By Charmaine Ndlela
Minister of Public Works and Infrastructure Dean Macpherson has handed over the interim management of the Elands Bay slipway and related harbour facilities to the Cederberg Local Municipality, fulfilling a commitment he made to the community during an oversight visit earlier this year.
The handover was formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA), granting the municipality interim responsibility for managing, securing and maintaining the slipway and harbour facilities while carrying out approved repairs to restore the infrastructure.
Under the agreement, local fishermen and small businesses will continue to use the facilities without paying rental, user fees or other charges, easing the financial burden on those whose livelihoods depend on the harbour.
Speaking at the handover on Tuesday, Macpherson said the agreement marked a significant milestone in government’s efforts to restore neglected public infrastructure and unlock economic opportunities for the West Coast community.
“When I first visited Elands Bay in January, I became the first Public Works Minister to do so in 28 years. Residents and local fishing communities told us that critical infrastructure, including the slipway and pier, had deteriorated after years of neglect. Today, we are back to honour the promise we made to begin turning that around,” he said.
Macpherson said rehabilitating the harbour infrastructure would not only support the local fishing industry but also create opportunities for tourism, investment and job creation.
“We want these assets to become productive again and form part of a broader development strategy for the town. Elands Bay has enormous potential, and we believe it can become the waterfront of the West Coast, attracting tourism while strengthening fishing, fish processing and other local industries,” he said.
He thanked the local community for supporting government’s efforts and said the partnership with the Cederberg Local Municipality would help ensure the harbour is restored for the benefit of residents and the local economy.
The Department of Public Works and Infrastructure said the interim management arrangement would allow the municipality to maintain the facilities while approved repair work is undertaken, ensuring the harbour remains operational for local fishermen and small enterprises.
The department said the initiative forms part of broader government efforts to unlock economic opportunities, support local development and revitalise Elands Bay Harbour.
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