Cape Town - It’s possible to get into tourism later on in life: after retiring, Stanley van Rooi decided to open a holiday accommodation business in Athlone, Cape Town.
He’s travelled the world as a seaman, so he has plenty of stories to tell, and he’s always jumping from one idea to the next. Here Van Rooi, a young-at-heart entrepreneur, tells his story…
“I am Stanley van Rooi. I have been travelling for 43 years and I have been to 50 countries. It was by working for Safmarine for so long that I got into tourism, with all that travelling.
“In 2003 I retired from my job as a bosun on the ship, the leader who sorts out all the crew on deck. I had worked my way up to that position of trust; people would ask me to check that the consignments came in clean. That’s when I got the idea that if they trust me, I could start my own business.
“My late wife and I started Nolizwe, our accommodation business, in 2004. Nolizwe came about from a family discussion, and the name means three things to me: mother of the world, Earth and nature.
“I also run a shuttle and tour service from the accommodation, and this keeps me busy in quiet times, especially when I cater for students by providing transport.
“There’s an interesting story about one client from Kenya.
“After I picked him up from Franschhoek he took a liking to me, so when his sons came to Cape Town to study, he asked me to look after them. I get to know my clients and their families.
“There is crime here, but you get that in every big city where tourists go. I once went to a movie in the Bronx in New York and this guy came up to me and said: ‘There are people who will steal your money, give it to me to look after rather,’ and I did!
“Then I realised what I’d done and managed to catch up with him. Fortunately, he gave my money back, so I was able to get back to the ship.
“Of course I am willing to help people. I know what it is like to be stranded in a different country.
“In 2010 Fifa visited Nolizwe and gave me accreditation as an official accommodation provider during the soccer World Cup.
“I didn’t get any international visitors during that time – they all went to the big hotels – but I did get five Bibles from Fifa in other languages.
“As an entrepreneur, I have to work extremely hard, and it’s important to me to keep studying tourism.
“Every night, I sit at my computer and study for new marketing ideas.
“Right now I am learning about the other eight provinces in South Africa. That’s just who I am, my mind jumps from one idea to the next.
“When the guests and I want to relax, I take them to Lady Bee in Kromboom Road for home-cooked food.
“The foreigners like the different foods and it’s just up the road.
“If I could go anywhere, I’d go to Brazil in festival season – I’d jol myself uit!
“I am 73, but I have no plans to retire unless I’m sick. Yes, I look young; it’s a feather in my cap!”
l This holiday season, the Cape Argus, in partnership with Cape Town Tourism, is introducing some of the fascinating characters of tourism every week, in their own voices.
Cape Argus