International tourist numbers, local travel lags
According to the latest mid-year update from the Tourism Business Council of South Africa, there has been a notable rise in arrivals from other African countries, and hotel bookings are rebounding.
However, domestic or inland travel is still lagging behind.
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The South African
22 minutes ago
- The South African
5 SA waterfronts that feel like Venice (less the crowds and canals)
Venice is magical, no doubt. But the tourist crush and ever-rising prices? Not so much. South Africa offers a handful of waterfront destinations that capture the charm of Venice: picturesque views, incredible culture, and dreamy waterfront dining, but without the crowds and the maze of canals. Here are five South African waterfronts worth a visit… V&A Waterfront. Image: canva The grand dame of South Africa's waterfronts, the V&A Waterfront blends working harbour energy with world-class shopping, dining, and entertainment. Instead of gondolas, you'll spot yachts and fishing vessels against the dramatic backdrop of Table Mountain. With live music, an abundance of art galleries, and a giant Ferris wheel for panoramic views, it's as close to Venice's lively piazzas as it gets. Must-do: Take a sunset cruise around the bay and enjoy seafood at one of the dockside restaurants. Knysna Waterfront. Image: canva Knysna's waterfront sits on a sheltered lagoon, lined with boutique shops, casual eateries, and cafes spilling out onto decks over the water. It's relaxed, stylish, and oozes small-town charm. The slow pace and surrounding forests and beaches make it an ideal alternative to Venice's bustling squares. Must-do: Hop on a boat tour through the Knysna Heads or indulge in local oysters with a glass of Cape white wine. Richards Bay. Image: wikimedia commons This industrial port city has a surprising gem: a waterfront precinct buzzing with restaurants, pubs, and fishing boats bobbing gently in the marina. It has a distinctly local vibe and offers an authentic South African coastal experience, with zero tourist kitsch. Must-do: Grab a spot at a deck bar for sundowners and watch the sky turn molten orange over the water. Hartbeespoort Dam landscape. Image: canva No sea, no problem! Harties (as locals call it) offers lakeside promenades, weekend markets, and boat cruises that make you feel like you're on a European lakeside escape. Surrounded by the Magaliesberg mountains, the views are unmatched. Must-do: Book a Sunday lunch cruise and soak up the mountain views from the water. Homes in St Francis Bay. Image: canva Whitewashed homes with thatched roofs line a network of canals at St Francis Bay, making this one the most Venice-like of them all. You can even paddle through the canals by kayak or book a gentle boat cruise. It's peaceful, pristine, and feels far removed from the city rush. Must-Do: Rent a canal-side holiday home and enjoy coffee on your own private deck. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 1 Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
CA Teenage entrepreneurs shine through iAccelerate SA Competition Day
The program culminated in a final pitch day competition, where the young entrepreneurs excitedly pitched their ventures to a panel of judges and potential investors. The pitches reflected the creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit proudly fostered under the leadership of Rayhaan Survé and the iASA team. Image: Ian Landsberg/Independent Media YOUNG entrepreneurs from around the Western Cape came together in the first edition of iAccelerate SA (iASA) to learn the fundamentals of entrepreneurship and launch their first venture. The high school teenagers participating in the four-month, fully-funded programme were exposed to established entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors and more for mentorship and guidance on their journeys. The programme culminated in a final pitch day competition, where the young entrepreneurs excitedly pitched their ventures to a panel of judges and potential investors. The pitches reflected the creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit proudly fostered under the leadership of Rayhaan Survé and the iASA team. The iASA Competition Day included a networking lunch, which provided the students with an excellent opportunity to connect with investors and key players driving innovation in South Africa and concluded with the announcement of the competition winners. Attendees witnessed young high school learners step up and deliver their pitches for their start-up businesses with a cool, calm and collected demeanour. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Ad loading The four startups included: Excelle Media, a social media agency aiming to amplify the voices of SMMEs and help them grow their online presence. SlaéPure, an organic healthcare product geared towards tackling teen acne. Ukukhanya Wellness Organisation seeks to address mental health issues in a way that blends Western therapy and African culture. Upcycle Chiq, a sustainable fashion brand geared towards reducing textile waste by utilising recycled materials. The Competition Day ended in a dramatic tie between SlaéPure and Upcycle Chiq. Second was Ukukhanya Wellness Organisation, and third place was Excelle Media. The iAccelerate SA Competition is the culmination of the iAccelerate SA program, where our young entrepreneurs will pitch their ventures to a panel of judges and potential investors. These pitches reflect the creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit we proudly foster. Image: Ian Landsberg/Independent Media Start-ups Team Slaépure and Team Upcycle Chiq were announced joint winners of the iAccelerate SA Competition event held at Islamia. Competition Day is the culmination of the iAccelerate SA program, where our young entrepreneurs will pitch their ventures to a panel of judges and potential investors. These pitches reflect the creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit we proudly foster. Image: Ian Landsberg/Independent Media Shanti Adams, 15, who was part of the Upcycle Chiq team, said that the experience was challenging and new, but that it will benefit her throughout her whole life. 'I'm going to take what I learned here, progress my business, and take it to new heights. I am very proud of my team, my mom, and iAccelerate SA. I'd love to be here for future applicants and tell them that they should stick with the programme.' Terry Babake, 17, said that at first it was stressful participating in the programme, but that it pushed her to new heights. 