The development phase of the highly-anticipated Club Med resort in Tinley Manor officially ended with the ceremonial handover of the occupation certificate yesterday, April 28.

KwaDukuza mayor Siduduzo Gumede presented the certificate to project developers and stakeholders on site and reflected on the milestone ahead of the resort’s July 4 opening.

“This is a significant investment for our area, being the first of its kind, and we are grateful to the investors,” said Gumede.

“Through this development, jobs have been created and we are confident that tourism in this region will grow meaningfully. This project meets high international standards and will help improve the lives of our people.”

The 54 000m² resort, comprising 64 buildings, represents a landmark addition to the North Coast’s growing tourism offering.

The occupation certificate follows an extensive regulatory and compliance process. This included 12 submission packages, approximately 2 000 completion and compliance certificates and 570 electrical certificates of compliance.

The project was also supported by major infrastructure works, including 3.3km of bulk water pipeline and 8.4km of medium-voltage electrical cabling. Complex engineering interventions included a 9-metre pipe jack beneath the N2 and a 40-metre directional drill under the P467, highlighting the scale of the development.

Murray Collins of developers Collins Residential said the handover was something the team had long looked forward to.

“It’s a very special day to receive our occupation certificate, and we thank KwaDukuza municipality and all its members for the work they’ve put in to make this project so successful,” he said.

“We’re incredibly excited about what this means not only for KwaZulu-Natal and the North Coast, but for South Africa as a whole – from tourism growth and job creation to putting this destination on the global map.”

Project Lead for Club Med South Africa, Chris du Toit, emphasised the teamwork needed for a project of this scale.

“This has been a truly collaborative journey. From the early design stages, the municipality consistently worked alongside us, engaging regularly to ensure approvals and signoffs were achieved,” said Du Toit.

“Today is not only about completing the resort, but also about recognising its long-term impact through job creation and economic growth for surrounding communities.”