ECONOMY: The formidable challenge of ensuring work for all
by Johann Barnard,
2014-11-20 07:01:52.0
VENTERSDORP may be known for many things — like mining and Eugene Terreblanche, for example. But what many may be surprised to learn about this North West town is that it is the target of planned expansion of its catfish aquaculture project.
Clarius Aquaculture Products is a small, bespoke fresh water fishery that farms mostly catfish, which owner Johan Kooij says is a staple enjoyed by many West African expats who reside in SA.
Aquaculture is a relatively new industry in the country that is a beneficiary of government’s Operation Phakisa that was announced in July this year. The focus on the ocean’s economy was unveiled in October by President Jacob Zuma as the first target of Phakisa to accelerate growth.
These efforts are largely aligned to the plans and targets set out in the NDP and are based on the model developed by Malaysia — dubbed Big Fast Results. The programme was initiated in 2010 to produce rapid results in six key areas: reducing crime, fighting corruption, improving student outcomes, raising the standard of living of low-income households, improving rural basic infrastructure, improving urban public transport and addressing the cost of living.
Zuma said the project is expected to grow this sector’s contribution to the economy from R54bn in 2010 to between R129bn and
R177bn by 2033. Employment in and around the sector is expected to grow almost three fold from around 300,000 jobs to between 800,000 and 1-million.
The programme has identified four key industries that can help achieve these goals: aquaculture, marine transport & manufacturing, offshore oil & gas and marine protection & governance.
Kooij says he has been involved in planning and development talks that have taken place thus far to develop a clear plan for the aquaculture sector. Key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society have banded together to collaborate around detailed problem analysis, priority setting, intervention planning and delivery. Comprehensive plans with associated timelines have been developed. And Clarius Aquaculture Products, has been identified as one of 24 projects that could help grow the sector.
“The new concept is to establish a business park that will put up a certain number of units that can supply fish and a processing facility and feed factory that produce vertical integration. People can then receive the proper training and benefit from monthly management of their systems.”
These aquaculture units are to be developed as a self-employment project rather than simply job creation. Kooij says the plan is to grow output from 200 tonnes a year to 3,000 tonnes a year after five years. Employment would grow over the same period from three people to 200.
The shipbuilding and repair industry has been identified under Operation Phakisa as one that could increase its contribution to GDP by between R14bn and R23bn by 2019, adding up to 50,000 jobs. Targeted interventions include investigations to establish shipbuilding facilities in East London and ship repair capacity at Richards Bay.
Southern African Shipyards CEO Prasheen Maharaj says the industry has been through some tough times recently with little or no engagement or participation from government or state-owned agencies. However, he is heartened by this project. “We believe that the government is definitely on the right track and we fully support the project. Overall we are very optimistic with what Phakisa has laid out as the plan to kickstart the maritime economy,” he says.
However, he casts some doubt on the suitability of either Richards Bay or East London for the identified interventions, saying they lack optimum port infrastructure to develop a major hub. To develop this infrastructure would require capital investment, he says.
He is encouraged, however, by the level of dialogue with the private sector: “The engagement of private companies in the policy writing is at levels previously not experienced. We are confident that Phakisa is a solid platform from which the entire South African maritime benefits.”
Picture: THINKSTOCK
VENTERSDORP may be known for many things — like mining and Eugene Terreblanche, for example. But what many may be surprised to learn about this North West town is that it is the target of planned expansion of its catfish aquaculture project.
Clarius Aquaculture Products is a small, bespoke fresh water fishery that farms mostly catfish, which owner Johan Kooij says is a staple enjoyed by many West African expats who reside in SA.
Aquaculture is a relatively new industry in the country that is a beneficiary of government’s Operation Phakisa that was announced in July this year. The focus on the ocean’s economy was unveiled in October by President Jacob Zuma as the first target of Phakisa to accelerate growth.
These efforts are largely aligned to the plans and targets set out in the NDP and are based on the model developed by Malaysia — dubbed Big Fast Results. The programme was initiated in 2010 to produce rapid results in six key areas: reducing crime, fighting corruption, improving student outcomes, raising the standard of living of low-income households, improving rural basic infrastructure, improving urban public transport and addressing the cost of living.
Zuma said the project is expected to grow this sector’s contribution to the economy from R54bn in 2010 to between R129bn and
R177bn by 2033. Employment in and around the sector is expected to grow almost three fold from around 300,000 jobs to between 800,000 and 1-million.
The programme has identified four key industries that can help achieve these goals: aquaculture, marine transport & manufacturing, offshore oil & gas and marine protection & governance.
Kooij says he has been involved in planning and development talks that have taken place thus far to develop a clear plan for the aquaculture sector. Key stakeholders from the public and private sectors, academia and civil society have banded together to collaborate around detailed problem analysis, priority setting, intervention planning and delivery. Comprehensive plans with associated timelines have been developed. And Clarius Aquaculture Products, has been identified as one of 24 projects that could help grow the sector.
“The new concept is to establish a business park that will put up a certain number of units that can supply fish and a processing facility and feed factory that produce vertical integration. People can then receive the proper training and benefit from monthly management of their systems.”
These aquaculture units are to be developed as a self-employment project rather than simply job creation. Kooij says the plan is to grow output from 200 tonnes a year to 3,000 tonnes a year after five years. Employment would grow over the same period from three people to 200.
The shipbuilding and repair industry has been identified under Operation Phakisa as one that could increase its contribution to GDP by between R14bn and R23bn by 2019, adding up to 50,000 jobs. Targeted interventions include investigations to establish shipbuilding facilities in East London and ship repair capacity at Richards Bay.
Southern African Shipyards CEO Prasheen Maharaj says the industry has been through some tough times recently with little or no engagement or participation from government or state-owned agencies. However, he is heartened by this project. “We believe that the government is definitely on the right track and we fully support the project. Overall we are very optimistic with what Phakisa has laid out as the plan to kickstart the maritime economy,” he says.
However, he casts some doubt on the suitability of either Richards Bay or East London for the identified interventions, saying they lack optimum port infrastructure to develop a major hub. To develop this infrastructure would require capital investment, he says.
He is encouraged, however, by the level of dialogue with the private sector: “The engagement of private companies in the policy writing is at levels previously not experienced. We are confident that Phakisa is a solid platform from which the entire South African maritime benefits.”
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