Great news for Smithfield and the Eastern Cape: the defunct Tiffindel ski resort has been sold (on auction) to new owners who hope to have the place running and taking guests by next winter. Tiffindel used to offer South Africans a home ski experience and it gave a tremendous boost to the economy in the region, especially because during winter many tourists prefer to stay away from the Freeze State. When it closed many jobs were lost, not only in the resort itself but in the surrounding towns as well: people on their way to ski would stay and shop for provisions before or after their holiday at Tiffindel.
The whole area has been hard hit by roadworks along the N6 between Reddersburg and Smithfield, and the reopening of Tiffindel, at about the time that the new road will be ready, promises a kick-start for the struggling region.
For more details about the sale and the new owner’s plans: http://mg.co.za/article/2012-07-12-tiffindel-ski-resort-sells-for-r55m