With the occupation certificate now issued, Club Med’s operational teams are already established on site and have commenced preparations, including staff onboarding and training, ahead of a phased soft launch.
Image: Supplied
The delivery of one of South Africa’s most anticipated tourism developments reached a significant milestone on Thursday.
This was marked with the ceremonial handover of the occupation certificate for the Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari resort in Tinley Manor.
The milestone was both long-awaited and deeply significant for the region, says Murray Collins, representing Collins Residential.
“It’s a very special day to receive our occupation certificate, and we thank KwaDukuza municipality and all its members for the work they’ve put in to make this project so successful.
"We’re incredibly excited about what this means not only for KwaZulu-Natal and the North Coast, but for South Africa as a whole; from tourism growth and job creation to truly putting this destination on the global map.
"It’s been a long time coming, and we’re proud to see the world represented here on the North Coast,” Collins says.
The event signals the formal completion of the development phase of the 54,000 square metre resort, which comprises 64 buildings and represents a landmark investment on KwaZulu-Natal’s North Coast.
It was hosted on site and attended by municipal leadership, officials and project stakeholders.
The occupation certificate follows an extensive regulatory and compliance process involving the submission, review and approval of a substantial volume of documentation over time.
In total, 12 submission packages were processed, alongside approximately 2,000 completion certificates and certificates of compliance, including 570 electrical COCs.
This was supported by major bulk infrastructure works, including 3.3 kilometres of bulk water pipeline, 8.4 kilometres of medium-voltage electrical cabling to the site, as well as complex engineering interventions such as a 9-metre pipe jack beneath the N2 and a 40-metre directional drill under the P467.
The strength of the partnership enabled the project’s delivery, says Chris du Toit, project lead for Club Med South Africa.
“It’s a fantastic day for us to welcome KwaDukuza Municipality to the site for the official handover of the occupation certificate. This has been a truly collaborative journey. Right from the early days of design, the municipality consistently dedicated teams to work alongside us, engaging on a weekly and even daily basis to ensure approvals and sign-offs were achieved.
"Today is not only about completing the resort, but also about recognising the broader impact this development will have through job creation and long-term economic benefit for surrounding communities,” Du Toit says.
These proceedings highlighted the broader significance of the development for the region, says Councillor Siduduzo Gumede, Mayor at KwaDukuza Municipality.
“We are here today at the Club Med Resort to hand over the occupation certificate as we prepare to declare this a fully developed resort. This is a significant investment for our area, being the first of its kind, and we are grateful to the investors.
"Through this development, jobs have been created, and we are confident that tourism in this region will grow meaningfully. This is a project of a high international standard, and we believe it will help improve the lives of our people in KwaDukuza,” Gumede adds.
With the occupation certificate now issued, Club Med’s operational teams are already established on site and have commenced preparations, including staff onboarding and training, ahead of a phased soft launch.
The resort is scheduled to officially open on July 4, 2026.
The handover marks a pivotal moment for this Club Med development, reinforcing the North Coast’s emergence as a hub for international-standard tourism investment and demonstrating the impact of effective public-private collaboration in delivering large-scale infrastructure projects.
The opening of Club Med this year is a significant marker, said Eva August, CEO of Century 21 South Africa, earlier this month.
She said Club Med does not choose locations speculatively. “Their presence signals that the global hospitality and tourism industry has taken a clear position on the North Coast’s international appeal; and where international tourism investment goes, international property interest tends to follow,” she said then.
Independent Media Property