Public Works and Infrastructure Minister Dean Macpherson and the Executive Mayor of Kouga Local Municipality, Hattingh Bornman, have announced an agreement to formally protect approximately 235 hectares of State-owned land at Ongegunde Vryheid, near Cape St Francis, for nature conservation.
This first-of-its-kind arrangement for the department, which was announced on Friday, breaks a decade-long administrative deadlock, ensuring that the land is actively managed and delivers lasting benefits for the local community.
The process began in 2015, when Kouga Local Municipality approached the department regarding the use of State-owned land for development and municipal purposes.
Subsequent environmental assessments established that significant portions of the property were unsuitable for residential development, requiring a solution that balanced conservation priorities with the municipality’s housing needs.
In October 2025, Macpherson directed that a definitive resolution be found. The department subsequently developed a revised approach that separated the conservation land from the portion earmarked for future human settlements, allowing both processes to proceed independently.
Following legal review and the necessary approvals, Macpherson granted final approval for the revised arrangement on 29 September 2026.
Under the arrangement, the land will be formally protected as a nature reserve under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act, while the municipality assumes responsibility for its ongoing management at no operational cost to the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.
The land contains environmentally sensitive ecosystems, wetlands and the critically endangered St Francis Strandveld vegetation type, as well as habitats for threatened plant species and diverse wildlife.
Its coastal dune systems play an important role in beach stability, while its wetlands help regulate water flows and sustain local ecosystems.
The area also contains significant archaeological heritage that will be protected for future generations. Beyond its conservation value, the arrangement will help preserve the natural assets that underpin nature-based tourism and contribute to the area's attractiveness as a destination.
By establishing a clear management framework, the agreement also ensures that an important public asset is protected from environmental degradation and put to productive use in the public interest.
Macpherson said the announcement demonstrated the importance of taking decisive action to unlock the value of State-owned land.
“This is an example of what can be achieved when government takes the initiative to overcome administrative obstacles and find practical solutions that put public assets to work for the benefit of communities.
“For too long, this land was caught in an administrative impasse. We have now found a way forward that protects our natural heritage, strengthens local conservation efforts and ensures this land serves a clear purpose.
“Government land must not remain idle when it can deliver meaningful public value. Our responsibility is to ensure that these assets are managed effectively, whether that means supporting housing and economic development or protecting environmentally sensitive areas for future generations. At Ongegunde Vryheid, we are doing precisely that,” he said.
Bornman said the agreement is an important step in protecting Kouga’s unique natural heritage, while ensuring that future housing needs can still be addressed.
"Ongegunde Vryheid is an environmental asset that deserves to be protected and managed responsibly, not left vulnerable to degradation because of administrative delays.
“By working together with the Department of Public Works and Infrastructure, we are securing 235 hectares for conservation, protecting our wetlands and endangered vegetation, and preserving the natural environment that contributes to our local tourism economy.
“This partnership also allows us to put the land under active management without adding operational costs to the national department.
“We have a responsibility to protect what makes Kouga special, while planning responsibly for future generations. This agreement demonstrates that conservation and development need not be in conflict when government works collaboratively to find practical, sustainable solutions,” he said.
The department said it looks forward to the positive impact the arrangement will have on conservation, local tourism and the wider community.
"The separate process relating to the land earmarked for future human settlements will continue through the appropriate channels." – SAnews.gov.za
