Drakensberg Cable Car: Mayor VR Mlotshwa adamant and assertive on the success of this project
The project, initiated during former Economic Development and Tourism MEC Mike Mabuyakhulu’s tenure and Mayor Vikizitha Mlotshwa of Okhahlamba Local Municipality, is finally gaining momentum.
Back in 2020, the project was forecast to cost between R500 million and more than R1 billion, and the provincial government had been attempting to entice investors, local and international, to inject the capital to get the project started. Now the MEC for Economic Development, Tourism & Environmental Affairs, Mr Sboniso Duma, together with Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal have raised the projected costs to R7 billion during their site visit on Friday the 14th July.
Trade & Investment KwaZulu-Natal (TIKZN) CEO Neville Matjie said the Drakensberg Cable Car project was being driven by a steering committee led by the department, and also comprised representatives from TIKZN, Tourism KZN, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife, the uThukela District Municipality and the traditional council in the area of Amazizini. During the stakeholder engagement that was held at the Bergville Sports Complex CSC boardroom, Mr Matjie together with his colleague – Executive Manager for straregy & operations – Ms Galelekile, made a presentation of which, inter alia, shown the plans, which included the construction of three hotels in the area.
Matjie said an environmental impact specialist had been appointed to conduct the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). “Due to the project’s proposed location, a company has been appointed to do the environmental impact assessment as part of gauging the viability of the project. As part of this EIA, and running in parallel, precursor studies are required to be completed, particularly because of the site being within World Heritage parameters,” he said.
Matjie added that engagements with potential investors started some time ago, and the response had been very positive.
“Because the Drakensberg is already such a popular destination for both foreign and domestic tourists, several investors have shown interest and are awaiting the outcome of the studies and revised feasibility studies to finalise their interest,” he said.
The project, once completed, envisages visitors enjoying a 7km ride on a cable car to the top of the escarpment near the Royal Natal National Park in the Drakensberg.
The proposed base station would be located in the rural Mnweni area, at least 40km off the main N3, near KZN’s border with Lesotho and the Free State.
Okhahlamba Local Municipality mayor Vikizitha Mlotshwa said this project would be a game changer for the local economy.
“This is quite exciting for some of us because this project has been in the pipeline from the time when I was a mayor back in 2003. To now hear of it getting resuscitated is something that we welcome,” said Mlotshwa.
He emphasised how such a project will bring a lot of opportunities for locals, especially during the construction phase. Jobs will be created and the local economy given a remarkable boost.
After the stakeholder engagement, the EDTEA team led by MEC Sboniso Duma and Okhahlamba team led by Mayor Vikizitha Mlotshwa, paid homage to iNkosi Miya of the Amazizi nation. The purpose of the visit was to respectfully inform the king and seek his consent to pass to the base station and have an oversight aerial view of the project site.