The 150th anniversary of the Anglo-Zulu War in 2029 is expected to provide a major tourism boost for northern KwaZulu-Natal, but poor roads, missing signage and neglected battlefield sites could undermine the commemorations.

This warning was raised at the annual general meeting of the Battlefields Route Committee in Dundee. The committee, formed in 1989, brings together towns that benefit from historical tourism across a region stretching from Wakkerstroom down to Eshowe.

Committee chairperson Pam McFadden, who also leads the anniversary planning committee, said “intense discussions” had been held with the KwaZulu-Natal Transport Department, with a list of “problem roads” submitted in the hope of upgrades.

The impact of road conditions is already evident. Judean Jansen van Vuuren of the Blood River Museum said a German tour group had cancelled its visit after travelling just two kilometres on the site’s access road before declaring it “not drivable”.

Signage theft and vandalism pose further challenges.

“It is these setbacks which put off our international tourists,” McFadden said. “Already we are up against a perceived crime epidemic, so once we get tourists here we must make their travels as comfortable as possible.”

Even world-renowned sites are affected. The Winston Churchill capture site near Estcourt is in poor condition and almost inaccessible, while the Clouston military cemetery at Colenso, where more than 1 800 soldiers are buried, has also fallen into neglect. McFadden said Amafa, the KwaZulu-Natal heritage body, has since appointed a local caretaker to clean and maintain the cemetery.

“It has been cleaned up, so at least that’s a start,” she said.

Delegates expressed concern that, while the Battlefields Route spans several districts, only the Umzinyathi District Municipality contributes financially. This has strained the committee’s ability to produce brochures, market the Route and attend tourism events such as the KwaZulu-Natal Tourism Indaba.

Despite these setbacks, McFadden said the committee remains optimistic. Plans for the anniversary include a three-day international military history conference in Dundee under the theme Conflict to Commemoration, archaeological digs tailored for tourist engagement, and visits by UK military regiments. More than 200 delegates are expected.

She added that a UK-based volunteer is already marketing the anniversary abroad.

“If we can package this just right, we will get tourists here, especially from the UK,” McFadden said.

While mining in northern KwaZulu-Natal has largely declined, McFadden believes the region’s rich history could pave the way for a tourism-led future.

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