It is not just any festival aimed at showcasing kota-making skills, but it’s all about boosting the local economy while having fun at the same time.
The Soweto Kota Festival will be in the spotlight next month when more Kota business owners will strut their stuff while observing their heritage.
The festival has over the years assisted Kota businesses in Gauteng townships to grow, expand and create employment.
Set to be staged on the first weekend of September at the Soweto Cricket Oval, the festival is set to make its comeback in the Heritage Month.
It is now expected to be bigger and better than before, with more Kota businesses showing off their food at the Cricket Oval, which is also known as the Elkah Cricket Stadium.
EWN has it that the event’s organiser, Sidwell Tshingilane, told Vutivi News that the festival, which was first held in 2017, was an important platform for not only growing Kota businesses but also the township economy at large.
“When we started, we started out with a few Kota businesses who were owned by young people,” he said.
“The Kota business owners are exposed to people from around the Gauteng province, and as a result, there was growth in their businesses due to an increase in demand for their kotas.
“We also assist the Kota businesses with marketing and market them on our social media pages, and this, in turn, increases the foot traffic to these businesses.”
Tshingilane stated that some of the business establishments operated only from tables when they attended the festival but that is no longer the case.
“Because they were constantly attending, and consequently growing, we would give them business advice and encourage them to buy trailers, and this proved that their businesses were growing,” he added.
“Some of these businesses became very successful and went on to have more than three branches across Soweto and other townships.
“The businesses also create jobs in townships, thereby tackling the issue of unemployment in the township, and that’s one of the main reasons why we do this: to create a stronger and more inclusive township economy.”
This year, organisers expect between 18,000 and 20,000 attendees and there will be around 50 stalls including a long list of activities catering for the young and old.
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