MINISTER MACPHERSON SIGNS MEMORANDUM OF AGREEMENT FOR THE INTERIM MANAGEMENT OF THE ELANDS BAY SLIPWAY

Articles & Pictures by Maanea Maselesele

04 August 2026

The Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure, Dean Macpherson, on Tuesday, 4 August 2026, officially handed over the interim management of the Elands Bay slipway and related harbour facilities to Cederberg Local Municipality. The handover fulfilled a commitment the Minister made to the local community during an oversight visit to Elands Bay in January 2026. The Minister was joined by the Western Cape Minister of Infrastructure, Tertuis Simmers; the Western Cape Minister of Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism, Dr Ivan Meyer; and the Executive Mayor of Cederberg Local Municipality, Azrial Scheepers.

The handover was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), granting Cederberg Local Municipality interim management responsibility for the slipway and related harbour facilities. The agreement will remain in effect for nine years and eleven months. During this period, the municipality will assume responsibility for the day-to-day management, security, and maintenance of the property, as well as its operational and utility costs. The agreement enables the municipality to maintain the facilities and undertake approved repairs, providing much-needed support to the local fishing community, small-scale fishers, and small, medium and micro enterprises (SMMEs).

Addressing the community, Minister Macpherson said, “Today, less than seven months after committing to the people of Elands Bay, we are delivering on that promise by signing a Memorandum of Agreement that places the interim management of the Elands Bay slipway and related harbour facilities with Cederberg Local Municipality. “This marks an important step from promises to implementation and will ensure these facilities better support local fishers, SMMEs, and the broader development of the community,” he added.

Elands Bay Harbour comprises of several registered and unregistered parcels of land, as well as land that has not been surveyed. Historically, the harbour was divided into various lots to facilitate leasing arrangements with tenants. Future development plans include expanding commercial activities, supporting the fishing industry, promoting tourism, developing aquaculture opportunities, and providing accommodation facilities that complement the area's fishing heritage.

The initiative aligns with DPWI’s 2025–2030 strategic focus, "Public Assets for Public Good," which prioritises the effective management of state-owned assets to maximise their social and economic value. As the national custodian of state-owned properties, including the Western Cape’s small harbours, DPWI remains committed to improving the maintenance, utilisation, and management of public assets.