A R31 million tourism investment is opening new economic opportunities while showcasing the rich history and cultural heritage of KwaMaqoma in the Eastern Cape.
The Mthontsi Lodge and Conference Centre has officially been unveiled, marking the completion of a major tourism infrastructure project designed to support local jobs, small businesses and community-based tourism.
Situated near KwaMaqoma, formerly known as Fort Beaufort, the newly built facility is positioned as a destination for nature and history enthusiasts, business travellers and visitors exploring the wider Eastern Cape.
The lodge includes 13 chalets with capacity for 52 guests, backpacker accommodation for a further 32 visitors, two lapas, a restaurant, conference facilities, staff accommodation, an administration building, a guard house and internal roads.
Deputy Minister of Tourism Makhotso Sotyu said the development demonstrates what can be achieved when government, communities and tourism partners work together to create economic opportunities.
“The construction of the Mthontsi Lodge embodies our vision to see the benefits of tourism enjoyed by all in the country. As government, we invested R31 million in constructing the lodge to build an economic future for the community in KwaMaqoma,” Sotyu said.
The project created employment opportunities during its construction phase while providing opportunities for local SMMEs, women and young people. The lodge currently employs five permanent and 10 temporary staff members.
Sotyu said the long-term value of the investment will be measured by the opportunities it creates beyond the facility itself.
“The return on investment will be measured by the opportunities this lodge and conference centre creates for the youth, women entrepreneurs, and the local businesses within this community,” she said.
The development also places the area’s history at the centre of its tourism offering. Mthontsi’s heritage dates back to the 1800s, when the area was an epicentre of the War of Mlanjeni between African communities and European colonial forces.
The project aims to preserve and share this history while creating a destination that combines remembrance, cultural tourism and economic development.
Executive Mayor of the Amathole District Municipality, Councillor Anele Ntsangani, described the development as an opportunity to honour those who resisted colonialism while creating new prospects for the community.
“The establishment of the Mthontsi Lodge represents a long-overdue act of atonement and restoration, as it honours the memory of those who fought and fell here, ensuring their legacy is preserved and shared with future generations,” Ntsangani said.
“Transforming this historic site of conflict into a place of remembrance, healing, and economic opportunity, the Lodge restores the dignity of the fallen heroes who resisted colonialism and lays a foundation for inclusive growth in the region.”
The lodge has been handed over to the Amathole District Municipality and the Mthontsi Waselukhuko Primary Co-operative, connecting the tourism investment directly with the local community.
The facility was built on a farm acquired by the municipality as part of South Africa’s land reform programme to support Mount Pleasant and surrounding Adelaide farm workers and secure their livelihoods.
More than 240 farm dwellers and their descendants are expected to benefit from the development and now form the core of the Mthontsi Waselukhuko Primary Co-operative.
The construction of the lodge forms part of several tourism infrastructure investment initiatives led by the Department of Tourism and facilitated through the Development Bank of Southern Africa.
These projects are intended to diversify South Africa’s tourism offering, improve visitor experiences, stimulate local economic development and strengthen the competitiveness of tourism communities.
The investment also supports the goals of the Tourism Growth Partnership Plan, which aims to position tourism as a driver of inclusive economic growth and job creation.
“Tourism is about people and preserving our historical and cultural heritage. As we celebrate the addition of this tourism facility along one of South Africa’s significant liberation routes, we are reminded of how far we have come in attaining the gains of our democracy,” Sotyu said.
“This lodge belongs to the people of the Amatole District Municipality. Its future success depends on the partnerships we continue to maintain long after today’s celebration has ended.”
With accommodation for leisure and group travellers, conference facilities and a connection to an important chapter of Eastern Cape history, Mthontsi Lodge has the potential to strengthen the area’s tourism economy while creating new opportunities for local businesses and residents.
