The Portfolio Committee on Tourism has concluded its oversight visits to the Free State and KwaZulu-Natal. The oversight visits happened over a period of two weeks.
Their main focus was to:
- check how tourism is aligned to the five government priorities
- ascertain alignment of tourism at a provincial level to the National Development Plan and the National Tourism Sector Strategy
- establish how is the coordination of tourism sector activities in the three spheres of government
- determine progress in terms of the implementation of the Social Responsibility Implementation (SRI) tourism projects which are part of the Expanded Public Works Programme implementation by the National Department of Tourism (NDT).
The Committee was pleased to discover that both provinces had aligned their provincial tourism plans with the National Tourism Sector Strategy and the National Development Plan.
The two provinces have prioritised tourism as they have fully-fledged tourism departments linked to their Departments of Economic Development with the Free State at a directorate level and KwaZulu-Natal at a chief directorate level.
However, it was noted with concern that both provinces do not have a full staff complement. An undertaking was made by both provinces that the vacant posts will be filled in the near future. It was discovered that the Free State had a good working relationship with the National Department of Tourism, and the province serve in all the national coordinating and governance structures.
Nevertheless, the province still needs to put more effort in establishing sound working relationships with municipalities, including the Mangaung Metro, to ensure seamless planning and implementation of tourism activities at a provincial level.
With regards to KwaZulu-Natal, it was observed that the province has a good working relationship with the National Department of Tourism and has functional tourism coordinating structures at a provincial and municipal level.
The Committee noted that the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Coordinating Structures Model was recommended for adoption at a national level by the Local Government Tourism Conference convened by the NDT in February 2013 to facilitate a common coordinating model across provinces which might assist with improving intergovernmental relations with regard to tourism.
The Committee identified areas of serious concerns with regard to the Social Responsibility Implementation Programme in the Free State namely:
Barolong Baseleka Cultural Village, Mantsopa Cave Project, site for the Dinosaur Interpretation Centre project within the Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Qwa Qwa Guesthouse, Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge and Metsi Matso Dam phase 1 were visited.
In KwaZulu-Natal, Muzi Pan Canoeing, Nselweni Bush Camp and Lilani Hot Springs projects were visited. The startling discovery was that none of the visited projects were complete and operational, except the Nselweni Bush Camp which is complete and fully functional, Lilani Hot Springs which is incomplete but partly functional and Muzi Pan Canoeing where only canoeing and bird watching activities were taking place with the accommodation aspect incomplete.
All projects had similar challenges that affected implementation and completion of projects. The common challenge was that most projects had been put on hold as they had run out of funds.
The Metsi Matso, Witsieshoek Mountain Lodge, Lilani Hot Springs and Muzi Pan Canoeing projects had received funding for phase two and continuation of implementation was underway. Some issues raised by beneficiaries in most projects, which were also witnessed by the Committee on the ground, included:
- poor workmanship on the structures that have been constructed
- expensive construction projects which was not value for money
- questionable project management capacity
- lack of project support from some municipalities
- lack of capacity of Community Trusts
- poor communication of decisions to communities who are beneficiaries of these projects
- sustainability of funded projects.
The Committee considered the issues discovered on these projects as very serious and has initiated a process of investigating lasting solutions to the implementation of community-based tourism projects in general, and SRI projects in particular for recommendations to the tourism department.
A good working model of implementing community projects, linked to the Expanded Public Works Programme, was observed at Nselweni Bush Camp. In this project implemented by Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, all the fundamentals were in place, with a functional community trust comprising ten traditional authorities surrounding the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
It is understood that there are peculiar issues prevalent in each community and implementation models may differ from place to place to accommodate local issues. Notwithstanding diverse local issues, a clear implementation model is needed, not only to ensure sustainability of projects, but also to allow the Committee to undertake its oversight role effectively.
It must be acknowledged that project implementation, including determining models is an executive function and the Portfolio Committee can only make recommendations in that regard.
Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee on Tourism, Mr Don Gumede, has forwarded a question for a written response to the Minister of Tourism, Mr Martinus van Schalkwyk on whether the Minister has instituted any forensic audit for the Social Responsibility Implementation (SRI) tourism projects linked to the Expanded Public Works Programme, if so:
- How much funding has been allocated to SRI projects since the inception of the programme
- How many projects have been subjected to the forensic audit
- How many companies are currently being investigated with matters before the courts
- How many projects have been stalled pending outcomes of the forensic audit
- How many full-time equivalent jobs have been created from the SRI projects
- What interventions will be done to ensure completion and operation of affected projects?
Currently, the committee is compiling a comprehensive report on the oversight visits. Once completed, the report will be tabled to the National Assembly, with recommendations for adoption by the House to ensure that issues identified by the Committee are addressed speedily and adequately.
For media enquiries or interviews with the Chairperson, please contact:
Yoliswa Landu, Parliamentary Communication Services
Tel: 021 403 8203
Cell: 073 738 0182
E-mail: ylandu@parliament.gov.za
