Total Tourism Development to Cost Over R850-Million

A whooping R852.3-million will have to be invested in Greater Sekhukhune district to get tourism projects off the ground.

The Sekhukhune 2025 Growth and Development Strategy - a visionary plan to unlock the district’s economic potential in order to elevate services and living standards to be on par with capitals of the developed world – identifies seven mega tourism projects that need to be implemented.

The projects are the Flag Boshielo-Schuinsdraai Complex, Flag Boshielo Conservancy, Flag Boshielo Golf and Residential Estate, Tjate Heritage Site, Gates and Routes, Klein Drakensberg Escarpment and De Hoop Dam Complex.

These projects, according to the strategy, will create about 1 520 jobs during the construction phase and after the commencement of their operation.

The district’s name has been inadvertently wiped out of Limpopo tourism maps since the advent of democracy, but it is being gradually introduced.

The introduction began last month when Limpopo Tourism and Parks chief executive officer (CEO) Benny Boshielo and Greater Sekhukhune executive mayor Cllr Namane Masemola, launched the landmark Sekhukhune Regional Tourism Association (RTA).

The RTA is a think-tank, which will focus on developing the tourism industry in the district.

It is not only the first structure of its kind locally, but also the only regional association that has been launched in Limpopo to date.

The brief description of the tourism projects is as follows:

• The Flag Boshielo-Schuinsdraai Complex’s primary components are a 200-bed resort with an adjacent golf and residential estate, complemented by the nearby Schuinsdraai Conservancy and conference venue.

• The Tjate project is based on the contribution of King Sekhukhune I’s contribution to the fight against encroaching colonialists in the 1800s. His statue was erected in Tjate in 2005. This is a prominent culture and heritage destination among others in Limpopo that include Makapan, Modjadji and Mapungubwe.

• Gates and Routes project aims to promote sustainable tourism development in Sekhukhune by luring tourists from flagship projects to wide range of smaller local attractions along various route to prolong their stay and expenditure in the district.

• Klein Drakensberg Escarpment will take advantage of the remote and rugged terrain of the Drakensberg for adventure tourism such as 4x4 riding, quad bikes, mountain bikes, hiking and horse back safaris. This venture will spread tourism to remote communities.

• The De Hoop Dam Complex project will only kick off after the completion of the dam in two years. The project’s aim is to establish a recreation facility around the dam and a conservation area on either side of the Steelpoort river valley.

According to Mayor Masemola’s speech during the RTA launch, these are however not the only tourism features of Sekhukhune district.

The others, he said, were:

• The Foot of God in Fetakgomo. This is a big footprint of about one-metre long on a rock.

• The Arum Lily Flower in Rossenekal. This flower does not grow anywhere else and thousands of people come to see it when it blossoms.

• The 130 years of Sekhukhune Wars of Resistance. This commemoration has a historical significance but also form part of tourism.

• The unique crocodile species that are only found in the Flag Boshielo Dam.

• The commemoration of Manche Masemola, a 14-year-old girl who was fatally stabbed with a hoe for converting into Christianity.

• The Methodist Church, which was first established in Limpopo province in Ga-Marishane.