He holds positions on the board of South African Tourism and the Southern African Tourism Association and runs a successful tourism enterprise in Mpumalanga but Ikaneng Oupa Pilane did not intend to work in tourism.
A series of lucky coincidences paved his way in the industry over the past 16 years.
Former spokesperson for then Gauteng Premier Mathews Phosa , Pilane worked in the public sector for 14 years.
Tourism was not something I ever thought I would end up doing. When he was looking to make his exit from the public sector, he believed it would be to consult on local government issues.
But, after a call from a friend asking him about where to stay in his home town of Nelspruit, Pilane began thinking of his prospects as a tourism operator. On a drive one day, he saw a house for sale in his street and considered starting a guesthouse. Later, he bought the house next door.
