The Club Med South Africa Beach and Safari resort in Tinley Manor has been granted its occupation certificate, marking the formal completion of the development phase of one of KwaZulu-Natal’s largest tourism projects.
The handover took place on Thursday, 30 April, during an on-site event attended by KwaDukuza Municipality leadership, officials and project stakeholders.
The approval confirms that the 54 000 square metre development, comprising 64 buildings, meets all regulatory and compliance requirements and is ready to transition into operations.
Extensive approval and infrastructure process for Club Med South Africa
As reported by IOL, the occupation certificate follows a detailed compliance process involving 12 submission packages and approximately 2 000 completion and compliance certificates. These also included 570 electrical certificates of compliance.
The development was also supported by significant bulk infrastructure works. These included 3.3 kilometres of bulk water pipeline, 8.4 kilometres of medium-voltage electrical cabling to the site, a 9-metre pipe jack beneath the N2, and a 40-metre directional drill under the P467.
Murray Collins of Collins Residential said the milestone was “a very special day” and thanked KwaDukuza Municipality for its role in supporting the project.
“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,” he said.
Project lead Chris du Toit said the development had been a “collaborative journey”, with municipal teams working closely with developers from the early design phase through to final approvals.
Economic impact expected
KwaDukuza Mayor Siduduzo Gumede described the development as a significant investment for the area and the first of its kind locally.
“Through this development, jobs have been created, and we are confident that tourism in this region will grow meaningfully,” he said.
He also revealed that the resort meets high international standards and is expected to contribute to improving livelihoods in surrounding communities.
With the occupation certificate now issued, Club Med South Africa’s operational teams have begun preparations for launch, including staff onboarding and training.
A phased soft launch is planned as the resort moves toward opening in July 2026.
