Ayanda Cuba, 34, is the creative director at ABCD Concepts and Buntu Matole, 36, is the operational manager at the company, a tour operator based in Khayelitsha, Cape Town’s largest township. Their mission is to interact with people and businesses in communities through physical activity by offering tour experiences, such as a 10km run followed by breakfast at the famous Spinach King. Ayanda’s job is to shape their brand’s image and cohost their tours.
Buntu’s role as an operations manager is to maximise the business process and build partnerships. They both hold certificates in entrepreneurship from the Raymond Ackerman Academy and are National Qualified Cultural Guides. During the pandemic, they launched the Share A Mask campaign to teach people in Khayelitsha about wearing masks to prevent the spreading of the disease.
Together, Ayanda and Buntu have started Sporting Code to inspire and expose children through educational trips, basketball coaching clinics and football and netball tournaments. They hope to witness a future in which townships are represented in the tourism sector. Ayanda and Buntu are involved in the Airbnb Academy, a project that was launched by Airbnb to help bridge the technological gap in township and rural areas.
Ayanda:
Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Raymond Ackerman Academy
Certificate and Basic Graphic design, Learn 2 Earn
National Qualified Cultural Guide
Buntu:
Certificate in Entrepreneurship, Raymond Ackerman Academy
National Qualified Cultural Guide
Ayanda: I am most proud of the Share a Mask campaign that we launched back in 2020 during the height of Covid. The campaign allowed us to educate our community about the importance of wearing masks to prevent the spreading of Covid and helped us raise awareness on how something as small as a mask can also be inaccessible to a majority of people who live in township communities.
Buntu: Sporting Code is one project that I am proud of, as I believe that a project like this is needed in every community in South Africa. Sporting Code is a sports development project that uses sport to nurture our future leaders, connect and unite communities, reduce social ills and create a healthier, happier society. Through Sporting Code we were able to inspire hope and give exposure to many kids who have not been exposed to all the activities that the project embarked on. This was done through educational trips, basketball coaching clinics, and football and netball tournaments.
Ayanda: I have had a series of people who have given me free advice and guidance, but I have never actually had a true mentor but my parents have filled that role.
Buntu: Yes, my first mentor advised me on the opportunity to study entrepreneurship because of the potential he saw in me.