In the past there was only a need to organise the competitive side of angling. SAFBAF is the only controlling body for fresh water bank angling in South Africa and as part of our duties we have to oversee the competition league from which our national teams are selected and where we then issue Protea colours. There are two major reason for the change in focus.

1. The modern dynamics in sport have changed and professional sport is the driving force nowadays. Spectator value is what brings in the sponsorships and as a result we saw how cricket developed the 50 over matches this has now gone further to 20 over matches. In the IPL it is not about country patriotism anymore spectators are following individuals. To come back to fishing a great example in the big money fish-o-mania tournaments. SAFBAF can not only focus on the amateur level anymore we need to look internationally and keep on modernising our sport for it to survive.
2. The second reason and one that is even more threatening is the ever present pressure from lobby groups and our deteriorating water conditions. This threatens the freedom of social and pleasure fishing directly. SAFBAF wants to be in a position to act on behalf of all fresh water bank anglers and this includes our social anglers.

All these fact have led us to the conclusion that in order to protect the fishing freedom and opportunities our anglers in South Africa have we will need to gather anglers together to form one united voice. SAFBAF has in the past represented the competitive anglers but now we have to act on behalf of all South African fresh water bank anglers.

In our modern society dynamics such as media, professional sport and spectator value have contributed to grow other sports and we in angling wish to follow suite. Angling is after all the sport which has the highest participative ratio.

Our strategic direction is to aligned not only with competitive anglers but that we also offer social anglers benefits and that we open the channels of communication with our industry and that we modernise bank angling to come in line with other sports. We have no option, by doing nothing we will leave our sport at the mercy of others and have very little say ourselves. To be successful we need to create a value proposition that social anglers will benefit from so that we may have their support and may represent them. Then we will have a position of true representation and then we can tackle the water pollution issues and other looming threats.

As a result SAFBAF have now created SAFBAF Plus+ the new organisation is exactly that SAFBAF plus a whole lot more. The traditional SAFBAF/SAVOF remains unchanged. Plus+ is built upon the needs of all anglers and through using synergies in the industry we are able to offer all bank anglers a value package that has true value and benefit. With anglers taking advantage of the value package we will be able to grow in number and strengthen our voice to effect real action on issues related to fishing.

So we believe each and every bank angler has a responsibility to seriously consider joining and yes receive and take advantage of the benefits, but more importantly stand united in promoting and protecting our sport for ourselves and for the future.