Stories told by South Africans are the gold in tourism, Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille says
De Lille was speaking at the media launch of Tourism Month on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, held at the lushy Zoo Lake, at Sakhumzi Restaurant in Saxonwold, Johannesburg.
By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor
The country is abundant with stories that come from the country’s diverse cultures, the warmth South Africans t dish out to tourists as they welcome them into the country due to the value of Ubuntu that runs through every South African’s vein’s is the gold that local tourism benefits from.
This is according to Tourism minister Patricia de Lille who spoke at the media launch of Tourism Month on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, held at the lushy Zoo Lake, at Sakhumzi Restaurant as guests were entertained by a group of energetic pantsula dancers amid speeches from senior tourism officials and tourism entrepreneurs.
“Let us tell our own stories instead of other people telling our stories, after all we are the ones who can tell our stories better instead of other people. This country is beautiful and we are beautiful people. Yes, we sometimes fight with each other, but when it comes to welcoming tourists, we exude beautiful warmth because of our Ubuntu” the minister said.
She also spoke of abundant opportunities available in the tourism sector, and encouraged especially the youth interested in the tourism business to take advantage of the opportunities and the funding programmes that she said have been created by the Department of Tourism.
However the Minister warned that for tourism to flourish and for transformation to become a reality in the tourism sector, there was a need for change to happen in the ranks of the department’s officials.
“Change is always difficult, but change is needed. There are some old men (in the department) who resist change. I am saying to the young people, push these old men who resist change out,” The minister said.
The launch which happened in the context of Tourism month in September and to mark World Tourism Day on September 27, 2025, was a collaboration by Joburg Tourism, Gauteng Tourism, South African Tourism, the Department of Tourism and other stakeholders such as Sakhumzi, the Non-Profit organisation currently active in rehabilitating Johannesburg CBD and Jozi My Jozi among others.
The proceedings were efficiently directed by well-known actor, Thapelo Mofokeng whose time consciousness was outstanding, a far departure from the usual boring tendency by the celebrity type, who sometimes once on the podium suddenly think they are a Trevor Noah or Kagiso Lediga by punctuating their duties by coming up with no jokes. Mofokeng was sharp, clean and stuck to doing his job, which was to make sure the proceedings proceeded well. No useless and meaningless jokes but straight to the point, and in the process respecting everyone’s time. And by the way, the food at Sakhumzi, as usually was supercool. Those who went for the second time despite their bulging tummies can be excused, really.
This cool eatery, which replaced the now defunct Moyo’s Restaurant is fast growing, with more restaurants continuing to open in other places, in addition to their now famous restaurant on Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, Soweto, according to the owner Sakhumzi Maqubela.
I promised myself I will have to go back to that one for another food experience.