Note to Editors: Please find attached English and Afrikaans soundbites by Cllr Carina Serfontein and Sesotho soundbite by Cllr Joseph Mbele. See attached picture here.
– Over R60 million spent, centre still closed.
– Delays rob Ngwathe of jobs and tourism.
– DA demands accountability and service connections.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) in Ngwathe is deeply concerned that more than R60 million in public funds has been spent over two decades on the long-promised visitor centre at the Vredefort Dome, which still stands closed.
The Vredefort Dome is not only a global geological treasure but one of the most significant economic opportunities for Ngwathe and the wider Fezile Dabi region. Formed more than two billion years ago, it is recognised by UNESCO as the oldest and largest verified meteorite impact structure on Earth, with a radius of roughly 190 km, and was declared a World Heritage Site in 2005.
What should have been a catalyst for tourism, investment and local jobs has instead become a symbol of government failure, poor planning and a lack of accountability.
Approximately R24 million was spent on the original visitor centre in 2005, only for the facility to be abandoned. In 2020, the Free State provincial government announced an additional R15 million to revive the project. In January 2024, the national Department of Tourism, through the Development Bank of Southern Africa’s Working for Tourism Programme, appointed a contractor to complete and refurbish the facility at an additional cost of almost R24 million.
Despite this investment, the project remains incomplete, and years of delay have deprived residents of much-needed economic opportunities.
Recent oversight visits confirmed that the facility is now substantially complete but cannot open because the Ngwathe Local Municipality has failed to provide the essential services it requires: water, electricity, and sanitation. This is unacceptable.
Residents deserve answers:
- How much public money has been spent on this project to date?
- Who is accountable for the repeated delays and cost escalations?
- What is the timeline for connecting the required municipal services?
- When will the visitor centre finally open to the public?
The DA believes the Vredefort Dome can become a major tourism destination, one that creates jobs, supports local businesses and stimulates economic growth across Ngwathe, proving that the Free State is more than a drive-through province.