Township tourism pioneer and award-winning guest house owner Vicky Ntozini has been murdered in her B&B.
|||Cape Town -
Township tourism pioneer and award-winning guest house owner Vicky Ntozini was murdered in a B&B she helped build. Her husband is a suspect.
Acclaimed internationally, the 39-year-old had run Vicky’s B&B, a shack converted into a six-room, double-storey guest house, in Site C, Khayelitsha.
Police spokesman Frederick van Wyk said Ntozini’s 58-year-old husband was a suspect in the killing. He was not named.
On Thursday, Van Wyk said a witness alleged the couple had been fighting on Wednesday about 3am when the suspect stabbed her.
“Afterwards the suspect stabbed himself,” Van Wyk said.
The husband, who had wounds to his chest, had not yet been arrested and was being treated in hospital.
On Thursday, Ntozini’s brother, Dumisani Balman, said she had had problems with her husband and it appeared a “family feud” had led to her death.
“She was stabbed at the bed-and-breakfast. She died on the spot.”
Balman said he could not believe his sister, a mother of five, had been killed.
Her funeral was expected to take place next Saturday and the B&B would be closed until then, Balman said. Her family would then reopen and run the guest house.
On Thursday, Mariette du Toit-Helmbold, Cape Town Tourism chief executive officer, said the city had lost “a wonderful ambassador”.
“This charismatic woman was a true pioneer for township stays and community tourism and was so loved and respected by the industry and visitors who came her way.
“She has, by her example, inspired many young people to make tourism a career, always maintaining the highest standards in hospitality and service,” she said.
On the B&B’s website, it said Ntozini opened the guest house in June 1998 and had received local and foreign visitors as well as NGO members and had helped bring in donations to the area.
“As a matter of fact, the sewing centre across the street started with sewing machine donations from tourists – a testament to how sustainable tourism can really benefit local communities,” the site said.
It said three years ago Ntozini had won two awards – one for accommodation from the Cape Town municipality and another for supporting local accommodation.
“Far better than just ogling from a minibus ‘township tour’. Never felt safer on our holiday,” a tourist said on the TripAdvisor website.
Another tourist wrote: “Incredible experience, I recommend staying here if you want to see the true South Africa.”
A third wrote: “The B&B began in one container but now is several & the inside is amazing... ”
caryn.dolley@inl.co.za
Cape Times