NZHELELE – A popular company in the hotel and hospitality industry, Protea Hotels, took over as the new owners of Mphephu Resort last Thursday.

Mphephu Resort has been the principal recreational resort in the cultural heart of the Land of Legend. Mphephu is one of the three Protea Hotels Resorts developed in partnership with the Mphephu and Rambuda rural communities.

It is a joint venture between LimDev, the provincial development finance arm of the Limpopo Government, and the Mphephu community, with a 25% share belonging to the Mphephu Community. The trustees of the Trust are representatives from the Mphephu Royal Council, the Mphephu Territorial Council, the Makhado Municipality and the Vhembe District Municipality.

MEC Thaba Mufamadi said the Nzhelele Valley is the cradle of an important ancient civilization in South Africa. He said tourism development in the Limpopo Valley is central to the regional economic co-operation and integration within SADC. Mufamadi said Land Claims should not stop development of any project in the province. "During the past financial year investment in the tourism sector grew by R300 million, making it the fourth highest income generating sector in the province," said Mufamadi.

He also said that out of 44 nature reserves, 9 are going to be privatised and commercialised. The Managing Director of the Limpopo Economic Development Enterprise (LimDev), Mr TC Luvhani, said that in 1998 LimDev retrenched 745 staff members, including staff at all resorts. Limdev contributed about R7 million to refurbish the resort's rooms. During the event, Mphephu development trust received R18 000 and Rammbuda development trust received R10 000 from the Limpopo Economic Development Enterprise.

The chairperson of the Limpopo Parks Board, Mr Edgar Mushwana, said that this province is excelling as far as tourism is concerned and its products have been exhibited abroad.

Thovele Toni Mphephu Ramabulana said that the Mphephu Development Trust would be working hand in hand with the resort.