Twist in the Elke M Saga as Union Calls for a Strike

If only the structures of South Africa’s fishing companies could be more transparent. Over the past couple of weeks there has been another example of this with the grounding of the MFV Elke M. Trying to find out who actually owns this vessel, where the responsibility lies, and how the crew should be treated, should not be so difficult.

There is no question that the people who actually do the fishing need to be respected. It is a difficult job at the best of times. They leave their families to put their lives on the line for days and months at a time. Day and night there is no saying what the weather holds, or what the dangers are. So is it fair then that in the case of the MFV Elke M, the crew find that they are now suddenly unemployed? No proper consultation, no plan, no money, no where to turn.