Ubizo Events & Tours Wins 2025 SAACI Business Tourism Community of the Year Award
Press Release by Ubizo Events and Tours, 1 August 2025
Ubizo Events & Tours has been honoured with the 2025 Community Impact Business Award by the Southern African Association for the Conference Industry (SAACI), recognising the organisation’s pioneering role in linking business events with sustainable, community-based tourism and township upliftment.
The award was presented by Ansu Colditz, Western Cape Chairperson of SAACI, during a prestigious ceremony held on 28 July 2025 at Simon’s at Groot Constantia. The accolade celebrates companies that use business as a catalyst for meaningful change and social progress.
Founded in 2008 by Siyabulela “Sabu” Siyaka, Ubizo Events & Tours has evolved from a small initiative training township-based tour guides into a nationally recognised platform for inclusive tourism. Ubizo has hosted thousands of delegates—local and international—in Langa Township through curated side events, immersive cultural experiences, and roaming sustainability markets that have supported over 50 township entrepreneurs.
Ubizo also operates a vibrant cultural venue in Langa, providing a stage for local creatives while creating authentic, high-impact engagements for corporate and conference groups.
Reflecting on the win, Siyabulela “Sabu” Siyaka, Founder and Director of Ubizo, said: “This award is a powerful testament to the impact that community-rooted tourism can make—not just in the lives of those we work with in Langa, but across the broader business events industry in South Africa. At Ubizo, we believe tourism should serve as a catalyst for empowerment, sustainability, and connection. Our mission has always been to build a model of travel that is proudly local, deeply meaningful, and inclusive of all voices. I would like to sincerely thank SAACI and the broader industry for this incredible recognition. While I am deeply honoured to receive this award, its true meaning will only come alive when we ensure that real business is brought into local communities. We must move beyond inspiration—we must practice what we preach. Only then can we unlock the full power of this industry to transform lives.”
Ubizo was nominated for the award by Londi Khumalo, Director at Niche Partners, who witnessed first-hand the organisation’s influence.
“Sabu Siyaka and his team have shown that business events can be a powerful tool for social impact,”Khumalo shared. “Ubizo is not just creating memorable experiences; they’re building bridges between communities, creating jobs, and telling our stories with dignity and pride.”
Ubizo stands as a dynamic example of how cultural heritage, entrepreneurial leadership, and the conference industry can work hand in hand to build an inclusive, sustainable tourism economy. This win affirms its place as a model for transformative event-led development in South Africa and beyond.
ENDS
For media enquiries, please contact: Sabu Siyaka Managing Director 083 730 7942
