By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – The poor state of service delivery in QwaQwa continues to cripple its tourism potential.
Inconsistent water supply, frequent power outages, and irregular refuse collection leave local businesses struggling to maintain standards that meet tourists’ expectations.In an interview with this publication, a local businessman Nelson Moekoa stressed that tourism thrives in an environment that is clean and supported by proper service delivery.
“Tourism needs a clean environment and well-kept, protected tourist sites and lodging facilities. When services such as water, electricity, and refuse removal are lacking, tourists go elsewhere, leading to millions in lost revenue each month. In QwaQwa, where service delivery is poor, many tourists prefer staying in Clarens or Bethlehem,” Moekoa explained.
Maluti Crescent mall center manager Phillip Ngozo also highlighted some of the challenges faced by business : “So far, we have not had any business leaving because of poor service delivery , but as we speak, all tenants are suffering in terms of making profit and being able to pay rental. The center struggles to collect rental . When there is no water , we purchase water and there is no electricity, we buy diesel for the generators , so there is overspending on utilities .This poor service delivery affects us too much,” Ngozo said during an interview with this publication on Monday.
Public spaces and infrastructure are deteriorating, and the absence of reliable municipal services discourages visitors from returning. The once-promising tourism sector in QwaQwa has suffered greatly, as tourists now choose cleaner, better-maintained destinations, further undermining the region’s economic development.
Provincial principals of the Free State have pointed out that poor refuse removal is a significant factor in the service delivery challenges negatively impacting the tourism industry in Maluti-a-Phofung (MAP).
During his visit to Maluti-a-Phofung to assess the state of factories and business infrastructure, the Free State MEC of the Department of Finance and the Department of Economic Small Business Development, Tourism, and Environmental Affairs (DESTEA), Ketso Makume, emphasized the need for action. He revealed that discussions with the MEC of COGTA are underway to identify municipalities where tourism can be revived and improved in the Free State.
Maluti crescent mall center manager Phillip Ngozo.
“We have spoken to the MEC of local government to identify municipalities where we can recreate and reimagine tourism in the Free State.
“The first step is to focus on cleaning our areas. We’ve identified four key areas: seamless refuse removal, cleaning open spaces, improving downtown areas, and cleaning taxi ranks. Visitors who arrive at a dirty taxi rank tend to form a negative impression of the entire town,” Makume said.
Community Safety, Roads, and Transport MEC, Jabu Mbalula, also visited MAP to follow up on the provincial road maintenance project. He highlighted the link between tourism and infrastructure:
“Good roads attract commuters and tourists. Our role is clear: well-maintained roads encourage economic growth, while neglected roads hinder the tourism sector.
