Impressive women head up tourism and investment enterprise

Following the amalgamation of Ugu South Coast Tourism (USCT) and Ugu South Coast Development Agency (USCDA), the newly formed South Coast Tourism and Investment Enterprise (SCTIE) has announced two impressive women at its helm; CEO Phelisa Mangcu, and Investment and Development Manager, Nkululeko Hlongwane.

Working alongside their dynamic team, Mangcu and Hlongwane are ensuring that SCTIE, as the official economic development arm of the region, optimises service delivery, enhances efficiencies, and drives the economy of the South Coast by positioning it as a prime tourism and investment destination.

A single mother-of-four, Mangcu has brought a wealth of global tourism experience to the South Coast, having worked in the tourism sector in Washington DC in the United States in the early 1990s. In 1999, she returned to South Africa where she took on a position in the tourism unit at IDC (Industrial Development Corporation), before relocating to Johannesburg Tourism.

In 2018, Mangcu made the bold decision to relocate with her four daughters to the South Coast where she relished the opportunity to grow the local tourism and investment offerings. She was appointed as the CEO of the then USCT, which allowed her to continue improving the lives of South African citizens and showcasing the beauty of the country to the world.

“This was my first time working in a more rural, coastal setting as I’d only worked in big cities prior to this. I was so warmly welcomed into the community at Shelly Beach and have been astounded at the amazing tourism opportunities that await visitors here. I’m honoured to be in a position to work closely with the local businesses, provincial, and national stakeholders to achieve our goals of placing the South Coast on the global map,” she said.

Working with her team, Mangcu has enjoyed the task of growing tourism in the region by unlocking the potential of the unique tourism offerings – Blue Flag beaches, two world-renowned dive sites, 11 quality golf courses, two iconic gorges, the world’s smallest desert, the Sardine Run and endless nature reserves.

Despite the challenges of Covid-19, floods, and riots in the province, Mangcu’s leadership has resulted in massive rural tourism development, adding to the diversity of experiences found along the South Coast. The ‘Agri-GULTURE’ Tours, KwaNzimakwe Multi-Trails, Umzumbe River Trail, and the KwaXolo Caves are just some of the unique experiences that drive the local economy in rural areas.

“The formation of SCTIE is an exciting new chapter for the region’s development, as it combines the expertise and resources of two entities for a more unified and effective vision. We are working to market the region’s tourism and investment offerings while eradicating barriers to these along the way,” said Mangcu.

Joining Mangcu on the SCTIE team is an enthusiastic manager and fellow Shelly Beach resident, Nkululeko Hlongwane.

Born and raised in the small town of Estcourt in the KZN Midlands, Hlongwane has always been passionate about her home province and sharing its many wonders with the rest of the world. The mother-of-two quickly took to the South Coast when she relocated to the area in 2013.

This passion is backed by a solid educational foundation, having received a Postgraduate Diploma in Local Economic Development from University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN), a Bachelor of Technology in Management, a Diploma in Community Extension, and an Advanced Certificate in Project Management.

She arrives in her latest role with 16 years of experience across various government and economic development fields. Some of her previous roles were at the Independent Development Trust (IDT), Department of Rural Development and Land Reform (DRDLR), Johannesburg ProductivitySA, and iSimangaliso Wetland Park Authority.

She is excited to take on the role of Investment and Development Manager for SCTIE, working with local and international stakeholders in promoting the region.

“As we are recovering from various shocks which affected the economic growth and job creation, my focus will be to ensure that, as the investor destination, we keep existing businesses and jobs in our area, while promoting business expansion and attracting new investment from both domestic and international investors. We will ensure that the enterprise thrives, effectively becoming a one-stop shop for investment promotion and facilitation for the KZN South Coast through a strong public-private partnership,” said Hlongwane.

Outside of her workplace duties, Hlongwane enjoys reading, travelling with her family, hiking in the region’s beautiful reserves, and embarking on some extreme adventure activities.

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