Metro given fish farm ultimatum

A TOP municipal official made a public commitment yesterday to provide a recommendation to the Nelson Mandela Bay council within 30 days on whether to support or oppose setting up a fish farm on the Port Elizabeth beachfront.

Economic development head Anele Qaba was speaking at a meeting attended by municipal officials, a top government official and a large group of people opposed to the controversial Hobie Beach plan.

Earlier, Department of Environmental Affairs appeals and legal review director Ziyaad Hassam criticised the municipality for causing “confusion” over the plan.

“We want a firm statement from the municipality – there seems to be a disjuncture of whether they support it or not ... This is where the confusion comes in. We get different versions when we speak to the municipality,” he said.

Hassam gave the municipality a month to give a definitive answer.

Later, Qaba told the meeting NMMU or other experts would be commissioned to compile a report on the location and viability of the fish farm to enable the municipality to make an informed decision.

- Cindy Preller