Calm has been restored in the Sabie region after several days of violent protests. For several days, protesters barricaded the entrance and exit roads to Sabie, impacting on tourism in the region.  

Lisa Sheard, chairperson of Kruger Lowveld Tourism, told Tourism Update that protests during the past few days have been violent.

According to Sheard, the Sabie community had come together in an amazing way over the past few days. She explains most lodges have created What’s App groups in which they alert each other to any difficulties. This has allowed them to efficiently advise their clients with regards to any difficulties, she said.

Kruger Lowveld Tourism has also approached the MEC of safety and security as well as the SAPS to intervene in the situation. “We’ve had a very good commitment from everyone,” she says. The calm has now been restored, and the SAPS seems to have good control over the situation, according to Sheard.

Tourism Update also contacted various luxury lodges in the region asking about whether the protests had impacted access to the lodges. Each of them reported that the situation was under control and that they were unaffected.

According to Sheard, the Ashburton Investments South African National MTB Series will go ahead this weekend as the SAPS has given the race the all-clear to go ahead. Fritz Pienaar from Advendurance, the organisers of the race, said his team were elated when they finally got the green light early on Thursday to go ahead with the racing as planned. “All the hard work has already been done and we look forward to hosting a safe, world class event in Sabie.”