Joburg City gets ready for change
JOBURG - The City of Johannesburg has welcomed the addition of Soweto's legendary Vilakazi Street to the South African edition of Monopoly.
Vilakazi Street in Orlando West, was one of 22 destinations that South African board game lovers voted to be on the first localised edition of Monopoly.
Joburg Tourism’s Laura Vercueil said the City is delighted from a tourism awareness and destination perspective that Vilakazi Street has been included in this edition of Monopoly.
She added, “This is testament to Vilakazi Street’s uniqueness and importance as a heritage site as it is the only street in the world that has been home to no fewer than two Nobel Peace Prize winners and it’s situated within the City of Johannesburg.”
City of Johannesburg spokesperson Nthatisi Modingoane said, “It is probably the only street in the world that boasts two Nobel Peace laureates, Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, who received the prize in 1984, and former President Nelson Mandela, who won it in 1993.
“Vilakazi Street is one of the city’s biggest tourist attractions, drawing visitors from all corners of the country and the world on a daily basis.”
Siphiwe Thabethe, country marketing manager of toy and games marketing company, Hasbro SA, said the new edition has strong links to the Mandela legacy with the inclusion of Vilakazi Street and Robben Island.
The special localised Mzansi edition features four transport hubs and 22 landmarks. The newest transport hub to make it on the board is the Sandton Gautrain station.
“South Africans are known for their gees (spirit) and pride in their country. Which is why we are extremely excited to present the final locations that made it… as they truly represent South Africa’s rich cultural diversity and natural beauty,” said Thabethe.
