Resumption of traditional practices on cards soon
Premier to petition for relaxation of Covid-19 restrictions
As the country celebrates tourism and heritage month in September, the Eastern Cape government on Tuesday said it would approach the national coronavirus command council and ask for people be allowed to practise their traditional customs.
The provincial government will also meet traditional leaders to discuss whether traditional circumcision should be allowed during the summer season.
This announcement was made by premier Oscar Mabuyane when he launched the tourism and heritage month in Hogsback.
The theme for this year’s heritage month is rural development in tourism.
Mabuyane, who also delivered his weekly Covid-19 update at the launch, said the proposal to ease restrictions would “allow our people to practise their traditional customs within the limit of 50 people per gathering that is permissible for other social gatherings”.
“However, hygienic health protocols of wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing and not sharing drinking utensils during traditional ceremonies will have to be adhered to by families who want to host traditional ceremonies,” Mabuyane said.
Mabuyane’s call for the easing of restrictions comes a day after health minister Zweli Mkhize said the sooner SA moved to level 1, the better.
These are the latest indications that the lockdown, which expires on September 15, will likely be extended with restrictions eased.
Mabuyane said the provincial government would start engagements with the provincial House of Traditional Leaders “to discuss whether the summer circumcision season should be opened or not”.
He said government would handle the matter with “sensitivity and care”.
Traditional circumcision was banned during the winter season as part of Covid-19 containment plans.
Turning his attention to tourism month, Mabuyane said they had pinned their hope on getting the stagnant economy moving again in the sector.
As the tourism industry was opening up to tourists, Mabuyane said, the government would improve roads, infrastructure and electricity access to tourism establishments.
He announced the implementation of four multimillionrand
Hygienic health protocols of wearing masks, washing hands, social distancing and not sharing drinking utensils during traditional ceremonies will have to be adhered to by families
tourism infrastructure projects in Cape Morgan, Port St Johns, Mbizana and Willowmore.
Mabuyane again mentioned the R190m he had announced while he was economic development, environmental affairs & tourism MEC in May 2019 — which he said would be invested into the construction of a new, “state-of-the-art” lodge and villas at the uMkhambathi Nature Reserve on the coast of northeastern Mpondoland.
“This investment brings the local villagers into the mainstream of the tourism economy through ownership, creating opportunities for local businesses during the construction phase and providing jobs for the locals.”
More than R42m would be invested with a private operator at proposed new guesthouses “that will cater for both conferencing and leisure at Cape Morgan Nature Reserve”.
The third project, Mabuyane said, would see a R300m cable car being erected in Port St Johns, “in the same form of the one that operates in Table Mountain for sightseeing that will attract more tourists”.
“The fourth project relates to the R21m hiking trail and infrastructure development projects at selected beaches in
Mbizana, Port St Johns, Nyandeni, as well as Ndlambe municipalities.
“In addition to this there is a R57m Baviaanskloof world heritage site interpretive centre project that is planned in Willowmore,” he said.
Economic affairs and tourism MEC Mlungisi Mvoko and Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency CEO Vuyani Dayimani also attended the launch.
Mvoko said the province had more than 140,000 workers in the tourism sector. He announced a R1.7m tracking project and R3.75m “to revive tourism in the province and compliance to Covid-19 regulations”. He said “businesses which didn’t survived the pandemic” would benefit from a R10m relief fund.
Dayimani said special packages and discounts were available for travellers to explore the province.
Meanwhile, Mabuyane said the number of those admitted to hospital due to Covid-19 had decreased from 560 to 490 since last week.
He said the province ’ s recovery rate was 95%, above the 88% national average. The province had 86,868 confirmed cases, 82,842 recoveries and 2,998 deaths on Monday night.