Occupation certificate handed over to Club Med South Africa resort

This week marked a significant milestone in the delivery of one of South Africa’s most anticipated tourism developments, with the ceremonial handover of the occupation certificate for the Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari Resort in Tinley Manor, by the KwaDukuza Municipality.

Hosted on site and attended by municipal leadership, officials and project stakeholders, the event signalled 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.

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 (COCs), including 570 electrical COCs.

This was supported by major bulk infrastructure works, including 3.3km of bulk water pipeline, 8.4km of medium-voltage electrical cabling to the site, as well as complex engineering interventions such as a 9m pipe jack beneath the N2 and a 40m directional drill under the P467.

Murray Collins, representing Collins Residential, described the milestone as both long-awaited and deeply significant for the region.

“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.”

Chris du Toit, project lead for Club Med South Africa, emphasised the strength of the partnership that enabled the project’s delivery.

“It’s a fantastic day for us to welcome KwaDukuza Municipality to 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.”

To close off the official proceedings, KwaDukuza Municipality Mayor Councillor Siduduzo Gumede highlighted the broader significance of the development for the region: “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.”

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 4 July 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.