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·      Plans are in place to preserve BaPedi culture and fast-track the development of the Tjate heritage site ·      Municipality will become an active participant in the development of Limpopo heritage liberation routes ·      The Tjate heritage site is a symbol of the rise of the Bapedi empire in the 15th century

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Sizwe sama Yende

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The BaPedi culture, heritage sites and routes will get special attention to be developed to boost tourism in the Sekhukhune region in Limpopo.

Fetakgomo Tubatse mayor, Eddie Maila, said that the municipality had partnered with the Limpopo Department of Sports, Arts and Culture to facilitate various projects to preserve the BaPedi culture and fast-track the development of the Tjate heritage site.

Cultural tourism, if better planned and packaged, has proved to be a drawcard for local and overseas visitors. A perfect example is the Kingdom of Eswatini which is known for traditional ceremonies like the Umhlanga Reed Dance. 

Here at home, the Zululand District in KwaZulu-Natal is doing the most to capitalise on the region’s rich Zulu history and culture to grow tourism.

These initiatives bear spin-offs for businesses. According to the SME South Africa, small to medium-sized enterprises in the South Africa tourism industry account for about 60% of employment.

The country is a melting pot of history, culture and heritage.

“This (partnership) will see the municipality becoming an active participant in the development of Limpopo heritage liberation routes,” Maila said.

The Tjate Heritage Site is known for its archaeological remains, ancient mining practices from the early and late Iron Age dating back to around the 10^th century and links to Mapungubwe. It is situated near the royal kraal of BaPedi kings and therefore central to the history of the BaPedi kingdom.

This is where the Bapedi empire rose in the 15th century and fell to colonisers in the 19th century. The area is still home to two Bapedi royal houses.

Maila said that the municipality was also engaging with the Limpopo Department of Economic Development Environment and Tourism on the repositioning of Potlake nature reserve as an ideal tourism destination of choice within the Municipality.

The nature reserve is known for biodiversity, particularly of plants.

Maila’s tourism initiatives are tied to a bigger plan to develop tourism in the whole of Sekhukhune region.

Other than cultural and heritage tourism, the area offers nature reserves, aqua-based and off-road adventures and hiking

Other heritage sites of historic significance found in the area include eRholweni where the Mapochs Cave – a site of the AmaNdebele tribe against the Zuid Afrikaanse Republic in 1863.

According to a Routledge Taylor and Francis Group research in 2024, Sekhukhune heritage tourism is struggling to get off the ground because the infrastructure and facilities are not adequate to support it.

“Successful tourism ventures need reliable transport systems, digital networks, stable energy sources, clean water supplies, and waste management facilities,” the study found.

‘It is also useful for small tourism businesses to have contact with innovation hubs and co-working spaces to help grow their businesses. In Sekhukhune, there is also limited marketing of the area as a tourist destination. This makes it less visible and attractive to potential tourists.”

The research also found that tourism development must be inclusive of the community and benefit the community economically and socially. 

“But in Sekhukhune,” the research indicates, “local communities have neither been drawn into tourism nor supported to start tourism ventures, even though they are the custodians of cultural heritage. They could provide experiences for tourists such as presenting oral histories and showcasing the production of traditional crafts, such as bead work and jewellery.”