Deputy Minister of Tourism Launches 2010 Visitor Information Centre in Rustenburg

*Monday, 21 September 2009*

Tokozile Xasa, the Deputy Minister of Tourism, today launched the R7.6 million Rustenburg 2010 Visitor Information Centre (VIC) in North-West province. The world class VIC was built in preparation for the 2010 FIFA  World Cup as both the public and private sectors gear up for the influx of tourists during the event and beyond. 

As part of the national VIC project, centres are being rolled out in five host cities, namely Port Elizabeth, Polokwane, Nelspruit, Rustenburg and Bloemfontein. These less visited provinces were earmarked by the Department for the VIC?s in preparation for the World Cup, but also to grow their tourism arrivals from both local and international visitors.

The centres provide tourists with a one stop service and will be able to assist with information on a wide range of tourism products including tourism information enquiries, reservations, accommodation, tours, vehicle hire, entertainment, dining, sports, adventure, shopping and travel tips.
The target markets for the VIC?s include international tourists, local tourists, bed and breakfast establishments, homesteads, guesthouses, hotels, SMME?s, booking agencies and tourism agencies.

The Rustenburg VIC covers 412 square meters and has two offices, retail area for locally produced crafts, a big foyer serving as reception area, fully fitted coffee shop, displays and ablution facilities.
With 262 days to the kick-off of 2010 Soccer World Cup in South Africa, these facilities and services will enable the VIC to play a meaningful front-line role and enhance tourism marketing.  It has been benchmarked against the best Visitor Information Centres in the world and designed to service the needs of the visitor in the most effective way.

The department has already launched Visitor Information Centres in Port Elizabeth in Eastern Cape and Polokwane in Limpopo province.
The information and reservation system (VICENSYS) used in the centres was developed in South Africa and is designed to cater specifically for the South African market

The information technology component of the project was critical, as one of the key objectives of the project was the development of a cost effective information and reservation system. Using international best practice, a new visitors information system, namely VICENCYS (Visitor Information Centres Enterprise Network Systems), was developed to be used at all the information centres.
VICENSYS has the ability to allow users to plan and finalise a travel itinerary by means of touch screens and Web based technology. Furthermore, the system offers the tourist their own unique itinerary, which is accessible from anywhere in the world.

The Rustenburg Visitor Information Centre is fitted with the VICENSYS  system connected to a fully equipped Local Area Network (LAN) and will provide information such as accommodation, travel, shopping centres, car rentals and a host of other tourism facilities and services. 

Speaking during the launch, Deputy Minister Tokozile Xasa said ? VICs play an important role in tourism marketing and leveraging the tourism benefits to all players in the tourism industry because it exposes visitors and domestic tourists to choices they would not easily access before since some tourism businesses lack resources for marketing.  As a country, we didn?t have a user-friendly system that assists the movements of the sophisticated domestic and  well travelled tourist.?
Xasa added that  ?Apart from assisting tourist navigation of our country which will result in a tourism boom, this initiative further strives to ensure equitable distribution of the tourism cake to all South Africans through increased work opportunities and strengthening SMMEs.  We are eager to introduce a system that complies with and will exceed international standards through its continuous improvements?.

The idea behind the information technology system was to integrate and standardise the technology component throughout South Africa to allow the visitor to have a seamless travel experience before, during and after the World Cup. It will also afford the visitor the ability to access information from any location in one of the five host cities.

In line with marketing South Africa as a tourist destination, the government viewed hosting the 2010 Soccer World Cup as an ideal opportunity to erect or upgrade existing structures to house Visitors Information Centres (VIC) in host cities. Apart from creating easy access and awareness of accommodation facilities and attractions within an area for tourists, VIC also creates a medium for SMMEs and HDls, engaged within the hospitality industry, to advertise their products.
The partners and stakeholders in this initiative include our department, Rustenburg Municipality and Anix Consulting.

Media enquiries can be referred to:
Moses Rannditsheni
Mobile: 082-448-2450
E-mail: mrannditsheni@deat.gov.za
OR
Luvuyo Shasha (Media Liaison Officer for the Deputy Minister)
Telephone: 012-310-3899
Mobile: 071-215-6373
E-mail: lshasha@deat.gov.za
OR
Butler Mahlapeng (Communication Officer at Rustenburg Municipality)
Telephone: 014-590-3277
Mobile: 076-590-2660

APPROXIMATELY 500 TONNES OF FUEL REMOVED FROM THE GROUNDED BULK CARRIER ?SELI 1?

