The air was warm and filled with the inviting aroma of sumptuous food and everyone was dressed to the nines.
The air was warm and filled with the inviting aroma of sumptuous food and everyone was dressed to the nines.
Outside, rows of freshly painted chalets, cabins, cottages and a caravan park looked ready and inviting to accept some guests. Swimming pools, covered braai areas and playgrounds bring to mind long and leisurely days.
Last Friday marked the opening of Makana Resort formerly known as Grahamstown Caravan Park, just outside Grahamstown off the N2 to Port Elizabeth. At the opening were the MEC of Finance, Mcebisi Jonas, Makana Mayor Vumile Lwana and municipal representatives from Makana Municipality.
In his opening speech Jonas eloquently said, "Bricks and mortar speak volumes. When it comes to infrastructure, people want to see delivery. They want to touch and feel the buildings." The new resort received an over R20-million facelift provided by the Department of Economic Development and Environmental Affairs.
Talking about the new facility Lwana said, "People worked tirelessly to make this facility a reality, skills were received and job opportunities were created during its construction.
This is all with the help from a social responsibility programme which funded this resort with R20.1 million for this facelift." He also said that this programme was designed to create job opportunities and skills.
"Eighty temporary jobs were created of which some of the people got permanent employment, some received skills which made them employable," he added.The resort is a three-star resort and all its units include DSTV reception, air-conditioning and are fully furnished and self catering.
Arrangements may be made with the management for meals to be provided for an additional amount of R45 per person and half price for children under 12. With the extensive menu, diabetics are catered for as well as halaal and low sodium meals.
Makana Resort comprises of 12 chalets, four cottages, four deluxe units and 16 caravan or camping sites.There are single and double room accommodation units and each unit has its own entrance for complete privacy and independence.
There is also a conference room that accommodates 120 delegates sitting cinema style or 60 people at tables and is fully equipped with state-of-the-art audio-visual equipment including an overhead projector, DVD/cassette player and a plasma screen television. The conference room is fully air-conditioned and has its own kitchen.
The resort is a division of Mthombo Investments Holdings, of which the four partners are Deon Botha, Dumisani Balman, Bandile Kenqa and Mafuza Gwama. Balman is a media liaison officer for the company and says, "A tender was issued and we bid, we won the bid and got a 10 year lease agreement to operate the resort."
The next step is to find a local partner to work with them on the project. "We have to find the partner within six months but also we are looking for someone who will add value to the business as we want to keep skills based locally," said Balman.
The opening party entertainment was provided coutesy of Siboneni Marimba Band from Gadra which is made up of blind and partially sighted people.
Guests were also entertained with a play depicting life in Grahamstown directed by Steader Nkwinti, a teacher at Nathaniel Nyaluza Senior Secondary School.
