Vredefort: The Department of Tourism will endeavour to facilitate an amicable resolution that will lead to the completion of the Vredefort Dome Visitor Interpretation Centre. The Vredefort Dome Visitor Interpretation Centre in the Free State is an initiative of the department under its Working for Tourism programme that supports greater destination competitiveness, transformation, and accelerated tourism and enterprise growth.

According to South African Government News Agency, over the years, the construction of the Vredefort Dome Visitor Interpretation Centre has encountered a myriad of challenges that have impacted on the completion of the facility. Deputy Minister of Tourism Maggie Sotyu highlighted the significance of the centre as a critical educational and geological facility that promises socio-economic benefits for the country, especially for the community members of the Nqwathe Local Municipality and the Fezile Dabi District Municipality.

Sotyu recently conducted an oversight visit at the Vredefort
Dome UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Free State to assess the progress of the infrastructure developments at the Visitor Interpretation Centre. In January 2024, the department, through the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), appointed a contractor to refurbish and complete the exhibition centre; kiosk and ablutions facilities; the craft market; amphitheater; guard house; parking area; perimeter fence; ramps and walkways; landscaping, and the installation of signage. These refurbishments are currently 55% complete.

Sotyu acknowledged the concerns raised by the community regarding the construction delays, recognizing how these challenges have, over the years, deprived both the tourism sector and the local economy of growth opportunities. She emphasized the department’s commitment to facilitating a resolution that would enable the completion of the centre, contingent upon collaborative efforts that recognize the long-term benefits of the project.

The tourism community engagement was supported by the
executives of the Free State Department of Economic Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs. The event featured discussions with the local community, information sharing on various departmental programmes, and exhibitions by government and sector stakeholders.