Jetsetting with Janet explores the people, places and stories that shaped South Africa’s journey to democracy
CAPE TOWN: This Heritage and Tourism Month, businesswoman, tourism entrepreneur and Jetsetting with Janet host Janet Pillai is encouraging South Africans to look beyond the postcard and discover the people, places and stories that have shaped Cape Town and the country.
Footsteps to Freedom is a natural extension of this approach, using travel and storytelling to encourage people to engage more deeply with Cape Town’s heritage.
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More Than Four Attractions
At its heart, Footsteps to Freedom is about more than visiting four heritage attractions. It is about creating connections between the stories they tell and encouraging visitors to think about the people and experiences behind South Africa’s journey to democracy.
It is also an opportunity to reflect on how heritage is preserved, how history is passed between generations and how tourism can create new ways for people to engage with places they may think they already know.
“Heritage tourism gives us an opportunity to support local attractions while learning more about who we are as South Africans. It is about travelling, but also listening, learning and remembering.”
Footsteps to Freedom
Her Footsteps to Freedom experience brings together four significant sites of significance, and heritage attractions, the Castle of Good Hope, the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation, Robben Island Museum and Long March to Freedom, connecting different chapters of South Africa’s history, from colonialism and resistance to imprisonment, liberation and democracy.
Rather than experiencing these sites as separate attractions, Footsteps to Freedom creates a connected narrative that encourages visitors to consider how the past continues to shape the current narrative.
“When we travel, we often look for beautiful places and memorable experiences, but there is so much more to discover when you take the time to understand the context of place and community,” says Pillai. “Cape Town has layers of history that many of us know pieces of, but we don’t always experience them as one connected story.”
The tour takes us from colonial Cape Town to the road to freedom.
The Experience
The experience begins at the Castle of Good Hope, introducing visitors to the early history of the Cape and the complex stories of colonialism, enslavement, power and resistance.
The journey then moves to the Desmond & Leah Tutu Legacy Foundation and its Truth to Power exhibition, exploring Archbishop Desmond Tutu’s life and legacy, as well as themes of moral courage, reconciliation and speaking truth to power during the struggle against apartheid.
From there, visitors travel to Robben Island, one of South Africa’s most significant sites associated with political imprisonment, the struggle against apartheid and the resistance movement.The island provides space to reflect on sacrifice, resilience, leadership and the human cost of the country’s past.
The final stop is Long March to Freedom, where 100 life-size bronze sculptures honour individuals connected to South Africa’s long journey towards freedom and democracy.
Together, the four experiences create a heritage journey that is both educational and deeply human.
“You cannot really understand the journey to freedom without understanding what came before it,” Pillai explains. “Footsteps to Freedom is about creating that connection and giving people an opportunity to engage with our history in a way that feels real and relevant.”
Making Heritage Part Of the Tourism Experience
Footsteps to Freedom also speaks to the role of heritage tourism in encouraging South Africans to explore their own country, support local attractions and engage more meaningfully with the places they visit.
For Pillai, this forms part of a broader approach to tourism that places people, stories and experiences alongside destinations.
“We don’t always have to get on a plane to feel like we have travelled,” says Pillai. “Sometimes the most powerful journey is the one that helps you see your own city differently.”
Meet Janet Pillai
Janet Pillai is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, tourism advocate and storyteller with a focus on business, tourism, travel and personal visibility.
She is the Founder and CEO of MLT Car Hire and Tours, a board member and tourism advocate, and host of the tourism podcast Jetsetting with Janet.
With roots in KwaZulu-Natal, Pillai has built her career around entrepreneurship, leadership, tourism and creating opportunities. Her work brings together her understanding of business and travel with a passion for storytelling, connecting people and creating meaningful experiences.
Her areas of interest extend beyond tourism, including entrepreneurship, career growth, networking, personal branding, visibility and creating opportunities through relationships and experience.
About Jetsetting with Janet
Jetsetting with Janet is Pillai’s travel and storytelling platform exploring destinations, experiences, people, food, culture and the business of tourism.
The platform looks beyond traditional sightseeing to explore what makes a destination meaningful, from the people and businesses behind it to the history, culture and stories that give places their character.
It also champions the idea that travel can begin at home, encouraging audiences to discover South Africa through new experiences and perspectives.
Source and References
https://jetsettingwithjanet.com/
https://footstepstofreedom.co.za/footsteps-resource-centre/
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