Dr. Dion George

From Mayor Hatting Bornman

“I had the privilege of hosting the Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Dr. Dion George, on a series of site visits across Kouga Municipality, joined by MAYCO Members and MPL, Dr. Vicky Knoetze.

The visit was an important opportunity to showcase the extensive work being done to conserve and protect our natural environment. We visited the plastic road, which the Minister expressed interest in piloting elsewhere in the country. We also met with the Kabeljouws Action Reserve Group to discuss the important work they are doing.

Key Issues

We discussed key issues affecting our region. These included our coastal management plan, the fight against abalone poaching, and the ongoing Oyster Bay dune rehabilitation project. I was particularly encouraged by the progress of the Groyne Project in St Francis Bay, which the Minister commended as a proactive step in preventing future disasters. A heartfelt thank you to the residents of St Francis Bay for their commitment and contribution to this effort.

The minister concluded the day with an engagement with the small-scale fisheries cooperatives. They had the opportunity to first-hand explain the challenges facing the sector and hear the Minister’s plans to address them. The fishing industry remains one of the key economic drivers in the Kouga region. I am excited to see the relationship we have with the minister’s office and the operational backing our local fishermen could enjoy.

As a Municipality, we remain deeply grateful for the collaborative efforts of our dedicated teams, community groups, and private partnerships. They continue to work tirelessly to make Kouga a true blueprint of what a flourishing South Africa can look like.”