Here, right in the middle of the Soweto township plagued by under-age drinking and numerous social ills, a young cycle tour operator has become a role model for many of his peers.
Born and bred in Soweto, Mpumelelo Mtintso is a young businessman who aims to inspire young South Africans.
Mtintso is the owner and founder of Book Ibhoni, a bicycle tour company operating in Soweto at Vilakazi Street in Orlando.
The 33-year-old’s business also offers bicycle riding lessons as well as offering bicycle accessories through his retail store.
The young man says his tour company offers discounted prices to clients who donate books and he recently bagged the Top 16 Youth-Owned Brand Awards 2022 in the travel and tourism category.
“It (the award) means a lot to me especially coming from a community where bicycles are seen as toys, and we are out here making a living using bicycles. So this recognition means a lot to me and the team. It just says we are on the right track,” he told IOL.
“We offer discounted bicycle tours to anyone that donates a book or two when they book a Soweto bicycle tour experience with us. I was inspired by the fees must fall movement and the notion of free education.
“There is a perception that we as blacks don’t like to read, and stats show our school-going children’s literacy levels are not where they should be, but when you go to our community libraries, there are no books, and we know for a fact there are people with books at home collecting dust.”
https://twitter.com/Mpumi_Mtintso/status/1537737537480974338
According to the gifted businessman, many tourists love cycling but admitted it’s not easy to cycle around in Soweto and that is simply because of its topography.
He also revealed that he is not happy telling the story of the late president Dr. Nelson Mandela including the fallen Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
“Bicycles are not very popular in Soweto, and the topography of Soweto is not very flat, which makes it challenging for cycling,” he added.
“I think tourists like bicycle tours better because they are more interactive. They get to see the township up close. They can feel it, touch it and smell it.
“I do bicycle tours here, but I believe tourism in Soweto is more than just Vilakazi Street. I’m sick and tired of telling tourists about the history of our grandfathers.
“I’m looking for Sowetans who are doing something unique. For instance, people who plait hair, those are the experiences tourists are willing to pay for.”
As the economy is still recovering from the effects of Covid-19, Mtintso says they struggled when they could not cater to tourists but he said they made some alternative plans.
“We were working, even during covid. Before covid, we had bicycles for tours, and then suddenly, there we no tourists, so we used the same bikes to offer courier services in our township,” he concluded.
“Some people were kind enough to pay us more than what we were asking for in terms of deliveries. So, we managed to save money which we are now using to grow the business post lockdown.”
The post Soweto’s young cycle tour operator scoops top tourism award appeared first on Entertainment SA - South African Entertainment News, Celebrity and Lifestyle Online Magazine & Entertainment Tabloid.
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