Union Buildings: Irregular Access Frustrates Operators

Tour operators have voiced their frustration at lack of access to South Africas Union Buildings in South Africas administrative capital, Pretoria a site many tourists regard as a must see when visiting Gauteng.

The national Department of Public Works and Infrastructure DPWI, custodian of the property, closed the park around the buildings for public visits over weekends and public holidays in February 2022, reportedly as a result of several security incidents. Restricted access to the park home to popular attractions such as the Nelson Mandela statue has detrimentally affected local tour operators.

The sudden closure, without notice, of the park over weekends years ago was a disaster for the local tourism industry, and certainly for the many souvenir sellers and photographers using this venue mainly over weekends, Holger Jensen , Owner of Pretoria-based tour operator Jensen Safaris, told Tourism Update .

Jensen said access during the week has also become unpredictable and erratic.

The area at the Union Buildings is closed, for whatever reason, without notice and countless numbers of tourist buses, including my own vehicles, have to turn back and disappoint their guests, said Jensen.