MOSSEL BAY NEWS - Walter Blaq, an entrepreneur, creative and community activist, sees Mossel Bay for its potential, as well as its residents’.
Tell us a little about yourself - who are you and what do you do?
My name is Sinethemba Sobuza - I am popularly known as Walter Blaq. I am a creative entrepreneur, cultural advocate and the founder of CrystalBlaq Ent and the Black Sheep Network. Through media, music, events and community initiatives, I use creativity to tell our stories, create opportunities for young people and showcase the talent we have in our communities. I am also involved in initiatives that focus on community development, tourism and addressing the inequality in Mossel Bay.
How long have you lived in the Mossel Bay area?
My journey has taken me through different places, and each one has shaped who I am. I believe Xonxa (in the Eastern Cape) gave me ubuntu. It is where I studied until Grade 9 and where I learnt important values about community, identity and looking out for one another. Worcester gave me style, and that is where I studied from grades 10 to 12. I then went to Cape Town for varsity, where I saw many things that challenged what I thought I knew. Since 2014, Mossel Bay has given me purpose. It is here that I have been able to develop my ideas, connect with different people and build something meaningful for the Garden Route.
What is your favourite thing about Mossel Bay?
Its potential and the people who live here. We have so much talent, creativity, culture and business potential, especially among young people. Sometimes we look outside our communities for opportunities without realising what we already have around us. I see Mossel Bay as a place where, with the right support and collaboration, we can attract more tourists to our communities, showcase what makes the area special and help close the gap of inequality.
What do you enjoy doing in your free time?
Honestly, a lot of what I do for work is also what I enjoy. I love music, creating content, having conversations with interesting people, discovering local talent and developing new ideas. I also enjoy spending time reflecting on life and thinking about how we can turn the things we imagine into something real. My mind is almost always working on the next idea.
What is something about you that people might not know?
People might not know that before the platforms, events and projects, there was a young boy from Xonxa who loved music and was known among his schoolmates for singing. I was nicknamed ‘Dinaledi’ because of a song I sang in primary school. Looking back, it is interesting to see how something so small became part of a much bigger journey involving music, media and culture. It reminds me that sometimes the things we do as children are connected to who we become later in life.
Who or what has had the biggest influence on your life?
My grandparents played a major role in shaping the person I am today. Growing up in Xonxa, they taught me lessons about life, resilience and where I come from. My faith in God and my connection to my ancestors have also been important in helping me navigate life’s challenges. I have learnt that your circumstances do not have to determine your destination. Your background is part of your story, but it does not have to limit what you can contribute to the world.
What are you most proud of in your life?
I am proud that I have continued creating despite not always having the resources or support that many people might take for granted. Since 2014, everything we have created in Mossel Bay has been built without sponsors, funding, jobs or support from parents. Founding CrystalBlaq Ent and Black Sheep Network, working with local creatives and developing community initiatives are important milestones for me. I am especially proud of projects such as the Kwa Cleanup campaign and Mossel Bay Best Kept Secret, which aim to improve our communities, highlight their potential and encourage more people to visit the areas that are often overlooked. I am also proud when I see young people getting an opportunity to perform, showcase their talent or be part of something bigger than themselves. For me, success is not only about what I can achieve personally; it is also about what becomes possible for other people because I decided to start.
What is something you would still like to achieve or do?
I would like to see the work we are doing in Mossel Bay grow into a sustainable model that creates real opportunities for young people and local businesses across the Garden Route and eventually throughout South Africa. I want to build CrystalBlaq Ent and Black Sheep Network into recognised cultural, entertainment and media platforms. I also want to grow initiatives such as Mossel Bay Best Kept Secret and the Kwa Clean-up Campaign so that they attract more visitors, support local businesses, improve our communities and help close the gap of inequality. Ultimately, I would like to leave behind something that continues creating opportunities long after I am no longer the person leading it.
If you could invite anyone in the world for coffee, who would it be and why?
I would invite Elon Musk for coffee. I would want to understand how he thinks about building ambitious ideas, taking risks and turning concepts that seem impossible into real-world projects. I would also want to challenge him with a conversation about how innovation and resources can be used to create opportunities in communities that are often overlooked. I am fascinated by people who think beyond what currently exists, because I believe our own communities need that kind of imagination too.
What is one thing you would like to say to the people of Mossel Bay?
I would like to encourage the people of Mossel Bay to believe in what we can build together. We do not always need to wait for someone from outside our communities to recognise our talent or show us what is possible. We have artists, entrepreneurs, young thinkers and hardworking people right here. What we need is more collaboration, more support for local initiatives and a willingness to invest in one another. Through projects such as the Kwa Clean-up Campaign and Mossel Bay Best Kept Secret, we can take pride in our communities, attract tourists to the hood and create opportunities that help address inequality. My journey is still unfolding, but I believe Mossel Bay has the potential to become a place where our people do not just live and work, but also create, own and build opportunities for generations to come.
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