SDM Executive Mayor sends support to 20 MSMEs showcasing at Africa Travel Indaba 2026
SEKHUKHUNE – The Sekhukhune District Municipality (SDM) has sent 20 Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) to showcase Limpopo’s tourism and hospitality offerings at Africa Travel Indaba 2026, which opened on Monday 11 May 2026 at the Inkosi Albert Luthuli International Convention Centre in Durban.
Executive Mayor Cllr Minah Bahula said the municipality, in partnership with the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Rapid Incubator (CfERI) and SEDFA, is supporting the delegation to give local businesses direct access to buyers, investors and tourism stakeholders from across Africa and beyond.
“Our participation at Africa Travel Indaba demonstrates our commitment to empowering local businesses and unlocking the economic potential of tourism within Sekhukhune District. We believe these MSMEs will return with meaningful opportunities that will contribute positively to the local economy,” Bahula said.
The 20 enterprises represent sectors including accommodation, travel services, arts and crafts, and cultural tourism. The programme aims to stimulate economic growth, encourage innovation and create sustainable employment in the district.
The District Municipality also thanked CfERI, SEDFA and local municipalities for their role in enterprise development and incubation programmes that strengthen small businesses in the region.
Africa’s Travel Indaba 2026 runs from 11 to 14 May under the theme: “Unlimited Africa: Growing Africa’s Tourism Economy”.
The event opened with Business Opportunity Networking Day (BONDay) on 11 May, officially opened by Deputy Minister of Tourism Makhotso Sotyu.
Hosted by South African Tourism, the Indaba is Africa’s largest leisure tourism trade show. Durban was confirmed as host city for the next five years from 2026 following a competitive procurement process.
Organisers report strong international interest, with over 700 confirmed buyers and 600 exhibiting companies, including participants from all nine South African provinces and 22 African countries. A total of 191 independent micro, small and medium enterprises are being supported to exhibit, giving smaller operators direct exposure to global markets.
Minister of Tourism Patricia de Lille said the Indaba is “a powerful economic lever capable of delivering immediate, inclusive, and geographically distributed impact across the country”. She noted tourism accounted for 953,981 direct jobs by 2024 and contributed 4.9% to South Africa’s GDP, surpassing pre-pandemic levels.
