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Wesgro, 7th Floor, Media 24 Foreshore, 40 Heerengracht S, Cape Town (2026)

14/09/2026

𝗠𝗼𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮 𝗠𝗮𝗴𝘅𝘄𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗮𝗺 𝗭𝗮𝗺𝘅𝗮𝗸𝗮, 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆-𝗟𝗲𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆

As part of Tourism Month, Wesgro is spotlighting pioneers who are helping shape the Western Cape's tourism offering by creating meaningful experiences, protecting our heritage and showcasing the depth and diversity of the destination.

Founded in 2023 by Monica Magxwalisa and local farmer and tour guide Unam Zamxaka, the Middelpos Township Experience offers visitors an authentic, community-led introduction to life, culture and heritage in Middelpos Township, Saldanha Bay.

From guided walking tours led by local youth and storytelling sessions with the community's Elderly Club, to traditional food, urban farming, beadwork, crafts and live music, the experience brings together the people and businesses that make Middelpos unique.

“They are the foundation of the entire experience,” Monica and Unam explain, referring to the role of local people, culture, food and stories in creating memorable tourism experiences.

Importantly, Monica and Unam have built a model that allows existing community entrepreneurs to participate in the tourism value chain. Local cooks, artists, farmers, storytellers and musicians gain collective access to visitors and markets that can be difficult to reach individually.

Their approach is rooted in a simple principle: “For us, Ubuntu is not just a slogan – it is our core business model.”

This demonstrates the multiplier effect of tourism: visitor spending can reach multiple local businesses while creating opportunities for more residents to participate in the tourism economy.

Their flagship event, ‘Middelpos Township Heritage Experience: KwaNtu 2026’, takes place on Heritage Day, bringing together local food, music, crafts, storytelling and community experiences.

“When visitors come to Middelpos, they don't just see a destination, they experience the living practice of Ubuntu through our food, our music, our stories and our shared warmth.”

Middelpos demonstrates how tourism can do more than bring visitors to a destination. It can create connections, open markets and help more local businesses participate in the value chain.

10/09/2026

𝟮𝟲 𝗔𝗶𝗿𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀. 𝟯𝟯 𝗗𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀. 𝟯𝟴 𝗥𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗲𝘀. 𝟮𝟱𝟱 𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗲𝗲𝗸.

Last night, Cape Town Air Access, powered by Wesgro, hosted its Annual Review 2026, bringing partners together to reflect on a record-breaking year for Cape Town’s air connectivity and look ahead to another strong summer season.

2025 delivered exceptional results. Cape Town International Airport saw total passenger numbers growing 7% and air cargo increasing 25%.

The momentum has continued.

✅ Since September 2025, Cape Town has welcomed two new airlines and five new routes

✅ 20 of the 26 international airlines operating to Cape Town have expanded frequencies

And there is more growth ahead.

✅ For the upcoming IATA Winter 2026/27 season – Cape Town’s peak summer season – approximately 250,000 additional two-way international seats are expected.

✅ This represents 12% year-on-year growth. Cape Town’s international network will comprise 26 airlines, 33 destinations, 38 routes and 255 flights per week.

✅ New Airlink services to Zanzibar and Mauritius will be complemented by increased frequencies connecting Cape Town with key global markets and hubs, including Dubai, Addis Ababa, Frankfurt, London, Istanbul, Luanda and São Paulo.

But growing connectivity is only part of the opportunity.

Speaking at the Annual Review, Wrenelle Stander, Wesgro CEO and Official Spokesperson for Cape Town Air Access, highlighted the importance of translating increased access into broader economic value.

“Tourism must reach rural communities, townships, and local entrepreneurs. Not as a separate inclusion agenda, but as part of how we build a visitor economy that is fairer, more resilient and more deeply rooted in place.”

This ambition is at the heart of Wesgro’s Unlocking Tourism Growth Project, undertaken in partnership with Letsema and Skift Advisory to identify the interventions required to grow tourism inclusively and sustainably.

As Stander noted:

“The proposition is simple: tourism growth should not be assumed. It must be designed, together, through the choices we make about demand, access, experience, readiness and benefit.”

A special thank you to Peach Payments, our event sponsor, for supporting this year’s Annual Review.

And thank you to our Cape Town Air Access partners: Western Cape Government, City of Cape Town, Airports Company South Africa (ACSA), South African Tourism, Cape Town Tourism, V&A Waterfront, DHL and Oasis – whose continued collaboration makes this work possible.

