The event, which is expected to inject millions of rands into the local economy, led by the MEC of LEDET, Seaparo Sekoati, will start on Friday, February 22 and end on Sunday, March 3, at Impala Park.

Local residents have raised concern in terms of their safety and that of their properties and marula revellers passing out at their gates, but that will no longer be a problem in this year’s festival because the Ba-Phalaborwa Mayor, Pule Shayi, told the HERALD that the municipality had a plan contingency in place to combat the indecency caused by the Marula Festival party goers.

This plan included moving the entry gate from the stadium to the road across the Mopani TVET College and having a tent for ‘drunken’ people, erected inside the stadium.

The mayor also mentioned that more security officials will be employed for both the dance movement and kwaito festival.

The MEC for the Limpopo Department of Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET), Seaparo Sekoati, said that the new theme for the next five years’ festivals is, “Discover the wealth of Marula”.

“The Limpopo Annual Marula Festival is an annual opportunity to remind ourselves, as well as the South African population, that the wealth of the people lay within their respective communities, the wealth of the people lay within their land,” said the MEC.

He also mentioned that the Limpopo Marula Festival contributes in excess R45 million to the local economy of Ba-Phalaborwa and the Mopani District through general trade.

It also generates more than 500 job opportunities for the local communities and he believes it should be doubled in the next three years.

During the launch the MEC also introduced Sephakhu Raboshakga, a man from Vianna, a small village situated on the outskirts of Blouberg Municipality.

“He has taken a business decision to invest resources in growing his industry to accommodate bottling and distributing of fresh Marula Juice.

He is now joining the likes of Rakhuma Trust, together with the 14 registered Co-operatives who continues to benefit from this industry,” stated the MEC.
The MEC also mentioned that 50000 people were expected to attend the festival this year.

Also on February 9, there will be an event in the Vhembe District to identify local talented people who will be put on the festival’s Open Air Concert Line-up in both the youth and jazz activities.

The MEC said that the prices charged for the tickets are not “charges”, but a gesture.