The Lighthouse Precinct project in the Cape Agulhas National Park – a R54.9 million (€2.6m) investment by the Department of Tourism – is about 73% complete and is on track to open in June.

This was announced by Minister of Tourism, Patricia de Lille, following her progress visit to the project yesterday (Tuesday, March 26). She was accompanied by the Mayor of the Cape Agulhas Municipality, Paul Swart, the Deputy Mayor of the Overberg District Municipality, Helen Coetzee and other councillors from the region.

The infrastructure project is one of many being implemented by the Department of Tourism across the country as part of the Tourism Sector Master Plan’s objectives to simulate demand by investing in new and maintaining existing tourism infrastructure and attractions.

The Department of Tourism invested in this project, implemented in conjunction with South African National Parks to ensure that this site remains attractive to visitors and supports tourism development in the surrounding communities.

Two phases

The project was funded in two phases. Phase 1 was completed in 2018. Phase 2 is currently under construction.

The Phase 2 Agulhas Light House Precinct project includes:

• The construction of a restaurant
• An interpretation centre (including vendor stalls, ablution facilities, curio shops, booking office and lecture theatre)
• Construction of reception area/offices
• External works and bulk infrastructure

The project also has significant socio-economic benefits as so far the project has employed 48 youth, 50 women and two persons with disabilities during the construction phase, while eight sub-contractors from surrounding communities were also employed on the project to do brick and steel work, stone cladding, laying of kerbs and channels, electric works, plumbing and roofing.

“Investment in infrastructure by government shows the private sector that we are serious about growing our tourism offering and by government investing, we are creating the conditions conducive for further investment by the private sector.

“As a top tourist destination, we remain committed to constantly diversifying and growing our tourism offering so that we remain an attractive destination that keeps visitors coming back,” De Lille said.

The Cape Agulhas Lighthouse Precinct Project is one of 25 maintenance projects being implemented by the Department across the country as committed to in the Minister’s budget speech in May 2023.

Twenty-two of these projects are now at practical completion while three are still under construction.

The total value of the of the 25 maintenance projects is R94.9 million (€4.6m) and together these projects have so far created close to 300 jobs.

Community-based projects

The Department of Tourism also has a number of Community Based Tourism Infrastructure Projects under way – the bulk of which are the development or upgrading of accommodation facilities.

One such is the Mdluli Lodge near Numbi gate in the Kruger National Park and it is working with the Mdluli Traditional Council on the project.

A total of 29 community projects are under way for this financial year in the Eastern Cape, Limpopo, Free State, North West, KwaZulu Natal, Mpumalanga and the Northern Cape.

Of these 29 community-based projects, four projects are at practical completion, 21 in construction and the remainder at planning and procurement stage.

The total value of the of the above community projects is R676.4 million (€32.9m) and, to date, these projects have created 605 jobs.

“All stakeholders were pleased with the progress on site at the Cape Agulhas Lighthouse Precinct Project and we agreed that we must continue working as partners – the Department of Tourism, SANParks, the Cape Agulhas and the Overberg District Municipalities, to ensure that this project continues to benefit this area for many years to come.

“We must work together to ensure its continued success and to ensure that the attraction is properly maintained and looked after so that it can bring economic benefits to tourism and the surrounding communities,” De Lille added.

The Agulhas National Park is in the Southern Overberg region of the Western Cape province and stretches along the coastal plain between the towns of Gansbaai and Struisbaai and includes the southernmost tip of Africa.