An enterprise development programme launched by the Table Mountain Aerial Cableway Company (TMACC), is going a long way to developing smaller tourism operators across the city. It provides them with the practical and business management skills needed to be a successful and sustainable business entity.
“We worked with our implementation partner SIYAKHA to drive an Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme that kills two birds with one stone; it helps grow and nurture young enterprises, and enables access for locals,” says Selma Hercules, Finance Director at the TMACC.
One such beneficiary of the ESD programme is Ngena eKasi Township Tours, the brainchild of Thandisizwe Dano. The company provides tailored group tours to local and international visitors in and around the Western Cape. Dano – affectionately known to his friends as Zozo – says his working life did not start in tourism and travel.
“I am a qualified quality controller who worked in the clothing industry. Things changed a lot over the years, and I spent a few years promoting events and artists. But later I decided to complete a tour guide course and started a small shuttle service taking people from places like Gugulethu to go and see sights and attractions across the Mother City.”
It was during one such visit to Table Mountain when Zozo crossed paths with Hercules and the TMACC team.
“She (Hercules) and I had long and interesting conversations about why some people did not come and visit the mountain and what the possible reasons were. We spoke about possible solutions or ways of addressing these barriers too and agreed that it needed to start with the support of smaller operators,” says Dano.
Hercules promptly enrolled Dano and his colleagues in the ESD programme.
“Since I joined the programme in 2018, I’ve seen growth within my company and lots of potential for the future. It has equipped us with different management approaches that enable us to come up with new and varying business strategies.
“The ESD programme has assisted us with resources and skills that have granted our business access to participation in the country’s economy. These include support and coaching, business plan development and proposal writing, assistance with the completion of a Tourism Equity Fund application and work process flow for tours to Table Mountain.
“Additionally, we’ve also benefited from the ESD programme through basic financial training on how to record income and expenses, and create financial reports, as well as drafting permanent and contract staff contracts and operating manuals,” he explains.
‘You can’t know your city if you don’t explore it’
Dano says his greatest objective is to introduce more people from disadvantaged communities to the city’s many popular tourist attractions and activities, such as Table Mountain. Too many people living in Cape Town have never had the opportunity to explore their own city, he believes.
“Most of the people I grew up with would only have been to places like Table Mountain as part of school outings. I don’t think it is right that people who live on the doorstep of the mountain have not been to explore and enjoy it yet, and I hope I can make a difference to help open the door for more people. You can’t know your city if you don’t go out and explore it.”
He adds that ‘word of mouth’ is a powerful way of promoting the city’s many tourist attractions, and this is why it is important for more people to experience these sites for themselves. His company has expanded its tour offerings, and now also includes tours of the Cape Winelands and of the greater Peninsula.
Hercules says she is encouraged to see how Dano’s business has grown, and she hopes the ESD programme will have the same impact on other small businesses.
“As an established entity in the tourism sector, we have a duty to mentor and develop other smaller operators so that they too can become successful. It benefits everyone who works in the travel and tourism sector and ultimately brings more tourists to our city,” she says.
