Public Works and Infrastructure Deputy Minister Sihle Zikalala launched the first phase of a landmark programme to build new small harbours in neglected coastal towns, on October 31.

In a media release, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) said this bold, inclusive infrastructure initiative launched in Port Shepstone on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal, marked a watershed moment – the first small harbours to be built by a democratic government in post-apartheid South Africa.

The department noted that across the country, existing harbours were built before 1994, with many located in the Western Cape, expressing that the new programme redefined coastal access and economic opportunity for underserved communities.

Zikalala handed over the Spatial Economic Development Frameworks (SEDFs), designating areas and sites for this expansive port infrastructure investment and signalling a turning point for inclusive and sustainable economic development for coastal communities, the DPWI said.

The framework recommends that the first new small harbour should be built in Port Shepstone. Two other sites identified to have an economic impact are in Port Edward and Hiberdene.

The department said it had already submitted the SEDF for Port St Johns in the Eastern Cape, adding that Port Nolloth in the Northern Cape would be next to receive its SEDF.

The Port Shepstone harbour site is located less than 1 km south-east of the town’s central business district and the Oribi Plaza shopping centre, placing it at the heart of local commerce and transport networks.

The implementation will follow a triple-stage delivery framework which includes a pre-implementation feasibility study; a planning and concept stage; and a design and construction stage.

The department said the economic impact during construction would add about R4.41-billion in added business sales, and add about R1.85-billion in GDP and about 5 808 jobs within the KwaZulu-Natal economy.

The DPWI said this Phase 1 launch signalled a turning point for the people of Ugu and Port Shepstone, underscoring government commitments to job creation, regional economic development and inclusive access to maritime infrastructure.

“The initiative aligns with national priorities to redress past inequities through tangible investment in infrastructure in neglected towns and cities.

“It complements broader coastal development efforts, including the Smart City Development and demonstrates a sustained commitment to inclusive growth and sustainable coastal economies,” it said.