Tourism entity secures funds to upgrade Loskop Dam Nature Reserve in Mpumalanga
The Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency announced more upgrades at various tourist attractions in Mpumalanga that will commence within the next financial year.
During the celebratory event of marking 100 days of being the official CEO of the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA), Mduduzi Vilakazi revealed that the agency’s board has managed to secure funding to upgrade the Loskop Dam Nature Reserve outside Middelburg.
Vilakazi was elated to make the announcement in his keynote speech during the elegant gala dinner at 34 On Saturn on November 17. He said the philanthropic funding from Aspinall Foundation amounts to R112.9m to upgrade the reserve to a Big 5 game reserve for a period of 25 years.
“This charity fund will be used to upgrade the fence, hire field rangers, procure patrol vehicles and introduce wildlife game that will fit into the area’s topography. This donation augments the limited resources that the state allocates to the MTPA.”
Vilakazi said there are more plans to uplift the various tourism attractions in the province, such as securing donor funding of R1m to maintain the fence in the fight against poaching in Manyeleti Game Reserve’s main camp.
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Another aspect that has shown improvement in the tourism sector is employment. “Mpumalanga is number two of all the provinces that receives international arrivals. This has created more than 9 000 jobs in the tourism industry in the past 18 months. The revenue has increased from R21m in 2021/22 to R52m in the 2022/23. We are convinced that this year’s target of R67m will be exceeded,” Vilakazi said.
He outlined some of the future plans of the MTPA, which include working with the Department of Economic Development and Tourism to resuscitate the tourism train project that will move from Emgwenya to Hoedspruit via the Kruger National Park.
“Our combined work with the department focuses on the creation of tourism towns, namely Barberton, Hazyview, Emgwenya and Graskop. Among these investment opportunities is the God’s Window Skywalk at a development value of R580m, the Blyde Canyon Cable Way estimated at R293m, the Hydro Power Plant projected at R63m, Bourke’s Luck Hotel forecast at R284m and the conversion of army accommodation to tourist chalets in Mariepskop, estimated at R600m.”
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The celebration was attended by business people and entrepreneurs in the tourism sector. Vilakazi was appointed as CEO after having acted in this position for 16 months from April 2022 to July 2023. His appointment came into effect on August 2, which marked 100 days on November 9.
