Potholes and poor management plague tourism potential in Emfuleni
Tourism in the region has diminished from once offering world-class tourism events such as golf and water sports championships.
Parliament’s Tourism Portfolio Committee conducted an oversight visit to the Emfuleni Local Municipality (ELM) this week, noting significant regional tourism potential but raising concerns over infrastructure, including roads, and poor management.
Headed by chairperson Ronalda Nalumango, the committee received detailed briefings from ELM officials, led by Acting Executive Mayor and Tourism MMC Mbuyiselo Kantso, before embarking on a tour of mainly anti-apartheid Struggle tourism sites in Evaton, Boipatong, and Sharpeville.
Focusing mainly on township tourism, the committee visited the Sharpeville Memorial, the Boipatong Massacre Monument, the Zone 7 Night Vigil Massacre Site in Sebokeng, as well as the Caravan Park in Vanderbijlpark.
Nalumango criticised the potholes in Emfuleni roads, which blocked access or caused tour operators to avoid many tourism attractions, especially in townships.
Another major barrier to authentic tourism was the proliferation of illegal B&B accommodation sites, which encouraged undesirable behaviours such as alcohol and drug abuse whilst taking business from legitimate tourism accommodation.
Accumulated refuse was also cited during briefings as a barrier to tourism, as was the failure of local government to open heritage sites over weekends, and the lack of a tourism budget at ELM.
The committee was told that Gauteng was also not paying its grants to maintain certain sites.
