IN CONVERSATION WITH MBALI, JOZI MY JOZI

As South Africa approaches the 50th anniversary of the 1976 Soweto Uprising, attention is once again turning to Soweto not only as a historic site of resistance, but also as a living, evolving economic and cultural hub. The initiative known as “76 Hours in Soweto”, led by civic organisation Jozi My Jozi in partnership with tourism bodies, local businesses, and community structures, is a four-day commemorative programme set to run from 13 to 16 June 2026. The programme aims to honour the legacy of June 16, 1976, while also using heritage tourism as a driver for local economic development, job creation, and township entrepreneurship. Events will include community film screenings, youth expos, cultural markets, intergenerational dialogues, guided heritage walks, and a symbolic commemorative march tracing historic student routes through Soweto. At the centre of this initiative is a key question: Can remembrance be transformed into real, measurable economic opportunity for the communities that carry this history? Supporters argue that Soweto’s global heritage status is still underutilised as an economic asset. Critics, however, often raise concerns about whether such initiatives truly benefit residents or risk turning historical trauma into commercial activity without long-term impact. Today we unpack whether heritage tourism can meaningfully shift Soweto’s economic landscape — or whether this is another well-intentioned programme that will struggle to deliver lasting change. Instagram · Twitter