She recalled that tourists and customers, who bought clothing from her, always posed the question; where can they experience the true African culture? She could offer tourists the African experience at her guesthouse and she could make them traditional wear to take home as a memoir of Africa. She became interested in starting her own guesthouse and to diversify her clothing store. Through her research she found that the tourism industry was transforming. Nockwaka did some research prior to the opening of her guesthouse' location and took the following factors in consideration: the guests should experience the African culture, but also the beach life in Cape Town, she had to buy an affordable house. Milnerton was the perfect location.
In August 2005 Nockwaka celebrated her first year of success. She combined the clothing industry with the tourism industry by giving the tourist a choice of buying African clothing and enjoying African hospitality.
Nockwaka completed the Department of Economic Development & Tourism's Advanced Training Programme, which comprised of Marketing, Finance, HR and Business Management sessions. This program equips an entrepreneur with the skills to grow their business exponentially. She is currently also a participant on the extremely successful Tourism Mentorship Programme.
She attended Cape Tourism Showcase and the Tourism Indaba in Durban. At the Cape Tourism Showcase held 19-21 August 2005, she won the Award for Best Stand at the Cape Tourism Showcase held from 19-21 August 2005. She is one of 3 entrepreneurs in the Western Cape to become an ETEYA- semi finalist. ETEYA is the National Emerging Tourism Entrepreneur of the Year Award that is facilitated through South Africa Tourism.
"Provincial Government's Tourism Business Support System connected my past, my present and my future. I could correct my mistakes and the training changed the way I am seeing things." Said Nocwaka Mazaleni - proud Executive Member - Kwantu Guesthouse
For more information on the Tourism Business Support System of the Provincial Department of Economic Development & Tourism, contact your local THD: Catherine Colling on 021 426 4260 or catherinec@tourismcapetown.co.za.
