New KZN resort drives jobs and youth training ahead of 2026 opening

Simangele Legodi

Simangele Legodi

20 December 2025 | 7:29

Set to open in July 2026, Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari is already investing in the next generation of hospitality professionals.

New KZN resort drives jobs and youth training ahead of 2026 opening
From construction sites to hospitality training rooms, a major development on KwaZulu-Natal’s north coast is already creating jobs and skills opportunities for young South Africans, long before its doors officially open.
Set to open in July 2026, Club Med South Africa Beach & Safari is already investing in the next generation of hospitality professionals.
Since the beginning of the year, 160 young South Africans from the NukaKamma Talent Development Centre have been trained in food and beverage service.
Eyewitness News recently visited the site and met one of the trainees: Sandile Lengiba. The student from Isipingo is part of a leadership programme, gaining hands-on experience in the electrical projects division.
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“I’m gaining a lot of experience,” beamed Lengiba. “They teach me how to connect, how to conduit, how to fix things… I’m feeling good.”
For Lengiba, the biggest shift has been from theory to real technical confidence. 
“I now know how to check which cable is needed - 1.5mm, 2.5mm or 4mm,” he said.
Club Med’s managing director, Olivier Perillat-Piratoine, said the initiative reflects the company’s broader commitment. 
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“We are overjoyed to see the first intake of students. Through our ‘Happy to Care’ initiatives, Club Med is committed to improving the areas where we operate.”
The building site itself is currently supporting the local economy by employing 1,200 people, most of whom were recruited from within a 10-kilometer radius of the site.
Situated along the KwaZulu-Natal north coast, the resort has been designed to blend seamlessly with its natural surroundings. 
The 411 lodgings feature contemporary design elements, including locally sourced stone, light wood finishes and large picture windows. The aim is to blur the line between indoor spaces and the sweeping views of the Dolphin Coast.
“The architecture allows visitors to enjoy a laid-back coastal surf feel,” Victoria Wood from Mobius, the architectural firm behind the project said.
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