Property tycoon has big plans for Robben Island

But former inmates say they have been sidelined for business interests

● A property tycoon who partnered with former political prisoners to land a ferry deal with Robben Island Museum says he is better off without them, and has excluded them from his latest island venture.

Accelerate Property Fund CEO Michael Georgiou, best known for shopping developments such as the revamped Fourways Mall, in Johannesburg, has spent years trying to invest in tourism infrastructure on the island.

His locally built vessel, Madiba 1, joined the island’s ferry service last year, managed by a consortium involving the Ex-Political Prisoners Association (EPPA).

But the consortium lost its contract with the museum in May, and the vessel now has a new contract without the ex-prisoners.

Georgiou told the Sunday Times infighting among the former prisoners and nonpayment issues forced him to “go direct” to the museum. “They now feel aggrieved that they have lost out because of the various fights between them.”

The Bloemfontein tycoon said he was interested in the island’s development potential and had offered to buy new ferries.

“I think the island has phenomenal potential. The guys I’ve spoken to from the island know that — they would like to start tapping that potential. I’ve had a couple of discussions with them. It is really a treasure for SA.”

Georgiou owns one of SA’s largest property portfolios, and finance minister Tito Mboweni served as chair of Accelerate before resigning when he was appointed to the cabinet last year.

The Robben Island ferry service has been notoriously bad for years, with maintenance problems often forcing the museum to rely on back-up charter vessels. Last year the Madiba 1 had to rescue tourists from a half-submerged island ferry.

EPPA secretary Mpho Masemola said there was “no valid reason” why its ferry contract had been cancelled. The matter — and several other deals — had been reported to the arts and culture department, which oversees the museum and had launched an investigation, he said.

Earlier this year, the museum bought a 270-seat ferry from Singapore, which it has named Krotoa. It has been delivered but is not yet in service.

The museum confirmed it had signed a contract to use Madiba 1 until May 2020. It said Krotoa was still being commissioned and referred questions about the EPPA’s concerns to the arts and culture department, which did not respond.

Several island staff, who spoke to the Sunday Times on condition of anonymity this week, said they had been heartened by the department’s decision to investigate the museum. They said museum management appeared more interested in commercialising the island than the welfare of ex-prisoners.

Georgiou said he, too, had been getting the cold shoulder from the island about proposals to upgrade the visitor experience. “It just never seems to get anywhere. I have lost a bit of interest.”

Georgiou has been involved in previous ferry consortia that failed to secure island charters, including a venture with Free State social development MEC Butana Komphela.

Black Farmers Association president Lennox Mtshagi, who led another consortium bidding for an island ferry contract, said he was frustrated by the museum’s decision to appoint Georgiou.

“I questioned the CEO as to why there are no black people operating in this place, because they were the ones sitting in prison,” he said.

“They [the museum] said you can bring people that have money to buy vessels. I said I will be the first one to do that. I submitted my stuff. I did not get the contract. Now Georgiou gets a contract.”

I think the island has phenomenal potential.

It is really a treasure for SA

Michael Georgiou, above

CEO, Accelerate Property Fund