Proactively zoned for tourism, the Langa Quarter consists of a nucleus of 207 homes. These have been transformed into restaurants, galleries, bars (shebeens), craft stores and The Langa Quarter Homestay Hotel, a 40-bed cluster of Homestay accommodation in the residents’ homes, nine of which are listed on Airbnb.
Traditional foods, Apartheid Pass Museum, historical re-enactments, local art, entertainment and walking tours are all on offer. Ikhaya Le Langa’s new Social Enterprise tourism outlet, the Inter-Community Tourism Agency, is an honorary sustainable tourism member of FEDHASA, the national trade association for the hospitality industry. The agency will present its signature Past, Present, Future Tour which includes the exclusive Apartheid Pass Museum re-enactments.
VIPs and media guests who attended the event were treated to a tour of the Quarter, including the Homestay Hotel, Black Plaques, street art as well as a stop-over at a few of the restaurants on offer. The Sun Diner based at the Quarter’s Ikhaya Le Langa hub put on a great spread for the evening with the debut of the ‘Wonder Menu’. Scheduled to fully open in February 2018, the Sun Diner will cater for breakfast and lunch and is targeted at Capetonians passing in and out of the city as well as early-arriving tourists and those stuck in N2 traffic jams.
The Sun Diner's Wonder Menu was created to address the need for an affordable catering solution for the community. It will soon be providing free meals to the army of unemployed local volunteers engaged in making the Langa Quarter ‘cleaner, greener and safer’.
Addressing the guests, a beaming Elvin commented: “We are thrilled to be showcasing this amazing project to Cape Town, South Africa and the world. The people of Langa are doing real, meaningful activities in making the Langa Quarter ‘cleaner, greener and safer’, and promoting tourism to this area. Our community is a shining example of Ubuntu and our people are inspiring and motivating us all.”
