In a key boost for local coastal enterprise, the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure (DPWI) has finalised a landmark Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with the Cederberg Local Municipality, guaranteeing zero-cost access to Elands Bay Harbour facilities for local fishermen and small, medium, and micro-enterprises (SMMEs).
Under the agreement, overseen by DPWI Minister Dean Macpherson, local entrepreneurs and small-scale fishers will no longer be burdened by rental fees, launching tariffs, or site charges when utilizing the Elands Bay slipway, breakwater, jetty, public launch site, and old crayfish factory.
The agreement places the interim management, maintenance, and security of the precinct under the Cederberg Local Municipality for nine years and eleven months. The municipality will absorb all operational, municipal, environmental compliance, and utility-related costs associated with managing the state-owned infrastructure.
Macpherson emphasised that removing financial barriers for small businesses is central to unlocking the economic potential of neglected public infrastructure.
“Local fishermen and small businesses should be able to use public facilities to earn an income and support their families without being burdened by rental, fees or other charges,” Macpherson said during the signing ceremony.
He noted that for years, state properties across South Africa have suffered from underutilisation and deterioration. The new arrangement aims to reverse this trend by establishing a operational foundation for fish processing, boat mooring, local trade, and hospitality ventures in the area.
Macpherson outlined a broader economic roadmap for Elands Bay, stating the goal is to develop the harbour into the Waterfront of the West Coast—a multi-use precinct where local fishing operations, tourism, and small hospitality businesses can thrive side-by-side.
Multi-governmental collaboration
The signing was attended by key provincial and local government leaders, including Western Cape Infrastructure Minister Tertuis Simmers, Western Cape Agriculture, Economic Development and Tourism Minister Dr Ivan Meyer, and Cederberg Local Municipality Executive Mayor Azrial Scheepers, alongside community business representatives.
While the municipality takes over operational control, the DPWI confirmed that the agreement does not constitute a permanent land transfer, sale, or lease. Any proposed capital improvements or structural alterations by the municipality will require prior approval from the national department.
For local SMMEs in the West Coast region, the zero-cost agreement provides immediate overhead relief, allowing small-scale harvesters and traders to retain higher margins and reinvest in their operations.
