Following a myriad challenges over the years, extensive refurbishments to the Vredefort Dome Visitor Interpretation Centre – a Department of Tourism project – are 55% complete.
This was announced by Deputy Minister of Tourism Maggie Sotyu after her oversight visit to the Vredefort Dome on Friday (November 29) to assess the progress of infrastructure developments at the Vredefort Dome Visitor Interpretation Centre.
This is an initiative of the department’s Working for Tourism programme that supports greater destination competitiveness, transformation and accelerated tourism and enterprise growth.
The Vredefort Dome is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the Free State town of Vredefort.
Situated approximately 120 km south-west of Johannesburg, the dome is a representative part of a larger meteorite impact structure or astrobleme.
According to UNESCO, dating back 2 023 million years, it is the oldest astrobleme yet found on Earth. With a radius of 190 km, it is also the largest and the most deeply eroded.
The Vredefort Dome bears witness to the world’s greatest known single energy release event, which had devastating global effects including, according to some scientists, major evolutionary changes.
It provides critical evidence of the Earth’s geological history and is crucial to understanding the evolution of the planet.
UNESCO says impact sites are important indicators of the planet’s history but geological activity on the Earth’s surface has erased most evidence. Vredefort is the only example providing a full geological profile of an astrobleme below the crater floor.
In January, the Department of Tourism, supported by the Development Bank of Southern Africa, appointed a contractor to refurbish and complete the exhibition centre, kiosk and ablutions facilities, craft market, amphitheatre, guard house, parking area, perimeter fence, ramps and walkways, landscaping and signage installation.
Socio-economic benefits to the community
“The Vredefort Dome Visitor Interpretation Centre is a critical educational and geological facility that will bring socio-economic benefits for the country and, more importantly, community members of the Nqwathe Local Municipality and Fezile Dabi District Municipality,” said Sotyu.
She acknowledged concerns raised by local communities about the construction of the centre.
“The challenges have, over the years, robbed the sector and the community of an opportunity to boost tourism and revive the local economy.”
Sotyu reiterated her department’s commitment to facilitating an amicable resolution that will lead to the completion of the Vredefort Dome Visitor Interpretation Centre.
“This resolution is possible if we all work together to realise the long-term future benefits of the successful completion of the Visitor Interpretation Centre.”
Last week’s tourism community engagement was supported by executives of the Free State Department of Economic, Small Business Development, Tourism and Environmental Affairs.
The event included discussions with the local community, information sharing on various programmes of the department and exhibitions by the various spheres of government and sector stakeholders.
Sotyu said communities can play a greater role in eradicating the socio-economic challenges that impede the growth and sustainability of local communities.
