The State of Infrastructure in the Proclaimed Small Harbours in Enhancing Livelihoods in South Africa

ABSTRACT The South African small harbours development is rooted in the colonial era, but over centuries, their conditions have depreciated. This paper argues that proclaimed small harbours face significant infrastructural challenges and their impact on enhancing livelihoods. Secondary data were extracted from peer‐reviewed scholarly, media articles and government documents. Three phases of comprehensive literature review were employed to elucidate the phenomenon under study. The findings propound small harbours are characterised by infrastructural decay and inequalities that render them incompatible with inclusive development. The study recommends that the government develop a small harbours regulation framework to ensure inclusivity and sustainability of livelihoods.