The Eastern Cape government has approved a plan to turn Nelson Mandela’s home village of Qunu into a modern city.
The development, if realised, would usher in the first city built by the democratically elected ANC government since assuming power 21 years ago.
Delivering her department’s policy speech at Bhisho Legislature this week, human settlements MEC Helen Sauls-August revealed the development of what she termed the “new post-apartheid city”. She said it has been adopted as a high-impact project by the provincial government’s social transformation cluster.
“The first phase of the feasibility study is complete. It revealed the immense development potential that exists within Qunu area,” Sauls-August told the legislature on Wednesday.
Her spokesman Lwandile Sicwetsha yesterday confirmed to the Saturday Dispatch that a feasibility study has been completed.
Sicwetsha said the project will see Qunu grazing land being turned into a buzzing town with hotels, banks, tourism accommodation facilities, an international leadership college and conferencing facilities “that will match United Nation requirements” if investors pump enough money in.
“Who knows? We could even have a Qunu airport.”
This comes a few months after weekend newspapers reported on national government plans to turn President Jacob Zuma’s village of Nkandla into “a world class city”.
Sicwetsha said the Qunu development is one of the provincial cabinet’s “high impact projects”.
“As you may know, all the towns and cities across South Africa were built long before 1994.
“The department then came up with a vision to develop Qunu to be the first city to be built by the democratic dispensation government after democracy was attained.
“This was due to the potential spotted there and the strategic location of the area to the N2 development corridor, which has strategic linkages to the Wild Coast and KwaZulu-Natal’s development belt,” Sicwetsha said.
He said the concept was mooted as early as 2010, with the vision to upgrade Qunu “to be not only a village, but a city which will have all the amenities and services you find in cities such as East London”.
He said this project, which was still in concept phase, will involve other state-owned entities and tourism developers. National and international celebrities will be used to assist in luring potential investors.
Sicwetsha said consultations with the locals were still to take place.
“We want to capitalise on Mandela’s legacy to attract economical activity in the area which was neglected for ages.”
AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s spokesman Chief Mfundo Mtirara yesterday said the AbaThembu nation “welcomes and appreciates” any development planned for the area, but was concerned that plans were made without the king or the royal family being informed.
“As much as we do not have a problem with development, this is news to us. This thing of planning for us without us is unacceptable.
“We appreciate the idea, but they cannot just make plans – or even pronounce on their policy speeches about development in our area – without first informing the king, who is the owner of that land.”
Sicwetsha said development potential included:
lForestry development projects;
lLocal agricultural production education and training opportunities;
lCultural and heritage route linkages;
lTourist accommodation facilities;
lMixed mode residential accommodation;
lHotel and wellness centre; and
lA global centre for negotiation and reconciliation, “modelled on the values that the late Nelson Mandela stood for and promoted”. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
Madiba’s village may become city
The development, if realised, would usher in the first city built by the democratically elected ANC government since assuming power 21 years ago.
Delivering her department’s policy speech at Bhisho Legislature this week, human settlements MEC Helen Sauls-August revealed the development of what she termed the “new post-apartheid city”. She said it has been adopted as a high-impact project by the provincial government’s social transformation cluster.
“The first phase of the feasibility study is complete. It revealed the immense development potential that exists within Qunu area,” Sauls-August told the legislature on Wednesday.
Her spokesman Lwandile Sicwetsha yesterday confirmed to the Saturday Dispatch that a feasibility study has been completed.
Sicwetsha said the project will see Qunu grazing land being turned into a buzzing town with hotels, banks, tourism accommodation facilities, an international leadership college and conferencing facilities “that will match United Nation requirements” if investors pump enough money in.
“Who knows? We could even have a Qunu airport.”
This comes a few months after weekend newspapers reported on national government plans to turn President Jacob Zuma’s village of Nkandla into “a world class city”.
Sicwetsha said the Qunu development is one of the provincial cabinet’s “high impact projects”.
“As you may know, all the towns and cities across South Africa were built long before 1994.
“The department then came up with a vision to develop Qunu to be the first city to be built by the democratic dispensation government after democracy was attained.
“This was due to the potential spotted there and the strategic location of the area to the N2 development corridor, which has strategic linkages to the Wild Coast and KwaZulu-Natal’s development belt,” Sicwetsha said.
He said the concept was mooted as early as 2010, with the vision to upgrade Qunu “to be not only a village, but a city which will have all the amenities and services you find in cities such as East London”.
He said this project, which was still in concept phase, will involve other state-owned entities and tourism developers. National and international celebrities will be used to assist in luring potential investors.
Sicwetsha said consultations with the locals were still to take place.
“We want to capitalise on Mandela’s legacy to attract economical activity in the area which was neglected for ages.”
AbaThembu King Buyelekhaya Dalindyebo’s spokesman Chief Mfundo Mtirara yesterday said the AbaThembu nation “welcomes and appreciates” any development planned for the area, but was concerned that plans were made without the king or the royal family being informed.
“As much as we do not have a problem with development, this is news to us. This thing of planning for us without us is unacceptable.
“We appreciate the idea, but they cannot just make plans – or even pronounce on their policy speeches about development in our area – without first informing the king, who is the owner of that land.”
Sicwetsha said development potential included:
lForestry development projects;
lLocal agricultural production education and training opportunities;
lCultural and heritage route linkages;
lTourist accommodation facilities;
lMixed mode residential accommodation;
lHotel and wellness centre; and
lA global centre for negotiation and reconciliation, “modelled on the values that the late Nelson Mandela stood for and promoted”. — asandan@dispatch.co.za
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