As part of a cabinet reshuffling, South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed David Maynier as the country’s new minister of forestry, fisheries, and the environment, replacing Willie Aucamp in the role.
The appointment came after requests from the Democratic Alliance party, of which Maynier is a member.
“Minister Maynier assumes leadership of the portfolio at a pivotal time for South Africa's environmental agenda, as the country advances its commitments to sustainable development, climate resilience, biodiversity conservation, forestry development, and the sustainable management of marine and coastal resources,” the South Africa Department of Forestry, Fisheries, and the Environment (DFFE) said in welcoming him to the role. “We remain committed to safeguarding South Africa's environmental resources, promoting sustainable development, creating opportunities through the green, blue and brown economies, and ensuring that present and future generations benefit from a healthy, resilient and prosperous environment.
Maynier has become the third person to serve in the position in less than three years and the fifth in the last eight years.
Civil society group Masifundise, which promotes the welfare and rights of small-scale fishers in South Africa, called out the near constant turnover as purely political and extremely disruptive to the nation’s fisheries sector, especially to small-scale operators “whose livelihoods depend on stable governance, transparent decision-making, and the timely implementation of policies and support programs.”
“The frequent institutional and leadership reshuffles have created significant challenges in maintaining consistent engagement with the Department of Fisheries, Forestry, and the Environment, which is responsible for managing South Africa's national fisheries,” it said. “Each leadership transition interrupts ongoing processes, forcing communities, civil society organizations, and other stakeholders to rebuild relationships, reestablish trust, and revisit issues that were already under discussion, resulting in delays, uncertainty, and a loss of institutional memory.”
Nevertheless, Masifundise said the sector is hopeful it can establish dialogue and collaboration with Maynier as he settles into the new position.
“We expect the minister to have meaningful engagements with civil society and small-scale fishers in the sector to ensure that their voices as rightsholders are prioritized through structured and ongoing dialogue,” the NGO said.
As part of the reshuffle, Aucamp became South Africa’s minister of agriculture.