SUNDAY, 20 SEPTEMBER 2009
Approximately 500 tonnes of fuel has now been removed from the grounded bulk carrier ?SELI 1? as salvors make steady progress in pumping to the receiving launch ?Ocean Pride?. The threat of a significant spillage from the casualty has now past as remaining oil onboard is residual in nature and located in small quantities in fuel tanks, the engine room and topside tanks. Salvors are moving pumping equipment from tank to tank in an effort to access these remaining pockets of oil. The vessel was carrying 660 tonnes of fuel when she ran aground on Monday 7th September at Table View Beach, Cape Town.

As a proactive precautionary measure, an oil pollution boom is still deployed at Milnerton Lagoon and response teams remain on standby. Members of the Public are kindly requested to keep clear of the boom and other equipment on site. The pollution patrol aircraft Kuswag 9 continues to overfly the casualty daily and has reported no oil in the vicinity of the casualty today.
The Joint Operations Committee, chaired by the South African Maritime Safety Authority and attended by relevant authorities and involved parties, continues to meet daily as the fuel removal operation continues. Environmental protection remains a key priority for all involved. The committee includes representatives from SAMSA, Department of Environmental Affairs, SMIT Salvage, SANCCOB, City of Cape Town ? Disaster Management, Robben Island Museum, Transnet National Ports Authority, amongst others.

For further information kindly contact:
Capt Dave Colly (South African Maritime Safety Authority) |  Telephone: 021 421 6170
OR
Ms Carol Moses (Department of Environmental Affairs)  | Mobile: 082-829-3917  | E-mail: cmoses@deat.gov.za

FUEL REMOVAL OPERATION TO THE GROUNDED BULK CARRIER ?SELI 1? RESUMED THIS MORNING

SATURDAY, 19 SEPTEMBER 2009: The fuel removal operation with respect to the grounded bulk carrier ?SELI 1? resumed this morning as weather and sea conditions moderated on site. The launch ?Ocean Pride? was alongside the casualty at 08h00 and pumping of fuel to her storage tanks resumed shortly thereafter. She has returned to the Port of Cape Town and is discharging received fuel. The total amount of fuel removed from the casualty to date amounts to 454 tonnes. The vessel was carrying 660 tonnes of fuel when she ran aground on Monday 7th September at Table View Beach, Cape Town.
Calm conditions are forecasted for the next few days and salvors will take advantage of this good weather window to access and then pump out as much of the remaining fuel from the vessel as possible. Skimming in the engine room continues.
As a proactive precautionary measure, an oil pollution boom is still deployed at Milnerton Lagoon and response teams remain on standby. Members of the Public are kindly requested to keep clear of the boom and other equipment on site. The pollution patrol aircraft Kuswag 9 continues to overfly the casualty daily and has reported no oil in the vicinity of the casualty today.
The ?SELI 1? Joint Operations Committee is appealing to Members of the Public ? specifically those undertaking recreational activities such as surfing, kite surfing, canoeing/paddle skiing - to keep well clear of the grounded bulk carrier in the area of Table View beach as the fuel removal operation continues. This is for their own safety as well as for the safety of the salvage team and to prevent any disruption to the operation. Co-operation in this regard is appreciated.
The Joint Operations Committee, chaired by the South African Maritime Safety Authority and attended by relevant authorities and involved parties, continues to meet daily as the fuel removal operation continues. Environmental protection remains a key priority for all involved. The committee includes representatives from SAMSA, Department of Environmental Affairs, SMIT Salvage, SANCCOB, City of Cape Town ? Disaster Management, Robben Island Museum, Transnet National Ports Authority, amongst others.

For further information kindly contact:
Capt Dave Colly (South African Maritime Safety Authority) |  Telephone: 021 421 6170
OR
Ms Carol Moses (Department of Environmental Affairs)  | Mobile: 082-829-3917  | E-mail: cmoses@deat.gov.za
OR
Mr Coen Birkenstock (Port of Cape Town - Transnet National Ports Authority)  | Telephone: 021 449 2389  | Mobile: 083-452-6698
OR
Mr Greg Pillay (City of Cape Town ? Disaster Management)  | Telephone: 021 597-5001
OR
Mr Dennis Cruywagen (Robben Island Museum)  | Mobile: 082-628-4902
OR
Ms Clare Gomes (SMIT Salvage) | Telephone: 021 507-5777 | Mobile: 082-909-2025

QUERIES AND RESPONSES ON BOAT BASED WHALE WATCHING

FRIDAY, 18 SEP 2009:As per allocation process, the Department is obliged to publish queries and responses on boat based whale watching

Q: One of the requirements to obtain a permit is that you need to be a South African. Who is regarded as a "South African", because a key objective with the allocation of the permits is to improve the levels of transformation within the local South African communities.
R: In terms of section 1 of the Marine Living Resources Act 18 of 1998,

