DURBAN – Thembisile Hani Local Municipality returned for a second consecutive year to Africa’s Travel Indaba (ATI), held from May 12 to 15, 2025, showcasing its unique cultural tourism offerings and commitment to growing the local economy through heritage and hospitality.
Municipal Manager Dumisani Mahlangu said the municipality saw value in conducting its own research prior to ATI to assess the potential benefits of participation. “This is our second year coming here. Last year was our first showcase after we conducted our own research as a municipality to understand the platform. We realised here lies an opportunity to sell what we are all about,” said Mahlangu.
Mahlangu noted that following their first appearance at ATI in 2024, the municipality recorded a 15% increase in tourism-related activity. “Through our own research and interaction with the Local Tourism Organisation, we saw a growth of over 15% in our hospitality industry. That confirmed that ATI is a powerful tool to boost our local economy.”
This year, the municipality increased its support to seven SMMEs, up from three in 2024, representing sectors such as travel and tourism, hospitality, arts, and craft. Mahlangu highlighted the revitalisation of Loopspruit Winery, a historic wine farm in the Ndebele Kingdom, as a key project. “There will be a soft launch on May 31. The revitalisation is a major economic game changer for us. It’s not our last time here—we are growing from strength to strength,” he added.
He also spoke of emerging partnerships formed during the Indaba, including engagements with international journalists and the Lesotho Development Corporation. “We are learning how others do tourism and how we can adopt models such as homestays, which allow tourists to live among the locals for an authentic experience.”
“I met a keen journalist from Germany who wants to tell our story. We truly appreciate such opportunities—it’s an uptake, it’s an upbeat, and it brings more traction. We expect to see a greater surge than last year, and that’s exactly what we’re targeting.”
The Ndebele culture was front and centre at the Thembisile Hani exhibition stand. Thando Mahlangu, one of the exhibitors, told Highveld Chronicle: “We are here to showcase the art, culture, language and traditions of the Ndebele people. We are grateful to the municipality for bringing us here and hope more people will want to visit our communities.”
Encouraging youth to take pride in their cultural heritage, Mahlangu said: “We must utilise this precious resource. We still have icons like uGogo Esther and Nosinky, who received the Order of Ikhamanga. Let’s give them platforms to pass on their skills. Ndebele art is a global attraction, and it’s an economy on its own.”
