Villagers deny tourists entry in protest against the MTPA

MATIBIDI – After receiving numerous calls from tour guides asking why the Bourke’s Luck Potholes and Drie Rondawels were closed, Mpumalanga News paid the tourist attractions a visit to investigate the reason behind their closure.

Upon arrival at Potholes, this reporter found three intoxicated men turning back tourists at the gate, telling them that it was closed until further notice.

Some tourists were visibly annoyed by the men who were also begging for money and food and shouting while peeping through their vehicles’ windows.

According to community members of Matibidi, a village next to Potholes, one of the major tourist attractions in South Africa, they demanded these places to close down since last Monday because they felt excluded from the projects that were underway.

“We want Mr Jacques Modipane, the CEO of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency, to tell us why these places are not employing locals since we believe that we supposed to be prioritised when it comes to benefiting from these facilities,” said an angry resident.

She added that residents were against the fact that they had to pay the same tariffs as international tourists while they lived close to these places.

“Let’s say we want to have a party at this place this week and next week, are we supposed to pay the same amount? The agency should consider such things. We understand that people from afar need to pay that much to see these places, not us,” she further stated.

At the Drie Rondawels, international tourists had to jump over the closed gate to view the natural rondawel- shaped mountains.

“We heard about these beautiful places and I told myself that when I’m in South Africa I will definitely visit this marvellous destination. I can not go back home and wait for the strike to be over and return again.”This is so disappointing,” said one tourist from South Korea.

When Mpumalanga News phoned the MTPA for comment, we were told that the communications officer was on leave and the alternative person to talk to could not be reached at the time of going to press.