Homepage - Masifundise Development Trust

Fisher People Tribunal South Africa

The Fisher People Tribunal Hearings took place
from 12-14 August 2024 in Cape Town, marking
South Africa’s first People’s Tribunal focused on
fishing communities.

Learn more

SUPPORT SMALL-SCALE FISHERS IN SOUTH AFRICA

Your donation will help us to continue empowering
small-scale fishing communities to demand,
organize for and strengthen their food sovereignty.

Donate

Programmes

Masifundise facilitates the formation and growth of mass based
community organisations in poor coastal areas.

Learn More

Masifundise develops discussion papers that speak in the voice of traditional small-scale
fisher fishers and critically analyses some of the important concepts and definitions
related to fishery policy and management.

View Publications

Our Vision

We have a vision of empowered SSF communities with the ability to build
and strengthen their food sovereignty within a more just and democratic
socio-economic and political environment.

Latest News

Shell Loses Wild Coast Battle as Constitutional Court Rules in Favour of Communities

Aug 14, 2026 | climate change, Coastal Links, Customary Rights, extractives, Featured News, Human Rights, Latest News, Media Statements, The Hook

Issued by: Masifundise Development Trust For immediate release 14 August 2026 On 14 August 2026, the South African Constitutional Court passed...

Facebook

Bluesky

Events

WE ARE HIRING: PROGRAMME MANAGER

Masifundise is a progressive civil society organisation, registered as an independent Trust, with a longstanding track record in the small-scale fisheries sector. We work to promote and advance Food Sovereignty in small-scale fishing communities in South Africa and...

Masifundise office closure and holiday wishes 2025

As 2025 draws to a close, we want to extend a big thank you to our fishing communities and partners for all your hard work, dedication and solidarity this year. Together, we have continued to push forward the rights of fisher people and fishing communities across...

PRESS RELEASE: Mobilization in support of Wild Coast Communities and their Right to Say NO to Oil and Gas

PRESS RELEASE To: All Media Issued by: Organisations of the #RightToSayNo Campaign Date: 12 September 2025 Subject: Mobilization on 16 September in support of Wild Coast Communities and their Right to Say NO to Oil and Gas On 16–17 September 2025, the...

View More Events

In the Media

Shell Loses Wild Coast Battle as Constitutional Court Rules in Favour of Communities

Aug 14, 2026

Issued by: Masifundise Development Trust For immediate release 14 August 2026 On 14 August 2026, the South African Constitutional Court passed judgment on the landmark case Wild Coast Communities vs Shell that affirms communities that consultation is not just a...

Third DFFE Minister in Two Years, Yet Small-Scale Fishers Still Wait for Change in the sector

Jul 2, 2026

Issued by: Masifundise Development Trust For immediate release 2 July 2026 Third DFFE Minister in Two Years, Yet Small-Scale Fishers Still Wait for Change in the sector On 1 July 2026, President Cyril Ramaphosa appointed Mr David Maynier as the new Minister of...

Masifundise says NO to Xenophobia and Afrophobia

Jun 26, 2026

MEDIA ALERT To: All Media Issued by: Masifundise Development Trust Date: 26 June 2026 Subject: Masifundise says NO to Xenophobia and Afrophobia In recent months, xenophobic and afrophobic actions have surged across the country, threatening and dehumanising foreign...

SSF communities in South Africa

This map shows the current coastal and inland communities that Masifundise works with.