Five accommodation establishment owners were jovial after receiving COVID-19 related safety equipment from the Minister of Tourism, Mmamoloko Kubayi-Ngubane at a ceremony held in Nkowankowa on 11 March 2021.
The establishments that received the equipment were: Ka Hina Guest House in Nkowankowa, Bosveld Guest House in Lephalale, Makgabeng Farm Lodge in Blouberg, Mohlaletse Guest House in Mohlaletse, Sekhukhune and The Big Tree Country Lodge in Sagole, Vhembe.
“We feel delighted and privileged to have received this equipment, it will make a big difference in our establishment. It has met us halfway, in addition to the funds we have received from the Tourism Relief Fund,” said Lefentje Mampuru of Mohlaletse Guest House.
Mampuru’s excitement was echoed by Maggie Machumele of Ka Hina Guest House who said the equipment “has helped in the sense that all these units are expensive and when you want to assure clients about their safety it is good to have them. We are happy that they are giving sanitizers, we have already had a fogging machine.”
Minister Kubayi-Ngubane said: “In 2020, after the opening of activities we visited businesses, we listened to them explain problems they encountered due to lockdown. As an intervention we hosted a golf tournament and asked companies to make donations; out of that, we have the proceeds that we used to buy this equipment. We shall provide sanitizer stands, desk shield, sanitizers, and masks. In addition, we have agreed to put beneficiaries on an online training on norms and standards on cooking, product management and related matters,” remarked Kubayi-Ngubane.
The MEC for Economic Development, Environment, and Tourism, Mr. Thabo Mokone, said their hosting of the Minister with tourism practitioners is to say that life will still be better after the little gifts that they received. “We know COVID-19 has wrecked their lives. When we bring a Minister of Tourism it means that she connects with the International world. They get to know about places like Tzaneen.”
