While more than 3,000 delegates are expected to descend on Nasrec for the ANC’s national elective conference tomorrow, a number of B&Bs and restaurants in Soweto are hoping to cash in despite the low number of confirmed bookings received.
Vilakazi Precinct Accommodation Association chairperson Paula Majola said the organisation had received a few requests for accommodation from ANC delegates. The organisation manages 13 establishments on Vilakazi, with a total of 95 double rooms, and Majola said they had received the first request in October for all 95 rooms but as of yesterday afternoon no bookings were confirmed. A second request was made on Monday for five double rooms, which are also yet to be confirmed.
The guesthouses in the area offer en-suite bedrooms.
“'Our establishments are in a convenient area where there are many restaurants, museums and places of entertainment. Everything is within walking distance from each other. This is a safe space,” said Majola.
Mathias Maguri, manager of Vuyo’s Restaurant on Vilakazi Street, said his establishment had already stocked up more food and drinks for the delegates who would be wining and dining at his restaurant.
Maguri said the restaurant had received three requests from ANC members to view the place and its menu. No bookings were confirmed as of yesterday afternoon.
“We have stocked up. We are already working on some of our special dishes. We specialise in African cuisine such as pap, mogodu, samp, dombolo… We want to give them a great experience. We also want to give them music that suits them. These are more like your executive people, so we believe Afropop music will suit them. We have in-house DJs to give them that entertainment with subtle music playing in the background as they enjoy themselves,” said Maguri.
The restaurant has 20 staff members and can accommodate 250 people.
'“We communicate through our food. What distinguishes us from other places is our African food. This is what we would like our customers and the ANC guests who will be coming to experience,” said Maguri.
Manager of Sakhumzi Restaurant on Vilakazi, Cynthia Phala, said she was also looking forward to the big weekend.
“We have our two resident DJs and traditional dance groups who always entertain our customers. We are always ready to welcome them [ANC delegates] and they will get VVIP treatment,” said Phala.
The joint can accommodate 450 people.
Meanwhile, at some of the guesthouses and B&Bs that Sowetan visited other this week in Diepkloof, Dobsonville, Kliptown and Booysens, no bookings were confirmed as of yesterday afternoon.
The ANC conference starts tomorrow at the Nasrec Expo Centre and will run until December 20.
kokam@sowetan.co.za
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