Note to Editors: Please find the attached soundbite in English and Afrikaans by Jacqueline Theologo MPL.
The DA is disappointed by the decision of the North West Tourism Board to suspended accommodation, restaurant and conference operations at the North West Hotel School in Mahikeng.
The decision to suspend commercial operations at the Hotel School comes shortly after MEC Kenetswe Mosenogi launched Tourism Month under the theme “Rethinking Tourism”.
Evidently the ANC-led government’s idea of rethinking tourism is to disrupt the training and development of young people seeking to take advantage of opportunities within the tourism-sector, which has great employment potential in the North West.
The DA conducted an oversight inspection at the Hotel School today and the dire financial situation was confirmed by the acting CEO of the North West Tourism Board, Jeff Mabunda, and as a result were forced to suspend operations until such time as additional grant funding is received which would then allow them to resume operations.
However, the Hotel School is in a deplorable state of disrepair due to a lack of maintenance.
Of the 21 rooms, only 6 are in an operational state. The celling has collapsed in parts of the hotel and rooms are prone to flooding. It is alleged that some rooms have been in a dire state for nearly 2 years now. See images here, here, here and here.
Equipment is gathering dust outside the facility. The back-up generator is out of service, forcing staff members to work in complete darkness during loadshedding.
The Acting CEO of the Board alleged that due to challenging procurement process, about R7 million meant for maintenance was returned to Treasury after not being spent.
However, information obtained allege that these funds may have been used to pay staff salaries instead.
We engaged some staff members at the Hotel School, some who had been at the facility for decades, who indicated a commitment to see the Hotel School succeed.
It is evident that the Hotel School has been neglected by the mismanagement of the Tourism Board and that the Board is unwilling and unable to fully appreciate the full potential of this school.
The DA has tabled a motion in the Legislature to debate the “harrowing” state of tourism in the North West because piece by piece the ANC is destroying any hope of revitalising economic activity in the tourism sector.
The DA will also request the Portfolio Committee on Economic Development, Environment and Tourism to summon MEC Mosenogi to explain the embarrassing turn of events at Mahikeng Hotel School.
It is crucial to note that the school is but one of many institutions on the brink of collapse under the ANC government. Just two months ago, the DA raised the red flag on Manyane Game Lodge which is in a deplorable state of disrepair despite the R47 million spent on refurbishment. To this day, MEC Mosenogi is yet to account. This shows that the ANC government simply has no plan to manage the province’s assets.