On the 10 July 2023, the King Sabata Dalindyebo Municipality in partnership with the Walter Sisulu University (WSU) conducted a 2-day workshop on financial literacy, environmental sustainability and governance for Wild Coast fishing cooperatives at the Ocean View Hotel, Coffee Bay.
‘Fishing for the future’ was the theme of the gathering which aimed to equip fishing cooperatives on how to manage, budget and create a sustainable business for future generations.
In his opening remarks, Local Economic Development (LED) MMC, Cllr Mkhanyiseli Dudumayo stated that communities are an important part of making cooperatives function. He further added that KSD’s oceans economy has a potential to be a lucrative business. He also encouraged unity in cooperatives in tapping into this economy, to not just feed their families but also grow the KSD economy at large.
The program is a way for KSD Municipality to prioritize the development of the Oceans Economy. KSD has partnered with various stakeholders to improve the lives of the fishing cooperatives within KSD.
KSD Municipality is working closely with seven cooperatives, namely: Dalintlutha, Esikhaleni, Ngoko, Njixiza, Siyaphambili, Siyaloba and Vuka Sizindini Cooperatives.
During the workshop, speakers took turns educating, equipping and giving words of encouragement to the above cooperatives so they can create the best versions of their businesses.
Mr Siphumlile Ndevu from Siyaloba Co-op said, “These kinds of gatherings are helpful to cooperatives in terms of information sharing because not everyone in a Co-Op knows how Co-Ops work and in this way, we are equipped to work better and smarter”.
The Municipality is working at fulfilling its objectives which are to improve growth opportunities of small-scale fishers, to identify areas where investment is needed, identify regulations that slow down development in the sector and increase their (cooperatives) knowledge via training to ensure optimal employment levels in KSD.
Going forward, KSD Municipality, together with its stakeholders will continue equipping (workshops/training) these fishing Co-Ops until they reach their full potential in business.
At the end of the gathering, certificates of attendance were then handed over to members of the cooperatives.
