Vilakazi Street’s tourism expert, Tshepo Marumo, has put his heart and soul into developing the historic site into a world-class tourist attraction.

Born in Soweto, Marumo studied tourism development at the University of Johannesburg and knew he wanted to make the most out of his home town.

During his studies he got a job at Mandela House in Vilakazi Street – the former residence of South Africa’s first democratically elected president, Nelson Mandela. This was during the 2010 Fifa World Cup when Vilakazi Street was flooded with tourists, a memory Marumo describes as his favourite.

It was during his time there that he developed a passion for growing tourism in Vilakazi Street and decided to create an online presence for the street, something totally new. “The only place you could see Vilakazi Street online was government websites or SA Tourism,” said Marumo.

He created a Facebook page promoting the street’s attractions and businesses. “As Vilakazi Street Tourism, we encourage business community collaboration and involvement.” He works with all sorts of people, from B&B owners and museum managers, to crafters and car guards.

It’s the informal car guards and crafters that have been on Marumo’s mind during the lockdown period. “I wonder how they are and if they are making money.”

Marumo has a vision of promoting urban tourism in South Africa. While he loves South Africa’s bush and mountains, his passion is the city.