THE MEC for Rural Development and Agrarian Reform Nomakhosazana Meth today unveiled a grand plan to turn the Magwa-Majola Tea Estate into a bustling eco-tourism centre which she termed a “New Dubai”.

The futuristic Magwa-Majola Tea Estate will see the estate, which employs more than 1 800 people, expanding from being a tea producing enterprise to becoming a tourist destination of choice which will include a glass bridge over the majestic Magwa Falls and a lift (elevator) to enable tourists to move up and down the Magwa gorge.

Currently the Estate has an 8-hole golf course, a guesthouse and a horse trail. However, the new plans include the diversification of crops including avocado production, hemp and macadamia nuts. The new tourist attraction will include a tea garden, an amphitheatre, glass bridge, conference facilities, a cultural village, a revamped processing plant, an 18 hole golf course where annual events can be held. A 5-star multi-storey hotel with an infinity lap pool is also part of the future plans.

Speaking to the media after the unveiling, MEC Meth said: “I feel like today is Christmas; I have never felt this good. The kind of development I have seen has pumped me up and gave me confidence and energy to speed-up the process.

“I want to put the completion of this establishment as one of my targets for the sixth administration government .I am very impressed to see people thinking big about development of rural areas. Imagine having a glass bridge in Ingquza Hill, I saw a mini Dubai here today,” the MEC said after unveiling the artist’s impression of the Magwa-Majola Tea Estate.

The MEC said she was “confident that a city will be developed” in Magwa, adding that she was happy with the involvement of different stakeholders like the South African National Roads Agency (SANRAL) because construction of roads was the first target.

After unveiling the plan, she said she was eager to approach the African Development Bank to invest in the infrastructure development of Magwa.

The MEC was confident that with the support from partners that include government departments like Public Works, Economic Development Environmental Affairs and Tourism as well as investments from financial institutions the development of Magwa to become the hub of tourism “is doable, We are surely building the Eastern Cape we want”.

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