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.

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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.

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Programmes

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

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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.

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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

Join Us in Shaping a Progressive Future

Jun 23, 2025 | Featured News, Human Rights, Latest News, Small-scale Fishing, The Hook

Masifundise is a progressive, human-rights based non-profit organisation committed to advancing social justice, equity, and systemic change. Rooted...

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Events

MEDIA RELEASE: Masifundise and Coastal Links’ online launch of the South Africa Fisher People Tribunal Jury Verdict

To: All media Issued by: Masifundise Development Trust Date: 22 April 2025 Subject: Masifundise and Coastal Links’ online launch of the South Africa Fisher People Tribunal Jury Verdict On 12-14 August 2024, Masifundise and Coastal Links, hosted the Fisher...

MEDIA ALERT: Masifundise and Coastal Links to Host first Fisher People Tribunal Hearing in Cape Town, South Africa

To: All media Issued by: Masifundise Development Trust Date: 7 August 2024 Subject: Masifundise and Coastal Links to Host first Fisher People Tribunal Hearing in Cape Town, South Africa Masifundise Development Trust and Coastal Links will host the Fisher People...

International report on fisheries and right to food presented at UN Human Rights Council

Earlier this month the Special Rapporteur on the right to food, Michael Fakhri, released his latest report titled, Fisheries and the right to food in the context of climate change and will present it at the 55th Session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) at...

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In the Media

PRESS RELEASE: Masifundise Welcomes Eastern Cape SSF Summit, Urges DFFE to Tackle Longstanding Challenges

May 16, 2025

To: All media Issued by: Masifundise Development Trust Date: 16 May 2025 Subject: Masifundise Welcomes Eastern Cape SSF Summit, Urges DFFE to Tackle Longstanding Challenges Masifundise Development Trust is a non-profit organisation advocating for social, economic,...

MEDIA RELEASE: Masifundise and Coastal Links’ online launch of the South Africa Fisher People Tribunal Jury Verdict

Apr 22, 2025

To: All media Issued by: Masifundise Development Trust Date: 22 April 2025 Subject: Masifundise and Coastal Links’ online launch of the South Africa Fisher People Tribunal Jury Verdict On 12-14 August 2024, Masifundise and Coastal Links, hosted the Fisher...

Urgent Call for Infrastructure Support for Aukotowa Small-Scale Fisheries Cooperative

Feb 14, 2025

MEDIA ALERT To: All Media Issued by: Masifundise Development Trust Date: 14 February 2025 Subject: Urgent Call for Infrastructure Support for Aukotowa Small-Scale Fisheries Cooperative Masifundise strongly supports the Aukotowa Small-Scale Fisheries Cooperative in...

SSF communities in South Africa

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