Cape Town is on many a travel list as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. From natural scenery to the city itself, it’s a place of a multitude of sights. But how do you make it accessible for people who are visually impaired?
This was the challenge for South Africa’s first certified blind tour guide, Winston Fani. A partnership with Cape Town Tourism’s Limitless campaign proved the answer. Launched a year ago, it includes a guided tour by Fani of street art in Salt River, a traditionally working-class neighbourhood in the southern suburbs.
Fani walks through Salt River with relative ease. “Within that process of walking the route once or twice, I create my own landmarks,” he tells the FM. “Once I get used to that area, I walk by heart; I know where I’m going. I don’t need to calculate steps, I feel it.”
Fani’s tours cater to both visually impaired and sighted tourists. Along the way, he explains the artworks and gives background to each artist. He also asks tourists for their interpretation, creating a dialogue about the works. There are Braille touchpoints on the murals, and QR codes take you to the Baz-Art website. These help paint a picture for the visually impaired. “A blind person is able to know and create a picture of what has been illustrated because of that audio,” he says.
Having been diagnosed with glaucoma at an early age, Fani has never been shy of taking on challenges. One of those was losing his job during the pandemic. It was then that he became interested in tourism.
“It sounded like something impossible, but through breaking barriers, here I am today. It’s not easy to step out of your comfort zone. When push comes to shove, you have to,” he says.
“When I did this I was only looking for a job, something to put food on the table for my family. I never expected that after graduating, I would become the first blind tourist guide in Africa.”
Now booking through Awol Tours, his business, Outtasight Tours, is a year old.
“Seeing it escalate to this level, it was a shock at first. But I told myself this was God’s plan. Everything went so fast. It’s been a year. We are touring without having to use sight. It’s teaching people to visualise things through a blind man’s eyes. Now I am getting more business.”
For Fani, the business isn’t just about the tours; it’s about making differently-abled people value themselves — “to see themselves as entrepreneurs of tomorrow”.
“It’s bigger than tourism. It started as a project and developed into a movement. It’s about breaking the ‘I can’t do it’ mentality. We are not using the term disabled, we are using the term differently abled.”
When clients meet Fani for a tour on the busy Salt River Road, his passion for street art is clear. “Some artworks are more thought-provoking than others”, but all have meaning, he says. The tour takes you to heritage building Community House, where you are greeted by a giant mural of anti-apartheid activist Imam Abdullah Haron. There is also a mural of workers, including a woman in a wheelchair, that reads “Forward, not forgetting our solidarity”.
We are touring without having to use sight. It’s teaching people to visualise things through a blind man’s eyes
— Winston Fani
Catering to the differently-abled should be an essential part of tourism, says the World Health Organisation (WHO). According to the body, about 1.3-billion people — about 16% of the global population in 2023 — experience significant disability; in South Africa, about 7% of the population is disabled, according to Stats SA. “Accessibility for all to tourism facilities, products, and services should be a central part of any responsible and sustainable tourism policy. Accessibility is not only about human rights. It is a business opportunity for destinations and companies to embrace all visitors and enhance their revenues,” the WHO says.
Cape Town Tourism CEO Enver Duminy is behind that idea. He believes it’s vital to make tourism as inclusive as possible, as this will benefit South Africans by creating jobs and tapping tourists who are keen to travel.
As head of the tourism body for more than a decade, Duminy has overseen everything from hosting a Soccer World Cup to Cape Town’s “Day Zero”, a pandemic — and a significant post-pandemic recovery for the industry.
“I’ve been on this roller-coaster ride in this organisation and with the industry for a while, which does give me the privilege of insight into things,” he says.
Duminy believes it’s time to rethink inclusiveness. “Even if selfishly for ourselves — when we get old, we’re going to need to have everything easily accessible for us. Do it for that reason and then everybody else benefits, from your citizens … right through to the tourist.”
He tells the FM that it was “pure coincidence” that he heard about Fani’s story on a radio show.
“The minute we started engaging with Winston, I think that’s when a small gesture turned into a project. Cape Town is always described as one of the most beautiful cities in the world. But what if you can’t see it? How do you experience the beauty of a destination when you have no sight?”
He adds: “Sometimes it just requires starting with the one person … and see what happens from one conversation, one intention of paying it forward to what’s happening now.”
Judith Coetzee, CEO of Cape Town Society for the Blind, says the Limitless programme is a wonderful initiative. “It not only makes tourism more inclusive but also highlights the abilities and potential of visually impaired people, empowering them to take on roles as tour guides and enriching the tourism experience for all.”
She says creating more economic opportunities for people living with disabilities is crucial. “It promotes inclusivity, reduces poverty and empowers individuals to achieve their full potential. By providing equal access to employment, we create a more diverse and innovative workforce, benefiting society as a whole. We also enable people living with disabilities to support themselves and their families, which fosters a sense of pride and confidence that impacts future generations.”
She adds that visually impaired people face various daily challenges, such as navigating inaccessible public spaces, accessing information, and performing certain tasks that rely heavily on sight.
“They often encounter barriers in transportation, technology and communication, which can lead to difficulties in achieving independence and fully participating in social and professional activities.”
Inclusivity and accessibility, says Coetzee, are not just beneficial for those with disabilities but can enrich society as a whole.
“By fostering an environment that supports everyone, we create stronger, more diverse communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Initiatives like the Limitless programme are vital steps in the right direction, and continued efforts are essential to ensure lasting positive change.”
Cape Town MMC for economic growth James Vos tells the FM that tourism is a key sector for Cape Town.
“The city supports initiatives for a more inclusive tourism industry because we believe that the variety of experiences that Cape Town offers should be accessible to all who wish to enjoy this stunning destination.”
The city’s commitment to responsible tourism practices, says Vos, is made clear by a new charter that will be a “compass for local operators navigating this terrain”.
A recent Stats SA report highlights the importance of these kinds of initiatives. It shows a strong association between poverty and disability.
“Generally, the findings on the socioeconomic status of persons with disabilities revealed the impact of disability-based discrimination in the past decades, especially in the field of education,” says the report. “The results show the past discrimination and exclusion of persons with disabilities that prevented them from exercising their social rights in terms of education to the same extent as those without disabilities.”
Ultimately Fani says he wants to become a life coach to inspire others. “Not only for people living with disabilities but also for people who have lost hope in life. I’m a living example. I always say to my children, your dad is blind but here we are. I’m educated and living a normal life. I’m a living example of the importance of education.”
His goal is to find and support five to 10 Winstons a year. “There are more chances of job creation in this industry for those living with disability. It needs those who believe, it needs people who are limitless.”
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