“VUT and E Tlang Ko Vaal celebrated World Tourism Day 2025 with a showcase of innovation, youth empowerment and bold investments, positioning the Vaal as a hub for tourism, entrepreneurship and global growth.”
03 October 2025 | Story By: Vince Twala | Picture: Naledi Nkosi
3 minutes read time.
The Vaal region marked World Tourism Day 2025 on 27 September with a powerful celebration of unity, innovation and development hosted in collaboration with the Vaal University of Technology (VUT) and E Tlang Ko Vaal, a community-driven tourism initiative founded by golf tourism pioneer Ms Malethola Matube.
Opening the proceedings, Mr Joseph Norman Radebe, Director of Community Engagement at VUT, emphasised the university’s role in shaping regional growth. “Our role as a university is to bridge the gap between academia and the communities we serve. When Ms Malethola approached us through the Iketsetse Bo Ka Moso Women Golf Foundation NPO, we knew we had to support her vision. E Tlang Ko Vaal is not just an initiative, it is a movement that reflects the spirit of empowerment,” he said.
Radebe confirmed that E Tlang Ko Vaal has been formally incubated within VUT, strengthening the university’s position as a driver of social impact and community development.
Ms Malethola Matube, founder and executive chair of E Tlang Ko Vaal, has dedicated over two decades to innovation in golf, tourism, viticulture and digital transformation. Her mission, “Bringing the world to the Vaal and taking the Vaal to the world”, has positioned the region as a preferred destination for global investment, culture and tourism. Recognised as a Nedbank WomX Top 50 Woman in Business, Tourism Pioneer, Golf Visionary, and Africa’s Winemaker of the Year, she continues to inspire new pathways for regional growth.
Her partnership with the Africa Youth in Tourism and Hospitality Association (AYTHA) is focused on nurturing innovators through the Vaal Tourism Innovation Project. The initiative gives youth a platform to pitch sustainable tourism concepts with real-world application.
This year, VUT entrepreneurs won the group challenge with a project on re-engineering eco-tourism, while first-year Tourism Management student Ms Chantel Chimunhu took the individual prize with “River Glide Retreat: Water Biking & Glamping.” Both projects will undergo further research for potential implementation. “The Youth Tourism Innovation Challenge is designed to spark creativity, entrepreneurship and sustainability among young people,” said Mr Prince Matlakala, Global Director of AYTHA.
Professor Dewald Venter, Associate Professor in Tourism Management at VUT, highlighted two landmark developments that will redefine the region: the R11 billion Vaal River City Project, set to attract large-scale business tourism, and a new international airport near Vanderbijlpark, capable of handling up to 23 million visitors annually. “The Vaal has been a hidden jewel for too long. These developments will unlock entrepreneurship and employment opportunities for generations,” he noted.
The celebration also recognised Mr Prince Skele, a resilient entrepreneur and founder of Mazotsho General Trading CC, whose journey from laying bricks at Vaal Mall to spearheading major developments such as Melrose Arch Piazza and Greenstone Mall stands as a testament to determination and vision.
The 2025 World Tourism Day celebration was more than a commemoration; it was a call to action. With VUT, E Tlang Ko Vaal and visionary leaders such as Ms Matube and Mr Skele driving partnerships, youth inclusion and bold investments, the Vaal is rising as a hub of innovation, tourism and economic growth. Ready to welcome the world, the region is set to claim its place on the global stage.