FISHERIES INJUSTICE OP-ED: President Ramaphosa, small-scale fishers cannot be ignored any longer

Since 1994, many small-scale fishing communities in South Africa have waited for the inclusion and recognition they were promised. Yet decades later, policies like the Small-Scale Fisheries Policy have fallen short, with recent traditional linefish allocation decisions threatening livelihoods and sidelining meaningful participation. For these communities, the struggle for rights, dignity and survival continues – a stark reminder that the democratic promise remains unfulfilled.