Eastern Cape’s iconic Mazeppa Bay Hotel set to reopen with new operator

A well-known and popular tourist attraction in Mazeppa Bay, the suspension bridge, had to be closed in December because it has become dangerous to use. (Photo: Owen Richter)

By Estelle Ellis

23 Aug 2024

The Mazeppa Hotel on the Eastern Cape’s Wild Coast is set to reopen soon, with plans to also fix the suspension bridge that was closed after falling into disrepair.

One of the Eastern Cape Wild Coast’s iconic hotels, the Mazeppa Bay Hotel, is set to reopen around November.

The Eastern Cape Development Corporation has confirmed in a written answer to questions that it has received a notice of termination of its lease agreement from Actons Operations, the former operator of Mazeppa Bay.

A pothole in front of the Mazeppa Bay Hotel, Eastern Cape. (Photo: Owen Richter)

On 27 January, Mazeppa Bay Hotel manager Vanessa Fisher sent out letters to guests and service providers to announce that the hotel was closing. She said the Covid-19 pandemic, and also the poor road infrastructure and lack of road maintenance by the provincial/local government, also played a major role in the poor financial performance of the business.

Also read in Daily Maverick: Blow to Wild Coast tourism as iconic hotel shuts its doors

But now East London businesswoman Judy Jennings has been awarded the new lease agreement. She was one of six operators who sent proposals to bring the old hotel back to life.

She said this week that she was hoping to reopen the hotel in November.

The suspension bridge at Mazeppa Bay that has been a huge attraction for tourists and fishermen alike, however, had fallen into disrepair and was closed by the community in December. The spokesperson for the Mnquma Local Municipality, Loyiso Mpalantshane, said they too closed the bridge in January.

Local tour operator Owen Richter said crossing the bridge to the island was a bucket list item for many tourists. He said the bridges’ cables had started fraying and it had become very difficult to even walk on it. The community had been engaging with the government for 12 years to get the bridge fixed.

Mpalantshane said this week that they were planning to fix the suspension bridge at the hotel.

Barricaded by local residents

The bridge was barricaded by local residents in January as it had become too dangerous to use. Last Friday rescuers who were trying to help two children who were swept away by strong sea currents reopened the dangerous structure to try to reach the children, and managed to save one child. The other was swept to sea and has not yet been found.

wild coast hotel shuts mazeppa bay A well-known and popular tourist attraction in Mazeppa Bay, the suspension bridge, had to be closed in December because it has become dangerous to use.
(Photo: Owen Richter)

“As a developmental municipality we have taken a conscious decision to fix the suspension bridge due to its potential to attract tourists and boost the local economy. Despite the fact that the bridge is not part of our assets database or register, we have set aside a provisional budget that will be used to transform the suspended bridge from the current wooden structure to galvanised steel so that it can be used for many years to come. Upon completion of the ongoing assessment by our team of civil engineers, a contractor will be appointed to carry out the necessary works, and then we will hand it over to the community trust of Mazeppa Bay for management.

“In the meantimes we urge members of the public to resist any temptation to use or open the barricades that are in place for their own safety. Mazeppa Bay is one of the four beaches that are earmarked for modernisation in our coastal development plan. The other three are Qolora Beach, Trennerys and Wavecrest,” he said.

While local residents confirmed that the road was still not in a good condition, the Department of Transport has not yet responded to questions on their plans to fix it in a sustainable manner.

Also read in Daily Maverick: Grader sent to save Eastern Cape’s vital Mazeppa Bay Road breaks down

The Eastern Cape Department of Transport has not yet responded to questions on whether they have the budget to fix the road again. DM

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