Members
A Prestigious New Partnership: Rovos Rail x Nukakamma Hospitality School
Nukakamma Hospitality School is proud to announce a landmark partnership with Rovos Rail, Africa’s most prestigious luxury train company, commencing in January 2026.
In December 2025, Laurence Diaz Armand, the founder of Nukakamma, and Gilles Blanc, in charge of Business Development, had the privilege of spending the day at Rovos Rail’s headquarters in Pretoria with Tiffany Vos-Thane, Chief Operating Officer, alongside members of the Rovos Rail management team including Melody Maishman, Jana Haupt, Monique Janse van Rensburg, and Marinda Scott.
Often referred to as “the Pride of Africa”, Rovos Rail is internationally renowned for its timeless elegance, five-star service, and extraordinary rail journeys across Southern Africa. Today, up to six Rovos trains operate across the region, supported by over 200 onboard staff and 300 employees at their Pretoria headquarters, where craftsmanship is taken to exceptional lengths, with nearly everything produced in-house, down to the finest details.
As part of this new collaboration, Rovos Rail will partner with Nukakamma Hospitality School to train:
• New onboard cooks
• Future onboard hostesses
What makes this partnership particularly meaningful is its strong community impact focus. Candidates will be recruited directly from local communities in and around Pretoria, including Soshanguve, Mabopane, Mamelodi, and Hammanskraal, before completing their professional training at Nukakamma’s campus in Addo, Eastern Cape.
This initiative aligns perfectly with Nukakamma’s mission: uplifting and empowering South African talent from underprivileged backgrounds and preparing them for careers in the most prestigious hospitality establishments in South Africa and across the African continent.
“This partnership represents a major milestone in Nukakamma’s development,” says Laurence Armand, “To work alongside a globally respected icon such as Rovos Rail reinforces our belief that excellence and social impact can, and should, go hand in hand in today's hospitality industry.”
Tiffany Vos-Thane, Chief Operating Officer of Rovos Rail, added:
“What a pleasure to host Laurence Diaz Armand and Gilles Blanc at Rovos Rail. We were delighted to showcase the full extent of our operation. We couldn’t be more thrilled to begin working together in 2026: the work Nukakamma is doing is incredibly important, and we are grateful to be part of this journey.”
This collaboration stands as a powerful example of what modern hospitality should represent: excellence in service, empowerment through education, and lasting social impact.
About Nukakamma Hospitality School
Nukakamma Hospitality School is a South African non-profit organisation and B-BBEE Level 1 entity dedicated to training and placing young people from disadvantaged communities into sustainable careers in hospitality.
About Rovos Rail
Founded in 1989, Rovos Rail has earned a global reputation for luxury rail travel, offering unparalleled journeys through Southern and Eastern Africa.
Media Contact
Nukakamma Hospitality School
gblanc@esus-group.com
https://www.nukakamma-tdc.com/
---
Disclaimer:
This article is an external contribution and was not produced by the French South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FSACCI). The views, opinions, and statements expressed are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the views or positions of FSACCI.