As Stander concluded:

“Air access has helped us open the door. Coordination will determine how much opportunity lies beyond it.”

Wrenelle Stander James Vos Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth and Tourism Ivan Meyer Western Cape Government City of Cape Town South African Tourism V&A Waterfront Airports Company South Africa DHL Peach Payments

09/09/2026

𝗦𝘄𝗲𝗲𝘁 𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵: 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝗖𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗚𝗮𝗶𝗻 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗖𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗮

Wesgro welcomes the opening of the Chinese market to South African cherries – an important breakthrough for the country’s agricultural exporters.

Unlocking access to high-growth international markets is central to Wesgro’s strategy, with China a key priority market for Cape Town and the Western Cape.

This milestone opens new opportunities for our producers to diversify markets, grow exports and support jobs and economic growth.

Together with our government and industry partners, we will work to leverage this breakthrough to grow trade with China and unlock further opportunities for Western Cape exporters.

07/09/2026

𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗻𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗱 𝗔𝗳𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮’𝘀 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗿𝘂𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗣𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝘂𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘀𝗲𝗰𝘂𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝘆𝗲𝗮𝗿

The Port of Cape Town has once again been recognised as Africa’s Leading Cruise Port 2026 at the World Travel Awards in Tanzania.

This marks the fourth consecutive year that the Port of Cape Town has taken the title, reinforcing the city’s position as a leading cruise destination on the continent.

The Cruise Terminal is operated by the V&A Waterfront, which forms part of the Cruise Cape Town partnership, powered by Wesgro.

The recognition reflects the strength of this partnership, which brings together Wesgro, Transnet National Ports Authority, the City of Cape Town, the Western Cape Government, and the South African Maritime Safety Association.

The potential of cruise tourism extends well beyond the port itself. It brings visitors into the destination, supports local businesses and contributes to economic growth and job creation.

As we celebrate this achievement, we remain committed to work with our partners to unlock sustainable and inclusive tourism growth, driving regional spread, and benefiting communities across the province.

Wrenelle Stander James Vos Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth and Tourism Ivan Meyer Western Cape Government City of Cape Town Transnet National Ports Authority V&A Waterfront Pullman Cape Town

04/09/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗖𝗵𝗼𝗶𝗰𝗲𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗹𝗱: 𝗕𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝗴𝗿𝗼’𝘀 𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗙𝘂𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲

This week, Wesgro’s Board came together for its annual strategy session to consider the global forces shaping economic opportunity and risk, and how Wesgro can respond with ambition, focus and agility.

The discussions brought together geopolitical and economic insights, South Africa’s reform agenda, provincial priorities and Wesgro’s strategic direction.

We were privileged to hear from Professor Adrian Saville on the global forces shaping markets and investment; Rudi Dicks, Head of Operation Vulindlela, on the structural reforms critical to South Africa’s competitiveness; Minister Dr Ivan Meyer on the opportunities to drive growth, jobs and regional competitiveness; Dr Harry Malila, Director-General of the Western Cape Government and Jo-Ann Johnston, Head of the Department of Economic Development and Tourism (DEDAT) shared insights on the Western Cape’s Growth for Jobs Strategy.

Their perspectives provided an important backdrop as the Board engaged with Wesgro’s draft FY28 strategy.

At the centre of the strategy is a clear ambition: to strengthen the Western Cape’s position as a leading regional economy and grow its share of global investment, exports and tourism.

Key priorities include to:

✅ Drive the WC value proposition online, cross-sell our mandates, as well as engage audiences in new markets through new channels.

✅ Attract new investment from key global investing source markets no identified export priority areas: Green Economy; Life Sciences & Health; Logistics; Food & Beverages; Green Manufacturing; and Services.

✅ Support Western Cape businesses to expand across tourism, trade and investment.

✅ Unlock tourism growth and business events as high-value, year-round economic drivers.

✅ Unlock access to new markets and new buyers in tourism and trade.

✅ Replicate and enhance catalytic delivery models, with public private partners.

✅ Build strategic partnerships, stakeholder platforms, events, advocacy and advisory to unlock economic outcomes.

✅ Build the Economic Knowledge Hub as a content and intelligence capability.

✅ Be future-fit, relevant and trusted.

The strategy session was ultimately about making the choices that will enable Wesgro to deliver greater impact and deliver growth and jobs across Cape Town and the Western Cape.

We thank our Board of Directors for their contribution to this process, we we work to finalise the strategy for the new financial year.

