The election in 2024 will be just as significant, if not more so, than the 1994 elections at the dawn of the new South Africa.
“Currently, the ruling party stands a good chance to have one of the steepest mountains to climb if they want to stay in control. They just absolutely don’t give a damn about the people or the country.” This is the strong-worded statement by Oupa Pilane, well-known Lowveld businessman, activist for the tourism industry in the province and a staunch fighter for freedom and democracy.
“We must call it what it is. I will not be afraid to speak up. And I’m not scared or intimidated by politicians. I’m gatvol and you can quote me on this!” Pilane told Lowvelder this week. This week, he aired his frustration about the Government and its lacking interest in solving the serious problems experienced by the Mpumalanga tourism industry.
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“They [the government] just don’t care about us, about the economy and our people who are struggling when the tourism sector could be employing most of them. “I love my country with all my heart. I have been part of the struggle to gain freedom and I have always committed myself to be part of the solution to its problems, especially the tourism sector,” said Pilane, former spokesperson for Mathews Phosa, the first democratic premier of the province.
He said it is now the time for the Government, it ministers and their departments to come on board and support the tourism industry. One of his serious complaints is the lack of support from the office of Fikile Mbalula, the minister of transport.
Pilane said since 2017, the National Public Transport Regulator (NPTR), which is the government body responsible for issuing licences to tourist operators, has not had a board. “This board is the body that approves these licences.” The tourist operators have since been struggling to operate legally. Among others, they need a licence to transport tourists.
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An aspect that angers Pilane even more, was when he received a letter from the German Embassy this week in which they complained about a German tour operator who was arrested by the police on the N4. “The operator’s licence has expired, but according to the act, when one is confronted by the law enforcement authorities, you can just show the receipt that you have reapplied for it.”
In this case, the operator, with his vehicle packed with German tourists, was taken to the police station where he was fined R3 000. His vehicle was allegedly also impounded, and he had to pay another R10 000 to have it released.
“This is not a good showcase for the South African tourism industry. The Government should hang their heads in shame,” Pilane said. A war of words erupted this week between Pilane and Mbalula about Pilane questioning the fact that no operators’ licences have been issued for the past five years.
Mbalula reacted, saying the NPTR has issued 3 345 operating licences to tourist operators since 2016. He also blamed the backlog of issuing of licences on tourist operators who “submit incomplete information, resulting in a longer processing time.”
Pilane hit back, saying, “Honestly, they lied to you. We have enough proof as an association to prove that this is incorrect. We could meet to prove that this is a lie. There is a backlog of over 1 000 vehicles.”
He also took a sideswipe at the Government, saying it must be held accountable for its incompetence. “It is absurd that for five years we have been requesting Government to issue operators permits.
“On the one hand they are not issuing operators permits, and on the other hand they are arresting tour operators with tourists. For years we have been in talks with the Department of Home Affairs discussing e-visas, and still today the matter has not been resolved.
“The shopfront of any business is where you walk in. The Government is failing us dismally in this case. The road to the main airport of Mpumalanga [KMI Airport] is our main access for air travellers.
“This road is a disaster, totally destroyed and a danger to motorists. What must the world think of us when they land here and are transported on that road?”
Pilane said the time has come for people who are competent to be employed in these governmental positions. “Political deployments with incompetent people are impoverishing our people, and yet the people in charge are getting rich.”
