Linda Mtse: Ubuntu in Practice
Saturday, 9th August 2025
Linda Mtse’s homestay is built on warmth, practicality and the kind of care that turns first-time visitors into repeat guests. With years of experience in hospitality, Linda has tailored her home to welcome travellers who want an authentic, personal South African experience. Her offering includes comfortable rooms, home-cooked breakfasts, and the little touches that matter — charging a phone, pointing a guest towards a trusted taxi, or buying staples for someone who arrives late.
For Linda, hosting is a social exchange. She uses her kitchen as a space to share stories — about local traditions, recipes and community life — and she sees every guest as a chance to build understanding across cultures. This human-centred hospitality also supports local supply chains: Linda sources breakfast ingredients from nearby producers and encourages guests to visit markets and businesses run by other women. Let's learn more:
Q&A
1. How did you start?
I have, throughout, been working in hospitality fields and in managerial positions from the very beginning. I started working at Steers when they opened here about 27 years ago or more. Since then, I never stopped. Then I worked for the Department of Health, responsible for Food Services, Housekeeping, and Laundry Services, which all fall under hospitality. I then moved to Rhodes as Assistant Manager of Housekeeping, and one of my responsibilities was to oversee turning student rooms into B&B accommodation for guests during NAF and other conferences. I got into this business after I lost my job.
2. What motivates you?
The satisfaction and happiness of my clients. Relationships, networking, friendships, and the bond that continues beyond the business transaction itself.
3. How does your homestay contribute to tourism?
Homestay bridges the gap between hotels and guesthouses or B&Bs. The homestay experience is more homely, warmer, and less expensive than those mentioned. It’s a home-away-from-home that makes tourists and guests feel their mothers’ and grandmothers’ love.
For example, my previous guests came for a church conference. They gave me their bank card to buy some things for them while they were attending church—things like pantihose and some snacks. Which hotel can give you that service? Guests would borrow a phone charger to take to their rooms—it's only in a home-away-from-home where you can do that, like when visiting your relative.
It exposes more of Ubuntu to tourists and visitors, and such experiences help tourists realize the diversity of the town. They get to experience not only Western culture but African culture as well when being hosted. This expands the choice and preferences within tourism.
4. What does Women’s Month mean to you?
To me, it means it's time to stop looking at us women as inferior to men. We are more than capable and should be afforded equal opportunities—especially in business.
Women and girls should be empowered and developed to be more independent and not rely on men for their survival, which sometimes leads to gender based violence, because when you're seen as a product or project of these men, you tend to entirely depend on them.
Women and girls should not doubt stepping into fields that are known to be predominantly male spaces. There’s nothing a man can do that cannot be done by a woman. Women should stop ukuzenza izisulu zamadoda.
5. What challenges do you face as a woman?
I get reluctant to accommodate males only, especially those I do not know. Sometimes a male—or males—will call at night looking for accommodation because they got my number from Facebook. If they are not referred by someone I know and trust, I politely turn down the booking for safety reasons.
So I face challenges—my safety and security may be compromised. And at the same time, I am losing potential income.
6. What’s your message for young women?
You are important — develope your skills, claim your place and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.
Contact Linda directly for availability: 073 509 4428 or mtselinda35@gmail.com and get more information about homestays here.
