As the CEO behind one of Africa’s premier convention centres, Taubie Motlhabane is at the forefront of the City’s evolution into a global investment powerhouse. “Cape Town is a city where opportunity and quality of life converge. It’s consistently recognised as Africa’s leading business tourism and investment hub,” she says.
The CTICC continues to thrive under her leadership and is a marker of how business tourism fuels economic growth. In the 2024/25 financial year alone, the Centre contributed R8.7 billion to South Africa’s GDP and created more than 15 000 jobs nationally. “That kind of impact shows that every event we host is not just a gathering, it’s a platform for growth, skills and opportunity,” she explains.
It’s little wonder that this level of success follows a seasoned executive whose career spans marketing, communications, tourism, stakeholder relations and business management, credentials that have cemented her as a respected voice in South Africa’s business landscape. This wealth of experience, coupled with an MSc in Global Marketing from the University of Liverpool (UK) and a BA in Communications from North-West University (RSA), has truly equipped her to lead with impact.
She believes Cape Town has proven itself as a destination that competes confidently on the world stage by welcoming over 5.2 million air arrivals in the 2024/25 financial year and climbing fifteen places in the International Congress and Convention Association (ICCA) global rankings. Its recent accolade as Time Out’s ‘Best City in the World’ for 2025, along with multiple gold honours at the Eventex Global Awards, including Best International MICE Destination and Best African Events Destination, furthers Cape Town’s reputation as a city that blends infrastructure, talent and culture into something truly exceptional.
She is adamant that Cape Town’s success isn’t just measured in awards or visitor numbers. “It’s investment in jobs, skills and knowledge exchange that drives long-term prosperity. That’s why I’m so passionate about promoting it – it’s not just a destination, it’s a platform for transformation,” she explains.
Her optimism for Cape Town’s future is infectious: “What excites me most is how the city is establishing itself as a world class city for ideas and opportunity,” she says. Highlighting Wesgro’s recent bid wins, including the One Young World Summit 2026 and the IBRO World Congress of Neuroscience 2027, she notes that these global events reaffirm Cape Town’s status as a leading destination. “Each of these events generates investment and creates legacies that extend far beyond the event floor,” she adds.
She sees her Invest Cape Town ambassador role as both of a partner and a promoter. “On one hand, it’s about telling Cape Town’s story on global platforms – a story of creativity, resilience and opportunity; on the other, it’s about connecting international investors, event organisers, and innovators with the sectors and networks that make the City so competitive,” she says.
Her ambitions for the next three years are to attract high-impact international events, deepen strategic partnerships and connect investors to Cape Town’s catalytic industries embracing everything from green energy and advanced manufacturing to technology, health sciences and the creative economy. “My goal is to help build a city where sustainability, inclusivity and innovation converge. Cape Town’s future is one of impact and infinite possibility,” she says.
Get in touch with Taubie Motlhabane