By Mulalo Luvhimbi
Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Public Works and Infrastructure Martin Meyer said in a joint statement on Monday that they would urgently challenge a court interdict obtained by Ray Nkonyeni Municipality on the South Coast.
The interdict, filed on Sunday, halts the handover of leases for six coastal properties, mainly restaurants, between Port Shepstone and Port Edward.
Macpherson and Meyer said the national and provincial departments remained committed to protecting public assets, supporting local businesses, revitalising tourism and creating jobs.
“We will challenge the order urgently, place the full facts before the court and seek a resolution that allows the intervention to proceed in the shortest space of time. We will also continue engaging with affected businesses, community members and other stakeholders so that their concerns are heard and their interests remain part of this process,” they said.
They pledged to do everything possible to protect the livelihoods of people in the affected communities, particularly workers who depend on the businesses to support their families.
The two said those at risk of losing out were not government officials or politicians, but business owners, employees, entrepreneurs and communities dependent on a functioning local economy.
“We cannot afford to see another festive season pass while valuable coastal properties remain underutilised and opportunities for tourism and job creation are lost.
“That is why we believe this matter must be resolved as quickly as the legal process allows,” they said.
The leases formed part of a joint initiative by the national and provincial departments to improve the management of state-owned coastal properties and ensure local communities benefited from their economic potential.
The departments said concerns had emerged over lease agreements, underutilised state assets, deteriorating infrastructure and lost opportunities for investment, tourism and job creation.
In May 2016, the national department entered into a Property Management Agreement with Ray Nkonyeni Municipality covering 15 coastal properties along the KwaZulu-Natal South Coast.
The agreement was intended to protect public assets and ensure they contributed to the economic development of surrounding communities.
However, by early 2025, serious concerns had emerged about the management of the properties, the two said.
Commercial tenants, represented by the Federated Hospitality Association of Southern Africa, raised concerns about expired subleases, delays in lease renewals and a lack of security of tenure.
Departmental inspections subsequently identified deteriorating facilities, abandoned premises and vandalism at several sites, including the Margate Amusement Park, Mariners Seafood Restaurant and Ice Cream Oasis.
Macpherson and Meyer said the problems represented lost economic opportunities for the region and threatened jobs.
“Every property left vacant or allowed to deteriorate is a potential business that cannot operate, an investment that may never materialise and a job that may never be created.
“The department therefore had to take action because we care deeply about this community and protecting jobs,” they said.
In June 2025, the national department issued a notice terminating the 2016 Property Management Agreement, citing concerns about the management of the properties and grievances raised by tenants.
The two said the agreement allowed either party to terminate it by giving at least 60 days’ notice, which the department had done.
“Our responsibility as custodians of national government property is to protect these assets and ensure that they are managed in the public’s interest. We cannot simply stand by when properties under our ownership are underutilised, and job losses are taking place,” they said.
The handover of the six leases was scheduled to take place on the South Coast this week. The departments said it would have marked a significant step towards stimulating economic activity ahead of the peak festive season.
However, the municipality’s court application halted the process.
Macpherson and Meyer questioned the timing of the urgent application, saying the municipality had known about the intervention since May 2025.
The matter had also been tabled and discussed at an executive committee meeting chaired by the mayor in November 2025, they said.
They argued that the municipality had sufficient time to raise its concerns and engage with the national department before approaching the court.
“Rather than raising any issues at the appropriate time, they have waited more than 12 months in an attempt to halt an intervention intended to benefit local businesses and communities and respond to the many problems they had not done so under their management,” they said.
The two also expressed concern that the urgent proceedings had taken place without the national and provincial departments having a proper opportunity to present their version of events to the court.
“We will not allow an incomplete picture of this intervention to go unchallenged because our first commitment is to the people of this community. We will urgently approach the court to present the full facts, respond to the municipality’s claims and seek to get this process back on track,” they said.
The departments have agreed on a coordinated legal response and concluded a formal cooperation arrangement to support the process and avoid unnecessary delays.
Macpherson and Meyer said they would continue engaging directly with affected businesses, community members and other stakeholders.
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