The murder of tourism personality and Anglo-Zulu war pundit David Rattray has shocked leaders in the South African tourism industry.
South African Tourism Services Association (Satsa) CEO Michael Tatalias said on Saturday that Rattray had been one of South Africa’s greatest ambassadors, and that he had performed an immense task in telling the story of South Africa and in particular the Zulu people.
”He reinvigorated the genre of bringing history vibrantly to life by telling the compelling stories of the many human faces of the old history of the region. He was a huge catalyst in the development of battlefields tourism in South Africa, and put the story of the new South Africa and her people’s complex past into the forefront of the minds of people around the world,” Tatalias said.
His talks enthralled and captivated people from all walks of life, from princes to schoolchildren, and gave a positive new perspective on South Africa.
”His personality, energy and passion stood head and shoulders above the average, and those of us lucky enough to have heard him speak, work with and know him, can count ourselves to have been very privileged indeed. This is both a personal tragedy for the family [and] a huge loss to our industry,” he added.
”Our thoughts, prayers and good wishes are with his wife, Nicky, and their family, staff and friends in this very difficult time … We hope and trust that the police will do their utmost to bring these criminals to book.”
According to Tatalias, it is of huge concern to business owners in the tourism industry that this kind of heinous crime is getting out of hand. ”The problem of crime can be solved, but until there is general agreement that there is a problem, we cannot move forward,” he said.
Satsa’s full national board this past week discussed crime as a clear and present threat to the business of tourism. ”We do not yet have clear answers and solutions, but are willing to work with anyone in a positive manner in order to put a stop to this growing madness,” it stated.
”The future of this industry depends on a significant reduction firstly in violent crime and secondly in crime levels in general.”
Tourism is one of three key industries identified in the Accelerated and Shared Growth Initiative for South Africa as those with the greatest potential for job creation and economic growth.
While tourism has recently been described as the new gold for the South African GDP, the entire industry is at risk due to the increase in crime levels, Satsa added.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) on Saturday said the slaughter of Rattray has sent shudders of revulsion through the length and breadth of South Africa.
”People like David Rattray used their lives contributing to the body of knowledge that is this country, whereas the criminals contribute nothing but an evil vacuum that sucks in our best and brightest,” said the DA’s Dianne Kohler-Barnard.
”Criminals are not only perceived to be running rampant, but they also actually steal our lives and our possessions … May his family find solace,” she added.
KwaZulu-Natal Premier Sibusiso Ndebele on Saturday also expressed his outrage at the murder of Rattray, the owner of one of the province’s most important tourism facilities, Fugitives Drift Lodge, at Shiyane, near Dundee.
”David Rattray was responsible for bringing many world-famous personalities, among them Prince Charles, to our province and had developed an iconic status as a cultural tourism guide,” Ndebele said.
He added that Rattray had been a huge asset to the country and a man who helped develop cultural tourism as a corner stone of KwaZulu-Natal’s efforts to promote economic development and alleviate poverty.
”His senseless and callous murder will fill all peace-loving South Africans with disgust. Our heart goes out to his wife, Nicky, and the Rattray family for having lost a true son of KwaZulu-Natal,” Ndebele said. — Sapa