Tours catch a glimpse of inner Joburg and Soweto
The last stop was in Soweto, Vilakazi Street, where lies the painful history of how South Africa regained its freedom with the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
Sowetoo Tours in collaboration with the South African Hall of Fame (HOF) invited multiple stakeholders in tourism as well as small businesses to a Tuesday out in the sun for a familiarisation route tour from Rosebank to the heart of South Africa, Soweto.
The tour could not happen without the City Sightseeing Joburg bus offering the real sensation of spending a day in the shoes of a tourist and tour guides. Along with the famous Sigi’phigo open window bus from Sowetoo Tours.
Mel Tlhapi, Sowetoo Tours Office Manager and Mrs Soweto said, “When we as Sowetoo Tours launched the South African HOF as part of our Soweto route in September 2023, we knew we wanted it to be different by showcasing real hidden gems in the tourism industry.”
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The promotion and relevance of the HOF in Soccer City stadium was another driver to host the tour. Most Sowetans know about the iconic FNB stadium yet nothing about the room that stands to remind South Africans of their great heroes.
They operate in three factors; to celebrate, inspire and empower, in which they look out for talented children and invest on their future. They are currently with ten kids they have enrolled at Boys High in Pretoria.
“We celebrate great achievements by extraordinary sports men and women. We inspire sports individuals to always envision a life greater than their presence, and lastly empower through our legacy programme from underserved communities,” said Clinton Burrows, General Manager for SA HOF.
The room beholds the country’s proud moments made by individuals in sports who restored the country while placing it on the map. This is to give the next generation a tangible historical success.
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Juliet Miyabo from Township Economic Development Communities SA advised that, “The HOF is supposed to be that entry point whereby people are able to feel and sense the passion that people have for sports.
“We don’t have to be in Eastern Cape to feel the spirit of Siya Kolisi, we should tap into their origins in the glass frames.”
The last stop was in Soweto, Vilakazi Street, where lies the painful history of how South Africa regained its freedom with the 1976 Soweto Uprising.
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“Soweto is still the heart and core of South Africa. It is deeply intertwined with the struggle against apartheid, making it a cornerstone of South Africa’s journey to democracy,” said Tlhapi.
Tourism serves as a powerful catalyst for linking and educating people about their township or city.
“Through harnessing the potential of tourism as a tool for community development and empowerment, townships and cities can showcase their unique identities and narratives.
