Tembisa’s hidden gems in the spotlight

Tembisa residents have made a request to the Department of Tourism to recognise the township as a tourist destination.

Koze Kuse Intour Tours’ guide Sibusiso Nhlabathi said on April 7 the organisation took Department of Tourism dignitaries to places they believe can be turned into tourist attractions.

He said the dignitaries were presented with a Tembisa township experience using a horse and carriage.

“The aim of the tour was to show the department that Tembisa has hidden gems that are of value to the industry of tourism.

“We wanted them to see what Tembisa has to offer. We showed them among other things the grave sites of our struggle heros like Thamsanqa (Thami) Mnyele at Ililiba Cemetery,” said Nhlabathi.

He said the dignitaries were also informed about the history of the first Tembisa businessman who thrived there, and served the Tembisa community selflessly by providing his private ambulance services in the 1950s.

“People from the Department of Tourism were amazed at what we made them aware of and now we are waiting for their response.

“We will have a meeting with them where they will tell us about their position. I mean, we are just 20 minutes away from the OR Tambo International Airport and yet tourists who land there are taken to Soweto.”

He said bringing tourists to Tembisa will create employment for many of the residents and this will encourage entrepreneurship and community development.

Call to action – For more photos of this event, visit our website.