As part of stimulating demand and growing the country’s tourism offering, the Department of Tourism has invested in several tourism infrastructure projects which are underway in various provinces. 

One of the key projects currently underway is the Mdluli Cultural Centre near Numbi Gate in the Kruger National Park (KNP). 

The Kruger National Park (KNP) is an iconic South African attraction, however, communities surrounding the Park have not always felt the benefit from tourism to the Park.  

Following community protests and the closure of the Numbi Gate entrance into the KNP in 2018, the Department of Tourism held stakeholder engagements in the area.  One of the outcomes of these Stakeholder Engagements was that the Department would plan for and invest in community owned tourism projects around Numbi Gate. 

Following further discussions and agreement with the communities around the Numbi Gate, detailed technical planning was completed and there are currently two community owned projects being funded by the Department in this vicinity; one being the Nkambeni Lodge and the second being the Mdluli Cultural Centre.  

The Department is currently providing funding support for the implementation of the Mdluli Cultural Centre. The budget for the construction of the project amounts to around R 29.8million. 

The project scope entails: construction of a 65-seater restaurant with a Boma, construction of change rooms and ablutions, construction of a kiosk, construction of braai facilities, construction of an amusement water park, construction of a guardhouse and boom gate, construction of a security perimeter fence, construction of internal gravel roads, landscaping, electrical and other water and sanitation works. 

The site was handed over to the contractor in April 2023 and the project is currently under construction. 

Minister de Lille will be visiting the site to inspect progress and engage local community leaders and the contractor. 

Details of the Minister’s visit are as follows:

Date: Monday 11 December 2023

Time: 15h30 – 16h30 

Location: Numbi gate road, construction site before the railway bridge 

All media are welcome to attend and are kindly requested to RSVP to Zara Nicholson on the details below

Ends/ 

Issued by:

Zara Nicholson 

Media Liaison Officer to Minister Patricia de Lille, MP 

Cell: +27 (0) 79 416 5996 

Email: znicholson@tourism.gov.za ​