# South Africa and Kouga agree to protect 235 hectares near Cape St Francis

> Kouga Municipality will manage about 235 hectares of state land near Cape St Francis as a nature reserve; the separate housing process will continue.

- Canonical URL: https://newsverum.com/en/news/south-africa-kouga-235-hectare-nature-reserve-agreement-2026-10-18
- Publisher: Newsverum
- Section: Environment
- Country: South Africa
- Published: 2026-10-18T20:24:51+00:00
- Updated: 2026-10-18T20:24:51+00:00
- Event / data period: 2026-10-16
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South Africa’s public works and infrastructure minister, Dean Macpherson, and Kouga Municipality executive mayor Hattingh Bornman announced an agreement to protect about 235 hectares at Ongegunde Vryheid near Cape St Francis. The department said the arrangement received final approval on September 29 and was announced publicly on Friday, October 16.

Under the agreement, the land will be protected as a nature reserve under the National Environmental Management: Protected Areas Act and managed by the municipality, at no operating cost to the national department. The property includes wetlands, coastal dunes and critically endangered St Francis Strandveld vegetation. Land earmarked for future housing remains subject to a separate process.

## Data

### Ongegunde Vryheid land and conservation arrangement

Methodology: The site is reported at approximately 235 hectares; this is a parcel-level figure, not a provincial or national total. Final approval was dated September 29, 2026; the public announcement was Friday, October 16, 2026.

| Site | Area (hectares) | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Ongegunde Vryheid, near Cape St Francis | 235 | Approximate parcel area; nature-reserve protection agreed |

Sources: <https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/public-works-inks-deal-protect-235-hectares-state-owned-land-kouga> · Download data: [JSON](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/south-africa-kouga-235-hectare-nature-reserve-agreement-2026-10-18/data/kouga-nature-reserve-land-area-2026-10-18?lang=en&format=json) · [CSV](https://newsverum.com/api/v1/articles/south-africa-kouga-235-hectare-nature-reserve-agreement-2026-10-18/data/kouga-nature-reserve-land-area-2026-10-18?lang=en&format=csv)

## Sources

- [South African Government News Agency (SAnews)](<https://www.sanews.gov.za/south-africa/public-works-inks-deal-protect-235-hectares-state-owned-land-kouga>) (Source checked: 2026-10-18; Published: 2026-10-18)

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