Investigating the Views of the Mankele Community on Sudwala Cave Tourism, Mpumalanga Province

Study OverviewThis repository contains two datasets from a mixed-methods case study examining community perspectives on heritage tourism development and local participation in tourism governance at Sudwala Caves, Mpumalanga Province, South Africa. The research was conducted in Mankele village (25°43'S, 30°75'E), a rural settlement of 300-500 residents located approximately 30 km northwest of Mbombela, adjacent to the Sudwala Caves tourist attraction.Research Design and Data CollectionData collection occurred on 16-17 September 2024 at the Mankele Community Hall. The study employed methodological triangulation through focus group discussions (FGDs), structured questionnaires, and real-time polling. Purposive sampling was used to recruit adult residents (aged 18+ years) who had lived in Mankele for a minimum of two years. Of approximately 60 invitations, 44 residents participated (response rate ≈73%). Four FGDs were conducted, each comprising 10-12 participants stratified by demographic characteristics. Sessions lasted 90-120 minutes and explored perceived tourism impacts, contributions to local livelihoods, and community participation in tourism governance.Dataset Descriptions<b>Dataset 1: Qualitative Data - FGD Verbatim Transcripts</b> This dataset contains verbatim English translations of all four focus group discussions. Audio recordings were transcribed and translated by bilingual researchers, with back-translation verification performed on 20% of transcripts. Participant identifiers have been anonymized through assigned codes. The transcripts capture community perceptions, experiences, and aspirations related to heritage tourism development.<b>Dataset 2: Quantitative Data - Structured Questionnaire Responses</b> This Excel file contains quantitative data from structured questionnaires completed by all 44 participants. The dataset includes demographic variables, Likert-scale responses, and coded open-ended questions. Questionnaires were administered in participants' preferred languages (English, siSwati, or isiZulu) with bilingual fieldworker assistance. Real-time polling data are integrated into this dataset.Ethical ComplianceEthical approval was obtained from the University of South Africa's College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Research Ethics Committee. Written permission was secured from the Mankele Community Leader and Mbombela Municipality. All participants provided informed consent. Digital data were encrypted and stored securely, accessible only to the research team.