Wrenelle Stander Ivan Meyer

02/09/2026

𝗨𝗻𝗹𝗼𝗰𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗩𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺, 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝗟𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗼𝗰𝗮𝗹𝘀

Tourism is more than the places people visit and the experiences they enjoy. It is a significant contributor to the Western Cape economy, supporting businesses, creating opportunities for communities and driving spending across the province.

As we celebrate the launch of Tourism Month, we’re highlighting the immense value that visitors bring to Cape Town and the Western Cape.

The latest tourism performance figures for 2025 show the scale of the opportunity:

✅ 1.5 million international tourists visited the Western Cape in 2025, an 11.1% increase year-on-year.

✅ These international visitors generated R25.9 billion in foreign direct spend in the province, a 14.4% increase on 2024 and 25.4% of South Africa’s total foreign direct spend from international tourists.

✅ Domestic tourism added another 4.0 million overnight trips to the province, up 15.4% on 2024.

✅ Domestic visitors contributed R12.7 billion in overnight spend, while generating 14.3 million bed nights, up 10.2% year-on-year.

Unlocking further tourism growth will require strong coordination across the public and private sectors, alongside improved access and connectivity, to ensure that we can continue growing demand and maximising the economic value of tourism.

Behind every one of these numbers are businesses, employees, entrepreneurs and communities that benefit from tourism activity, from accommodation and restaurants to attractions, transport, retail, tour operators and local experiences.

When visitors explore our small towns and townships, the economic value of tourism can reach even further, creating opportunities for communities across Cape Town and the Western Cape.

This is the business of tourism: growing demand, supporting local enterprise and ensuring that the economic value generated by visitors creates opportunities across our destination.

We celebrate the people and businesses at the heart of the Western Cape’s tourism economy because behind every experience is a local story, a local business and an opportunity to grow – With Love from the Locals.

Wrenelle Stander Western Cape Government City of Cape Town Love Cape Town Visit South Africa Ivan Meyer James Vos Mayoral Committee Member for Economic Growth and Tourism Tourism Business Council of South Africa SATSA Fedhasa

31/08/2026

𝗠𝗲𝗹𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝘃𝗮𝗻 𝗥𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗴: 𝗣𝘂𝘁𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗖𝘂𝗹𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺 𝗠𝗮𝗽

As Women’s Month draws to a close, our final profile in this month’s series takes us to the West Coast, where Melody van Rensburg, co-founder of Oppikaai Seafood Restaurant in St Helena Bay, is helping put local food, heritage and coastal culture on the tourism map.

What began in 2018 as a renovation project at the harbour became a family business built around a simple idea: tell the story of the West Coast through its food, people and traditions.

Today, Oppikaai offers a boat-to-plate experience, with seafood sourced from local fishermen and recipes passed down through generations.

“Our menu is deeply personal. Many of the recipes come from our grandmothers’ kitchens and have been passed down through generations. The fish is often caught by Charl’s father or brother, cleaned by his mother, filleted by Charl and prepared in our kitchen. It’s truly a boat-to-plate experience that tells the story of our family, our culture and our community.”

For Melody, tourism is about more than attracting visitors. It’s about ensuring that their spending creates value within the communities they visit.

“We employ local people, source as much as we can from local suppliers and fishermen, and keep our food connected to the community.”

Through initiatives including its annual Heritage Festival, Oppikaai also creates spaces for local food, music, culture and family to come together, strengthening the connection between tourism and community development.

Her story reflects the potential of community-based tourism to support local businesses, preserve heritage and create opportunities across the tourism value chain.

“I believe the West Coast has enormous tourism potential. More travellers are looking for authentic food, meaningful cultural experiences and places with real stories.”

As we close our Women’s Month series, Melody’s story also provides a fitting bridge into Heritage Month — reminding us that our heritage is not only something to preserve, but something that can create opportunities, drive local economies and shape the experiences that bring visitors to our province.

Across the Western Cape, our people, our stories, our food and our traditions are part of what makes this place worth discovering.

Wrenelle Stander Oppikaai Seafood Restaurant

28/08/2026

𝗔𝗻𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘁𝗲 𝗦𝗸𝗮𝗮𝗽, 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵 𝗧𝗼𝘂𝗿𝗶𝘀𝗺

As part of Women's Month, Wesgro is spotlighting women who are driving entrepreneurship, creating opportunities and contributing to economic growth across Cape Town and the Western Cape.

