In the lead-up to the 2025 National Arts Festival (NAF), Grocott’s Mail reporter ‘Maleruo Leponesa worked closely with township homestay owners to help boost visibility, sharpen customer service, and attract festival-goers to their homes. Following the festival, we checked in with some hosts to hear how business went during the peak week, and the feedback was mixed.
Linda Mtse, owner of Lish Homestay, said her home did not host any NAF-related guests during the festival week, which ran from 30 June to 6 July.
“Unfortunately, business was not good,” she said. “The invoice I submitted to DSRAC this year was the lowest compared to previous years. There were no bookings even for the festival’s closing days, and that had never been the case before.”
Still, Mtse credits the homestay preparation efforts, including marketing and customer service training, for helping her business in the long term.
“Oh yes, Grocott’s Mail helped a lot,” she said. “The accommodation enquiries I mentioned are a result of that exposure. Even though the bookings I received weren’t NAF-related, they came through that visibility. I’ve been receiving guests since April thanks to the marketing.”
On the other hand, Thobeka Qupe of Siyo Homestay described her experience as overwhelmingly positive.
“Business was great,” she said. “I had lovely guests, and it’s all thanks to Makana Tourism and the Department of Arts and Culture.”
Qupe noted that while she hadn’t initially been aware of Grocott’s Mail’s accommodation marketing efforts, a chance encounter with a journalist helped her get involved.
“You gave me the link to join the accommodation WhatsApp group so I could advertise my homestay. I got guests after that,” she said.
Each year, visitors to NAF have a wide range of accommodation options to choose from, including Rhodes University residence rooms and luxury guesthouses. But township homestays remain an underrated gem, offering a more intimate, affordable, and community-based experience. Guests stay in the homes of experienced local hosts, gaining a direct window into Makhanda’s township life and hospitality.
We attempted to get comments from Prudence Mini, Acting Director of Makana Tourism, as well as Sinoxolo Duda, Homestay Marketing Liaison, who were both involved in pre-festival preparations. Despite repeated efforts, neither responded.
