vir omgewingsbestuur en gevaarlike afvalstowwe verantwoordelik vir die bestuur en instandhouding van die olieputte en terrein.
"Mosselbaai-munisipaliteit kan nie reageer op navrae oor infrastruktuur wat op private eiendom is nie. Die munisipaliteit se sorgsaamheidsplig word nagekom deur die relevante owerhede in kennis te stel van enige besoedeling. Die owerhede is die distriksmunisipaliteit en die departement van omgewingsake en ontwikkelingsbeplanning: remediëring en voorvalbestuur. Die fasiliteit word deurgaans gemonitor. Die onlangse storting is op 30 September 2019 aangemeld."
'n Epos aan Transnet (TNPA) se plaaslike mediawoordvoerder het ons verwys na Transnet se afdeling vir Spoorvrag (Freight Rail) en ons wag steeds op terugvoering.
Die grond al langs die riviertjie en mangat is swart en olie-deurdrenk. Boonop is dit nie 'n nuwe probleem nie. Volgens inwoners gaan dit al jare so aan en val al hul aanmeldings en pleidooie op dowe ore.
Dit is ook nie net die lekkende olieputte op Transnet se gronde wat Bayview-inwoners ontstel nie. Dié vervalle en ongebruikte ou store op die terrein is eweneens 'n onaanvaarbare onooglikheid en bied ook skuilplek aan rondlopers en misdadigers wat op parool vrygelaat word.
Só lyk dit binne-in die vervalle ou store waar rommel opgehoop lê en rondlopers snags skuiling soek.
