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E’ stato inaugurato a Soweto il primo albergo a quattro stelle di 48 camere. Si tratta di un Holiday Inn costruito nella piazza Walter Sisulu (Freedom Square), nel quartiere centrale di Kliptown. Lo gestirà la società Zuka African Tourism and Investment Company (Zatic), che annovera una maggioranza di azionisti di colore ed è capeggiata da una donna, Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, la quale vanta esperienze precedenti della catena dei Southern Sun e nel Dipartimento governativo dell’ambiente e del turismo. Si prevede che l’albergo darà un notevole impulso allo sviluppo del turismo a Soweto.
L’architettura e l’arredamento dell’albergo sono quelli dei ghetti neri degli anni cinquanta. Le stanze saranno decorate in stile africano, con colori caldi e oggetti dell’artigianato indigeno. I tavoli saranno ricavati da barili di petrolio destinati a ricordare i bracieri della “township”. Nel menù figureranno piatti tradizionali sudafricani cone “incwancwa” (porridge acido), “ujeqe” (pane al vapore) e “usu” (interiora di manzo). L’albergo offrirà ai turisti anche gite a Soweto e dintorni e al bar si potrà ascoltare musica jazz indigena. Soltanto aprendo le porte l’albergo ha già creato 38 nuovi posti di lavoro permanenti.
Doors open at Soweto’s first four-star hotel
Soweto’s first four-star hotel opened its doors in Kliptown. The R23 million Holiday Inn is expected to give an extra boost to Soweto’s growing popularity as a tourist destination.
Construction of the hotel, situated on the Walter Sisulu Square of Dedication (Freedom Square) has been managed by Zuka African Tourism and Investment Company (Zatic). The majority black owned hotel group is led by Lindiwe Sangweni-Siddo, whose career has seen her hold senior positions with Southern Sun as well as the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism.
The 48 room hotel in Soweto will cater for business and leisure tourists, featuring two boardrooms decked out with glass as part of their architecture, state of the art audio-visual equipment and internet hubs. Sangewni-Siddo has told press that “the architecture is 1950s township, while rooms will be decorated in African style, with warm colours complemented by local arts and crafts. Tables will be oil drums reminiscent of coal braziers and the chairs will be covered in black leatherette.”
The hotel's cuisine will include authentic South African dishes such as incwancwa, (sour porridge), ujeqe (steamed bread) and usu (offal). The hotel will also offer tours around Kliptown and the whole of Soweto as well as evenings of local jazz in the hotel’s restaurant, Jazz Maniacs.
Sangweni-Siddo said that the hotel will generate 38 permanent jobs and provide training opportunities for young residents of Soweto. - BuaNews and SAGN
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