Annette Skaap and her husband, Bulelani "Ace" Skaap, are the entrepreneurial force behind The Spade Boutique Hotel & Spa in Khayelitsha – South Africa's first four-star boutique hotel located in a township.

With a background in aviation, Annette saw an opportunity to bring world-class hospitality to the community she calls home, while encouraging visitors to experience Cape Town beyond its traditional tourism corridors.

"The vision for The Spade was therefore much bigger than simply building a hotel. I wanted to create a place that would challenge perceptions about townships, showcase the beauty, energy, culture and entrepreneurial spirit of Khayelitsha, and demonstrate that world-class hospitality can exist anywhere."

The Spade forms part of a growing township economy that connects tourism with local businesses, entrepreneurs and service providers – helping tourism spend circulate within the communities visitors experience.

"A visitor who stays at The Spade can potentially eat at a local restaurant, visit a lifestyle or entertainment venue, use a local service provider, purchase from a local entrepreneur or experience an attraction in the surrounding area."

For Annette, this is where the opportunity lies: connecting township businesses to the formal tourism economy and creating stronger routes that position townships as genuine destinations.

"If we can get more visitors to spend more time and more money within township economies, we can create jobs, support small businesses, encourage investment and build sustainable economic opportunities."

Her journey also highlights the role women can play as business owners, investors and decision-makers within township economies – and the importance of creating visible examples for the next generation.

"Most importantly, don’t allow the fact that you are starting from a township, from a small business or from limited resources to make you think your vision has to be small."

Through entrepreneurs like Annette, tourism can help broaden Cape Town and the Western Cape's visitor economy, unlock new investment opportunities and create greater participation across the province.

Wrenelle Stander

28/08/2026

𝗦𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗴𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲 𝗧𝗼𝘄𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗽𝗲

Wesgro hosted the newly appointed Consuls General of Japan and the Netherlands to Cape Town, Mr Yorio Ito and Ms Cornelieke Keizer respectively, for introductory meetings with Wrenelle Stander, CEO of Wesgro.

The engagements were an opportunity to deepen ties with two important international partners and explore where collaboration can open new pathways for trade, investment and innovation.

🇯🇵 Japan

Japan remains an important investment partner for South Africa, with strong potential in:

✅ Renewable energy and the green economy
✅ Advanced technologies and business machines
✅ Automotive, transport and logistics
✅ Innovation and the Western Cape’s startup ecosystem

This builds on Wesgro’s recent work with Japanese partners, including hosting a JICA and Deloitte delegation in June 2026 to explore the Western Cape’s startup ecosystem, and supporting 10 Western Cape companies at Foodex Japan.

🇳🇱 The Netherlands

The Netherlands is a priority European trade and investment partner for the Western Cape, both a market in its own right and a gateway into wider European value chains. Areas of opportunity include:

✅ Green economy, battery technologies and energy storage
✅ Agriculture, AgriTech and agri-processing
✅ Life sciences, technology, FinTech and EdTech
✅ Supporting Western Cape businesses to enter and scale in the EU

Wesgro continues to work with Dutch partners including Invest in Holland and Oost NL, with recent activity spanning life sciences, agriculture, technology and services.

While the sectors and markets differ, the goal is the same: building the international pathways and connections that create real opportunities for Western Cape businesses, investors and innovators.

Through continued engagement with global partners, Wesgro is working to strengthen the region’s pathways to global trade, investment and business.

Wrenelle Stander

26/08/2026

𝗩𝗔𝗖𝗔𝗡𝗖𝗬 𝗔𝗟𝗘𝗥𝗧

Wesgro is seeking to appoint a Head: Trade.

In this senior leadership role, you’ll lead Wesgro’s trade promotion strategy to grow exports from Cape Town and the Western Cape, facilitate outward investment, and position the province as a globally competitive trade destination.

You’ll drive strategic trade initiatives, build partnerships across government and business, and lead a team focused on unlocking market access and opportunities for Western Cape exporters.

If you’re passionate about international trade, economic growth and creating opportunities for businesses to go global, apply today!

View the full job spec on our careers page and apply here: https://www.wesgro.co.za/corporate/careers/head-trade

🗓️ Closing Date | 02 September 2026

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Monday	08:00 - 17:00
Tuesday	08:00 - 17:00
Wednesday	08:00 - 17:00
Thursday	08:00 - 17:00
Friday	08:00 - 17:00