Securing a sustainable oceans economy: South Africa’s approach

South Africa is attempting to leverage its unique geographic position to grow an 'oceans economy' through initiatives like Operation Phakisa, while simultaneously managing maritime security and international partnerships. However, the report finds that progress has been modest, hampered by eroding naval capabilities, a lack of an integrated national maritime strategy, and a policy focus that has disproportionately favored the Indian Ocean over the Atlantic. The document emphasizes the need for better coordination between government departments and stronger alignment with African Union and Indian Ocean Rim Association strategies to ensure sustainable 'blue economy' growth.

• South Africa's maritime interests have only recently become a political priority, and the country still lacks a comprehensive national maritime policy or an integrated maritime strategy.
• Operation Phakisa was launched to fast-track the oceans economy as part of the National Development Plan, but it has achieved only modest results. By 2017, it had created 6,517 jobs, falling short of the target of 22,000 direct new jobs by 2019.
• South Africa's maritime policy and activities have historically focused on the Indian Ocean, neglecting the Atlantic Ocean in key documents like the 2011 foreign policy White Paper.
• The South African Navy is facing eroding capabilities and serviceability issues, with the 2015 Defence Review stating it could no longer provide combat-ready vessels.
• South Africa continues to conduct naval patrols in the Mozambique Channel via Operation Copper to counter piracy, despite data from the IMO and IMB showing no reported high-seas piracy in the area since 2012.
• The country is pursuing naval augmentation through Project Biro (six new patrol vessels) and Project Hotel (a new hydrographic survey vessel costing R1.8 billion) to support the oceans economy and shipbuilding industry.
• South Africa's chairship of the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA) from 2017–19 is intended to align Operation Phakisa with IORA's blue economy objectives and elevate the African maritime agenda.
• Implementation of African Union (AU) maritime strategies is hindered by a lack of visible champions and delays in ratifying the Revised African Maritime Transport Charter (RAMTC) and the Lomé Charter.

APA

Walker, T. (2018). Securing a sustainable oceans economy: South Africa’s approach. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/sar-14-2.pdf

Chicago

Walker, Timothy. Securing a sustainable oceans economy: South Africa’s approach. Institute for Security Studies, 2018. https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/sar-14-2.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Walker |first1=Timothy |title=Securing a sustainable oceans economy: South Africa’s approach |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=June 2018 |url=https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/sar-14-2.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{walker2018securing, author = {Walker, Timothy}, title = {{Securing a sustainable oceans economy: South Africa’s approach}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2018}, month = jun, url = {https://issafrica.s3.amazonaws.com/site/uploads/sar-14-2.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }