As South Africa navigates its Group of Twenty (G20) Presidency, the Eastern Cape this week continued to position itself as a key player in the nation’s blue economy strategy. The province shone a spotlight on its burgeoning ocean economy potential, during an Ocean Economy Engagement with small businesses as part of South Africa’s G20 Summit activities.
The event, held at the scenic Nelson Mandela Bay Yacht Club in Gqeberha on Tuesday, was a collaborative effort spearheaded by the National Department of Small Business Development and co-moderated by Ms. Viwe Fokwebe, Project Manager for Ocean Economy at ECSECC.
The high-profile gathering saw the presence of key figures including Small Business Development Minister Ms. Stella Ndabeni-Abrahams, Deputy Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment Mr Nerend Singh, Eastern Cape Premier Mr. Lubabalo Oscar Mabuyane, and Nelson Mandela Bay Mayor Cllr. Babalwa Lobishe.
South Africa assumed the prestigious G20 Presidency on 1 December 2024, a historic moment as the summit will culminate in a meeting of heads of state and government in Johannesburg from 22 to 23 November 2025. This will be the first time the G20 summit will be held on African soil.
Tuesday’s engagement served a dual purpose; to showcase the Eastern Cape not only as a captivating tourist destination but also as a dynamic and promising hub for the ocean economy. Premier Mabuyane used the opportunity to articulate the compelling value proposition of the Eastern Cape’s ocean economy.
Addressing the attendees, he emphatically stated, "The Oceans Economy sector is one of the Eastern Cape’s growth frontiers.” He highlighted the province’s strategic intent to leverage its extensive 800-kilometre coastline to generate significant job opportunities for the people of the Eastern Cape. He said a key pillar of this strategy involves substantial investment in economic infrastructure development. Premier Mabuyane elaborated, "We are undertaking significant economic infrastructure development as the bedrock for unlocking the oceans economy. Our collaboration between the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) and Infrastructure SA (ISA) involves developing Spatial Economic Development Frameworks (SEDFs) for new small harbours across the coastal provinces.”
Exciting developments are already underway, with the Port Saint Johns Small Harbour poised to become a new proclaimed fishing harbour in the Eastern Cape. Furthermore, Hamburg and Mbizana Small Harbours have been identified as secondary sites prioritised for future development. "This is an exciting opportunity for the province aimed to boost regional economic development, enhance fishing, tourism and provide opportunities for local communities,” Premier Mabuyane added with enthusiasm.
Premier Mabuyane proudly highlighted that the Eastern Cape is at the forefront of the nation in implementing programmes aligned with the ocean economy sector. Significant progress has been made with development initiatives at the Port of Port Elizabeth and the Port of East London, with two additional projects currently underway in East London. The investment in the Port of Port Elizabeth alone amounts to a substantial R334 million, resulting in the creation of 349 jobs. According to the Premier, these port infrastructure development projects are strategically designed to unlock the vast economic potential of the Eastern Cape’s oceans, driving both economic growth and crucial job creation.
The Eastern Cape’s strategic geographical location positions it as a vital hub for bunkering services, an essential component of global maritime transportation. Algoa Bay boasts modern bunkering infrastructure, including dedicated anchorage areas, fuel terminals, and a comprehensive range of service providers offering quality marine fuels, lubricants, and essential supplies to vessels of all sizes.
Premier Mabuyane addressed a temporary setback experienced in 2023 when bunkering services in the Eastern Cape faced disruptions due to compliance matters involving various stakeholders, including the South African Revenue Service. This situation had implications for shipping lines and seafarers. However, he assured the session that these misunderstandings have been resolved following comprehensive engagements with the South African Maritime Safety Authority (SAMSA), Transnet National Ports Authority (TNPA), SARS, and industry players.
Looking ahead, Premier Mabuyane emphasised the commitment to ensuring the inclusive growth of this crucial sector: "We want to ensure that the Bunkering Value Chain involves MSMEs to ensure that this second biggest contributor to our Oil & Gas Sector grows to benefit the economy of the Eastern Cape Province.”
The province is actively engaging with national regulations, with Premier Mabuyane stating that the Eastern Cape Province will submit a response to the Bunkering Regulations published by the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and Environment. He raised concerns that "The Draft Regulations are inconsistent with the SAMSA Codes which regulate the Maritime Industry and SARS Customs Guidelines and if not amended before gazetting will destroy the Ports Economy in Nelson Mandela Bay as we know it.”
Premier Mabuyane also highlighted the implementation of the Eastern Cape Integrated Aquaculture and Fisheries Strategy, with the 2024/25 fiscal year marking its first year of execution. The province presented this ambitious strategy to the World Bank Group, successfully securing $500,000 in PROBLUE funding. "This money will be fully spent on identifying value chains and market channels for seaweed, East Coast, Abalone and finfish,” Premier Mabuyane explained.
Recognising that human capital is paramount to unlocking the full potential of the ocean economy, Premier Mabuyane made a strong call to action. He called on role players to invest more on developing maritime skills as an important aspect of unlocking the potential of the ocean economy sector to ensure that ordinary people benefit from it.
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