'Along the way, it started getting better, and these strangers became family. It was just a great experience. 'When I heard about the programme, and that it helps small entrepreneurs, that is when I wanted to come in. It was real. If I had never had this experience, I would think that starting a business was a quick or easy thing, but I'm glad for the iAccelerate SA programme, because it helped me overcome my fear,' Babake said. 'It's not every day that you speak in front of 150 people, and now I have the belief that I can do it.' Athlone High School principal, Vincent Hendricks, one of the judges in the competition, said that he was blown away by their presentations. 'Their confidence and assertiveness levels have been encouraged and refreshing to witness. The youth are our future, and with so much disenchantment and unhappiness with politicians, it is up to us. We must help one another, and we must dig deep and encourage our young people.' Competition Day for iAccelerate SA at the Islamia College Hall where 25 young entrepreneurial learners will compete for... Posted by IOL News on Saturday 26 July 2025 Beyond the competition, this event serves as a powerful gathering of young minds committed to driving economic and social impact through innovation. Survé Philanthropies proudly sponsored this initiative and event as part of their broader mission to uplift communities and invest in human rights, education, health and social justice. Rayhaan Survé, the deputy chairman of Sekunjalo Investment Holdings (SIH) and the Survé Family Office, said that iAccelerate SA 2025 is just the beginning. 'We've been quietly working and planning towards how we can create a more comprehensive program, and how we can create something that is lasting across multiple different levels, and which extends to different parts of the country. 'I am very excited to announce that as a family, we'll be putting R10 million towards developing similar programs - investing in our students and investing in our communities to help grow entrepreneurship in South Africa.' The pitches reflected the creativity, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit proudly fostered under the leadership of Rayhaan Survé (above) and the iASA team. Image: Ian Landsberg/Independent Media Dr Iqbal Survé parting wisdom to some of the participants. Image: Ian Landsberg/Independent Media Attendees keenly heard the young entrepreneurs excitedly pitched their ventures to a panel of judges and potential investors. Image: Ian Landsberg/Independent Media Survé said that while the iASA 2025 program was geared towards teenagers, they will be using the funds to develop two additional programs, one at the university level and another for young professionals. Furthermore, the funds will also be used for grants, bursaries and direct investment into the students' projects. The Survé Family also invited other investors keen on fostering young entrepreneurs to join them, as it is an investment in the spirit and unity of our society. Survé added that the first cohort will be instrumental in taking the program to new heights. The first alumni of iASA will form part of the support team for the students who will follow them. South Africa's entrepreneurial future looks bright, judging by the driven and intelligent leadership on display at the first iAccelerate SA Competition Day in Lansdowne, with the commitment from the Survé family to fostering entrepreneurship. Loot sponsored tablets for the students. Other sponsors included UWC, Spur, Nando's, Lula and the Sakhikamva Foundation.
IOL News
an hour ago
- IOL News
Durban City's Gavin Hunt concerned over loss of identity in SA football
Veteran coach Gavin Hunt will guide Durban City from the technical area in their debut season of the Betway Premiership. Photo: Backpagepix Image: Backpagepix Durban City head coach Gavin Hunt has expressed deep concern over the continued erasure of South African football's identity, following yet another major club sale — this time involving his former side, SuperSport United, now renamed Siwelele FC. Hunt, one of the most successful coaches in the local game, guided SuperSport to three consecutive league titles between 2008 and 2010 and is credited with nurturing a generation of top-flight talent during his time at the Tshwane-based outfit. Fix Football #LetsFixSAFootball Image: Independent Media The sale and rebranding of the club is personal for the veteran mentor — and symptomatic, he believes, of a wider issue plaguing the game. 'Club names should not change, that's the first thing I think is important,' Hunt said. 'If people buy clubs, then they should stay in the city the club is from and carry on from there.' This latest move follows a familiar pattern in South African football — Bidvest Wits, another of Hunt's former clubs and the 2016/17 league champions under his leadership, was also sold and dissolved in 2020, cutting ties with a century-long footballing heritage. 'You cannot build a support base, a stadium or training facilities if you're constantly uprooting clubs,' he added. 'So, if you buy a club, leave it where it is and keep the name so we won't have this [loss of history].' Hunt drew parallels with European giants, where foreign ownership rarely results in such radical overhauls. 'When the (Emirati owners or Saudi owners) buy Manchester City or the Americans buy Manchester United and Liverpool, they remain who they are,' he explained. There's no identities being lost — but we've lost our identity in South African football.' The coach warned that this constant shifting is making it harder for fans to connect with teams, particularly when clubs are moved to entirely different provinces or communities. 'People can't align themselves with these clubs because there's no identity and it's very sad to witness,' he said. Currently leading Durban City in the Betway First Division, Hunt is once again at the helm of a club with historic roots. And as someone who has spent decades shaping the local football narrative, he believes the game must return to prioritising long-term vision over short-term deals. While club sales may sometimes be necessary for financial survival, Hunt argues that preserving legacy, geography, and identity should never be compromised. Because for Hunt, football is more than just 90 minutes on a pitch — it's about building something that lives on for generations.