'South African person' means-
(a) a South African citizen in terms of the South African Citizenship Act, 1995 (Act 88
of 1995);
(b) a company registered in terms of the Companies Act, 1973 (Act 61 of 1973), of
which the majority of shareholders, as prescribed by the Minister, are South
African persons;
(c) a close corporation in terms of the Close Corporations Act, 1984 (Act 69 of 1984),
of which the majority of members are South African persons; or
(d) a trust in which-
(i) the majority of trustees having the controlling power at any given time are
South African citizens; or
(ii) a majority of the beneficial interests are held by South African citizens;

Q: In the BBWW Explanatory Notes for New Entrants, Section 11 refers to Insurance. Yet on the Application Form Section 11 is headed Annexure Page. Where is there provision for the Insurance Section?
R: New entrant applicants are not required to take out insurance for the purposes of application but this will be compulsory should a new entrant be allocated a permit.

Q: A new entrant BBWW applicant registered under the name of ABC CC on the day of collecting its application. It was explained to an MCM official at the collection point that the applicant was not yet sure of the name in which it would apply. The MCM official informed ABC CC that this would be in order.* *ABC CC?s members have subsequent to the date of registration decided to rather register a new Close Corporation: ?XYZ CC? which will apply as the new entrant BBWW applicant (instead of ABC CC). Please confirm that the application form of ABC CC may now be utilized for the newly registered XYZ CC to apply as a new entrant for a BBWW permit? Should this be explained in the application form?
R: You may apply in the name of any CC, it does not have to be in the name of the company that initially registered, but you should indicate in your application the name under which you registered for the Department?s records and reconciliation purposes.

Q: As current permit exemption holder, we are still concerned that along the KZN coastline there is still a huge amount of ?scuba diving operators, fishing charters, and sightseeing charters? that anyway take their clientele whale watching whilst and under the auspices off. We know this as many people when asked if they want to do a whale trip they respond: no thanks, we went fishing / diving yesterday and anyway saw lots of whale. How is compliance regarding this issue going to be addressed? The permitted operator has such huge operational costs and permit/concession fees, and non-permit holders have actually nothing to loose thus continuing with this practice.
R: The query is not related to the permit allocation process. Only legally permitted operators will be allowed to advertise boat based whale watching trips. Contravention of the Regulations is an offence. The Department is aware of the alleged abuses by other recreational operators and is putting measures in place to address this issue and take steps against individuals who contravene the law.

Q: From a reply on a previous question regarding BBBEE verification, Dyer Island Cruises wants to know whether we are to understand that we DO NOT fall under the Tourism Industry Charter Gazetted 22nd May 2009), which states that the turnover threshold has been reduced from 5 million to 2.5 million?
R: Applicants should obtain BBBEE verification in terms of the CODES OF GOOD PRACTICE ON BLACK ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT published (GenN 112 in GG 29617 of 9 February 2007) also known as the General Codes.

Q: In the Q&R dated 11 September 2009, a question was posed as to whether an official of SANPARKS could apply for a bbww permit as a member of a close corporation. MCM's answer is that there is no rule or criteria that prevents that. I wish to advise you that to allow a SANPARKS official to apply is akin to allowing a DEAT / environmental affairs official to apply. SANPARKS is state-run entity directly under the authority of DEAT, alternatively environment and water affairs. To allow such an applicant to is to condone a conflict of interest and a breach of civil service regulations. It could also raise allegations of corruption as SANPARKS is the managing body responsible for the Table Mountain MPA and the Bird Island MPA. I assume that the applicant wishes to apply for a permit in one of these two areas. You are accordingly requested to correct your answer. You are also requested to advise Feike which applicant submitted this question so that SANPARKs' management can be informed of this employee's misconduct. Should you elect to not make this information available which is not protected under any policy or undertaking as this is a public Q&R process, you are requested to explain your reasons.
R: In terms of the Policy and Regulations for the Management of Boat Based Whale Watching there is no rule/criteria which specifically prohibits a member of a close corporation/company being a SANParks official. This does not however negate the applicability of any other law particularly those of the public service. Such official in addition to disclosing his interest in such an entity would also have to apply for permission to undertake extra-remunerative work if some financial benefit was derived from membership and comply with any other SANParks internal policies and rules which apply. SANParks will in addition be notified of this issue.

Q: Can people holding public office, or who work for or are represented on the boards of
iSimangaliso, EKZN Wildlife, or their agents/consultants bid.
R: Applicants are referred to paragraph 19.4 of the RFP which clearly states that anyone who "is related to or associated with anyone who is employed by the Authority, EKZN Wildlife or MCM or DEA or has worked within the last 12 months for any of the aforementioned institutions" may be disqualified. Current board members and employees of these institutions / organs of state may not bid directly or indirectly through companies or close corporations.