MINISTER DEAN MACPHERSON EMBARKS ON MINISTERIAL VISIT TO ELANDS BAY

Article by Tumelo Sekwele | Photographs by Caroline Mokotedi

12 January 2026

In an atmosphere of anticipation, the Minister of the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI), Dean Macpherson, undertook a ministerial visit to Elands Bay on the West Coast of the Western Cape on Saturday, 20 January 2026. The Minister was accompanied by the Western Cape Member of the Executive Council (MEC) for Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers. The visit aimed to highlight key development projects intended to uplift and grow the local community.

Minister Macpherson emphasised the Department’s commitment to supporting local communities and creating sustainable job opportunities. He highlighted the potential restoration of the Elands Bay harbour and its associated infrastructure as a catalytic project that could unlock employment and housing opportunities through coordinated partnerships across all three spheres of government. The Minister reiterated that meaningful government success can only be achieved when communities are placed at the centre of development initiatives.

Addressing stakeholders and community members, MEC Simmers reaffirmed the offices’ commitment to collaborate with both public- and private-sector partners to ensure the successful delivery of housing projects. “This is how we build with purpose. This is how we deliver with integrity. And this is how we ensure that when homes are finally handed over, they stand as symbols of dignity, opportunity, and a government that does what it says it will do,” said MEC Simmers.

The visit also provided residents with an opportunity to engage directly with the leadership and raise concerns. Community member Sylvia Lucas spoke on the challenges facing the implementation of the Expanded Public Works Programme (EPWP) in Elands Bay. In response, Minister Macpherson outlined the progress being made to transform the EPWP into a more sustainable, long-term pathway to employment and skills development.