By Selloane Ntshonyane
- Street vendor Nomsa Njoko says tourists browse and photograph her stall but often don’t buy, even as arrivals rise 12.5%.
- Waiter Kamogelo Zwane’s tips have doubled this year, from around R1,200 a day in 2025 to up to R3,000 now.
Almost a million international tourists visited South Africa in July. On Vilakazi Street in Soweto, that number means very different things depending on who you ask.
Statistics South Africa recorded 991,696 international tourist arrivals in July 2026, a 12.5% increase compared to July 2025. From January to July, arrivals reached 6,576,169, up 12.4% on the same period last year.
For Nomsa Njoko, who has sold traditional wear and accessories on Vilakazi Street since 2015, the numbers don’t add up to more money in her pocket.
She works from 8am to 5pm, Monday to Saturday, aiming to make between R1,500 and R2,000 a day. Business has stayed hard since Covid-19.
“There are days where I leave without making any money and sometimes I do not even have enough money for a taxi fare to go back home,” Njoko said.
She said most tourists stop, look around and take photographs, but don’t buy anything. When business is slow, she and the vendors selling next to her help each other with taxi fare to get home.
A short walk away at Chaf Pozi, waiter Kamogelo Zwane, 24, has had a very different year. He earns no basic salary and relies entirely on tips.
In 2025, Zwane made between R900 and R1,500 a day in tips. This year, that has climbed to between R2,000 and R3,000.
“International tourists tip better than local customers. Some even know about the 10% that’s supposed to be added to the bill, while some even tip more than that,” Zwane said.
The extra income has made a real difference to him.
“It makes me feel more financially secure. I’m now able to pay more of my expenses,” he said.
For Njoko, the same wave of visitors passes her stall every day. Whether it stops to spend is a different question entirely.
Pictured above: Nomsa Njoko, who sells traditional wear and accessories on Vilakazi Street, Soweto.
Image source: Selloane Ntshonyane
