– Instead of crime, MTPA blames rainfall for revenue collection shortfall
– SAPS must put dedicated safety units in identified tourism crime hotpots
– MTPA invests R300 000 on a 24-hour tourism safety tollfree helpline
The Democratic Alliance (DA) calls on the Mpumalanga Tourism and Parks Agency (MTPA) to stop blaming rainfall for revenue collection shortfall, instead, they must blame it on crime, decaying infrastructure, and poor governance of the entity.
On their recent meeting with the Portfolio Committee on Department of Economic Development and Tourism, the MTPA reported that they collected only R91 million out of the targeted R100 million Revenue Collection for 2025/2026. A shortfall of R9 million which they blamed on rainfall and negative publicity regarding facility conditions, that kept tourists away.
But the DA is not convinced with their excuse. We believe that tourists stay away from Mpumalanga because of crime, poor roads infrastructure to tourism destinations, and poor governance of the entity.
The MTPA itself told the committee that 20% of their facilities that generates 80% of their revenue, especially the Panorama route and Manyeleti sites, are in poor condition and have been prioritised for renovations.
At the moment, crime poses a significant threat to Mpumalanga’s vital tourism sector, with incidents of murder, robberies, carjacking, and general attacks on tourists in areas like the Kruger National Park (KNP), Numbi Gate, and the Panorama route. Just last week, two elderly tourists were hijacked and murdered in the KNP. Two Mozambican nationals have since been arrested for the murder.
We believe that the uncontrolled crime in the mentioned hotspots, compromises the province’s tourism revenue collection, and damages our international reputation.
In their report to the Portfolio Committee, MTPA acknowledged that crime is a major threat to the tourism sector, hence they spent R101 000 in the 2025/2026 financial year on Victim Support Programme. This is an initiative by the MTPA together with safety stakeholders in the province, whereby aftercare is provided to tourists in distress due to accidents, hijacking and robbery etc. They said when incidences of crime are reported, services are sourced to assist the tourists in distress.
The DA urges the South African Police Service (SAPS) to help MTPA by increasing visibility and put dedicated safety units in identified tourism crime hotpots. We also call on the Department of Public Works, Roads and Transport to intervene by rehabilitating the dilapidating and potholes tourism routes in the province, especially the Panorama route.
On a positive note, the DA would like to commend MTPA, together with their safety stakeholders, for investing R300 000 on establishing a 24-hour tourism safety tollfree helpline for tourists visiting Mpumalanga. They reported that the tollfree line can be accessed at any time of day, seven days a week including weekends and public holidays. The helpline includes providing immediate assistance and transporting tourists to a place of safety; coordinating volunteers to meet and support affected tourists on-site; attending to the immediate needs of the tourists; and guiding them through necessary police procedures.