The hydrological restoration project and its dredging machine, were handed over to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority as well as a fishing boat to the Nyakazamazambane Primary Fishing Cooperative, on Friday.
The handover was done by Narend Singh, Deputy Minister of the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE).
Singh said law-enforcement equipment funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) was also handed over to iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority.
A research centre was also opened.
He said “we do not assume that the whole system requires dredging, and we will not dredge what does not need it. The project has been properly authorised. It has been through environmental assessment, specialist investigation and public participation. The Environmental Authorisation was granted by the Department in February 2026. The Water Use Licence was finalised on 16 September 2026. Procurement of specialised dredging services is complete, and the operator has begun site establishment.”
The Nyakazamazambane Primary Fishing Cooperative was established in 2018 in the Kwa-Mazambane area of Manguzi, under the leadership of Inkosi Tembe. It has 26 active members, and is supported by a GEF-8 and UNDP Small Grants Programme, with about US$40,000 for a fish-processing facility, a fishing boat and related equipment.
Nomfundo Tshabalala, Director-General of the DFFE, iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority leadership and Board members, as well as local chiefs (Amakhosi), were part of the launch.
Picture: Supplied