Tsabedze told the Herald that they decided to change the name to Ba-Phalaborwa Hotel, Golf, and Spa, signalling a new start. “I believe that the people of Phalaborwa deserve something better, and we hope that with the new name, they will feel proud of the hotel. “The hotel will create many job opportunities, which will contribute to the growth of the local economy,” he said. In the past years, the hotel faced numerous challenges such as liquidation and poor service. Tsabedze bought the hotel at a public auction in November 2021.
However, the former owner Shamira Rinderknecht allegedly refused to let go of the property amicably and continued running the business as if it was her own. Indalo Hotels & Leisure eventually managed to get control of their property and started with renovations. However, the renovation plans had to be put on hold after Palabora Mining Company (PMC) stopped to supply the estate with wastewater used for the upkeep of the golf course and grounds.
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This has delayed the reopening of the golf course, which was planned for the end of April. According to Tsabedze, Indalo won a court case against PMC earlier this year regarding the electricity supply to the hotel. PMC used to supply the estate with electricity, but Indalo argued that the mine did not have the authority to supply power as they are not an electricity supplier. “Indalo has in the meantime applied to Eskom to supply electricity and to Lepelle Northern Water for water.
These applications may take between three to six months which may delay the opening and renovations of the whole facility,” he said. “When PMC cut the power supply, they also cut the wastewater. Wastewater is generated from the mine’s underground activities which they used to distribute to us. We feel they intentionally cut the water in reaction to the court case,” he added.
