VOSLOORUS is one of Ekurhuleni's tourist attractions.
Gauteng Tourism hosted a two-day tour in the kasi from 29-30 June.
Barba Gaoganediwe, head of marketing and communications at Gauteng Tourism, said they hosted a tour in Vosloorus to showcase township tourism spaces and experiences.
“The Voslo Boulevard experience includes the newly built The Box Shop Digital Hub that serves as a market and creative space for aspirant township enterprises, especially youth-owned and led," Barba said.
He Gauteng townships are now hotbeds for the creative economy, adding that their guests spent a night at Ekuthuleni Guest House in Vosloorus during the tour.
Sfiso Moyo, founder of The Box Shop Digital Hub, said they are celebrating the transition of Box Shop from being lifestyle to digital.
He said the idea of having the hub is to do business in an area such as Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, Soweto.
“We are transitioning to Vosloorus and we stationed ourselves in places where there’s tourism potential, and we call these places tourism destinations.
“At this hub, we are graced by multiple small enterprises that are more about hospitality and lifestyle. We have brought a digital hub to balance the conversation between commercial and social,” Moyo said.
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Nokubonga Ngqola, owner of Ekurhuleni Guest House, said she has three guest houses - one in Vosloorus and two in Soweto.
“I started the business because I saw the gap during the 2010 Soccer World Cup. We we expected a lot of people in the townships, but they ended up in the suburbs like Sandton hotels. But that never dented my spirit. I’m so grateful to be part of the Gauteng Tourism Authority because they have been helping me from the beginning. I started the business without a background in tourism. I just loved tourism but didn’t have information about it,” said Nokubonga.
She said she also created jobs to empower the youth, especially those studying tourism and hospitality.
One of the workers, Sanele Khanyile, said: "I did my practicals at this place last year and they offered me an opportunity to work after finishing my studies.
"I've learnt how to handle food and customer service."
Skhumbuso Khowa, a tour guide known as Wow, said Vosloorus has a rich history from political stalwarts and prominent people.
He said the place is the home of the late actor Ken Gampu, music icon Mahlathini, some of Mahotella Queens' singers, as well as soccer players such as Bashin Mahlangu, Jabulani Mendu and Orlando Pirates midfielder, Fortune Makaringe.
