Family venture drives tourism growth

What began as a modest, family-inspired venture has grown into one of Gqeberha’s most trusted transport and tourism businesses.

Founded in 2010 and formally registered in 2012, Qokose Shuttles and Transfers has evolved from a three-minibus operation into a fleet of 15 taxis serving schools, companies and tourists across the Eastern Cape.

Director Babalwa Qokose recalls her unlikely journey into entrepreneurship.

“My father was in the taxi business, but I didn’t have an interest in it. I decided to go to university to study something totally unrelated.”

She later earned a BSc degree in Chemistry and worked as a chemical analyst at Aspen Pharmacare for 10 years.

But life had other plans. “When I met my partner, he had an interest in the transport business, and I guess I supported the vision he had. At the time, I was in the corporate world, but I later joined him full-time because, while I wasn’t involved in or interested in my father’s business operations, I learnt enough from him to understand how it all worked.”

The business secured its first major staff transfer contract with a local manufacturing company, setting the stage for growth.

Today, Qokose Shuttles and Transfers operates 15 fifteen-seaters, two 20-seaters and one 10-seater minibus, supported by 18 drivers. “We provide community public transport, tourism services and scholar transport,” said Qokose.

Though self-funded, the company has also leveraged support from local institutions. “While we are in the tourism space, we have had access to organisations such as the Small Enterprise Development Finance Agency (SEDFA), the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) and various chambers, and that is where we have applied for and received grant funding.”

“For example, SEDFA has approved funding that will see us install air conditioners in five of our vehicles. The ECDC has given us marketing and branding material — that is really going to help us.”

Now, the business is steering toward a new phase of expansion.

“We are very happy with where we currently are as a business. Since we have a fleet of standard vehicles, we are now venturing into the shuttle space, acquiring more comfortable semi-luxury and luxury vehicles to reach new heights.”

That shift, she adds, is driven by a growing interest in tourism.

“It was only in 2024 that we discovered the tourism shuttle and transfers market. I grew interested, and that is what we are doing now.”

Looking ahead, she plans to diversify even further. “In the not-so-distant future, we’ll be venturing into the logistics business,” she concluded.

Contact SEDFA at www.sedfa.org.za and the ECDC at www.ecdc.co.za 
For more information about Qokose Shuttles and Transfers visit their Facebook page: Qokose Transport Pty Ltd.