𝗦𝗢𝗨𝗧𝗛 𝗖𝗢𝗔𝗦𝗧 𝗖𝗢𝗠𝗘𝗕𝗔𝗖𝗞 𝗜𝗦 𝗛𝗘𝗥𝗘!

There’s a new wave of hope rolling over the South Coast, and this time, it’s not one we’re bracing for, but one we’re ready to ride.

After years of frustration for local entrepreneurs and tourism operators caught in unstable, month-to-month leases, the tide has finally turned.
Minister Dean Macpherson, together with KZN MEC Martin Meyer, has announced the handover of 15 coastal properties from the national Department of Public Works to the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Public Works and Infrastructure.

It’s a game-changing moment for our coastline, and the community knows it.

Local DA leader Riona Gokool, MPL and DA Ugu South Constituency Head, called it “a victory for collaboration, transparency, and progress, and most importantly, a victory for the people of the South Coast.”

💡 From Red Tape to Real Results

For years, beachfront businesses operated under unstable leases that made it nearly impossible to invest or grow. Each month was uncertain. Plans were delayed. Jobs were lost.

Venues like Mariners Restaurant in Southbroom became symbols of that struggle, ready to rebuild after the freak waves of 2023, but held back by lease limbo and endless waiting.

That changes now.
With the termination of the 2016 management agreement and the direct involvement of the provincial department, business owners can finally breathe.

No more confusion about who’s in charge.
No more stalled opportunities.
No more watching good properties fall into ruin.

🏖️ Why It Matters

The South Coast is one of KwaZulu-Natal’s greatest assets, a coastline packed with natural beauty, family-run businesses, and proud communities who’ve held on through tough times.

But while locals kept the faith, bureaucracy held the region back. With this handover, a new foundation for investment and accountability is being built.

Entrepreneurs will get long-term lease security.

Jobs can return to the communities that need them most.

Investors can finally step forward, knowing the system is fair and transparent.

The DA in Ugu South has welcomed the move, pledging to support the provincial department in restoring proper lease management and ensuring that local businesses, not outsiders ,benefit from the reform.

“This is about restoring livelihoods, creating opportunities for our youth, and using tourism’s 16.9% contribution to our economy as a lever for real growth,” said Gokool.

⚓ The Bigger Picture

Minister Macpherson summed it up best: “The state has been a barrier to private investment for too long. We’re removing those barriers so businesses can invest confidently and create jobs.”

It’s not just an announcement, it’s a turning point.
The handover marks a shift from frustration to action, from uncertainty to clarity, and from broken systems to bold collaboration.