Fishing investments

The Minister in the Presidency responsible for Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation, Jeff Radebe, says Operation Phakisa in the oceans economy has unlocked R7.3 billion in investments. The Minister said this when he tabled his department’s Budget Vote in the National Assembly on Wednesday.

“Since its launch by President [Jacob] Zuma in July 2014, Operation Phakisa in the oceans economy has unlocked R7 323 billion in both public and private sector investments, and a total of 6 952 jobs have been created,” the Minister said. Transnet’s National Ports Authority is undertaking infrastructure improvement projects at ports such as Richards Bay, Saldanha Bay and Port Elizabeth, among others.

The projects have created an additional 602 jobs, the bulk of which are for women and youth. Meanwhile, the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries says it will work with the Hawks to ensure that there is proper investigation into the corruption allegations in the Fishing Rights Allocation Process (FRAP).

The department said ttheir offices were visited by members of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, the (Hawks), who executed a search and seizure warrant in person of one of the FRAP members, confiscating a laptop and cellphone.

“The department views the matter in a very serious light thus we have taken a precautionary approach to all activities related to allocations and his relationship with the department. The department will work with the Hawks to ensure that there is proper investigation into the matter,” the department said in a statement. – SANews