Mpumalanga Show delights and excites

The Mpumalanga Show 2022 welcomed over 23 000 people at the Mbombela Stadium from Wednesday to Saturday August 24 to 27.

The show offered a vast range of fun activities, carnival rides, games, agricultural exhibits, and an all-round exhilarating day out for family and friends.

With a line-up of South African artists to match any major national music festival, it is no wonder that people came from across Mpumalanga to partake in the show.

Included in the star-studded line-up were the likes of Van Pletzen, Die Campbells, Jan Jan Jan, Refentse, Ricus Nel, Bok van Blerk, Juanita and Franja du Plessis and Ruan Josh. The ever-popular Snotkop closed the show with a energy-fuelled performance on Saturday night.

The Mpumalanga Show, an NGO privately owned by Themba Sgudla, independent from the Government, aims to celebrate the province’s heritage and create opportunities to benefit individuals, stakeholders and Mpumalanga as a whole: and what a celebration it was! There was a special emphasis on agriculture, forestry, mining, tourism and wildlife in an effort to drive change and assist in economic growth, sustainability and transformation.

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Sgudla and the other show team members, Hanlie Lombaard, Lyzelle van Wyk and Len Truter, all said the event was an immense success.
One of the main attractions was the Super Inflatable Adventure Island, a first for Mpumalanga. It was set up right next to the main tent where parents could watch their children while enjoying the live performances and a drink or two.

A flea market sold everything from candy floss and light-up balloons to bespoke jewellery, handmade clothing, food and much more.
The monster truck shows, drifting and dyno cars and Le Rich electric motorbike stunt shows were a big hit with show-goers, as well as live wrestling matches by Rock Star Wrestling.

Equestrian games, featuring barrel racing, speed pattern racing and horse vaulting, livestock exhibitions, including sheep, goats, pigs, pigeons and chickens, and wildlife exhibits with various snakes and reptiles and mamba-milking demonstrations from the Lowveld Venom Suppliers, were all big hits. Even crocodile-diving, for those brave enough to try!

Also read: Day two of the Mpumalanga Show does not disappoint

A circus kept the kiddies entertained. It had no animals, only clowns, trapeze acts, aerial artists, a fire swallower, tightrope walkers, jugglers and magicians.
Other highlights were the Aweh Braai Competition, adult visual art competition, cake competition and the Miss Mpumalanga Show Ambassador.

The winners of the braai competition were two matrons of Hoërskool Nelspruit, Sulandra Botma and Anel Louw, Die Braai Bokkies. The competition was stiff, with a single point difference between Die Braai Bokkies and the second-place winners, Kleyn Bietjie Braai, Leanché and Alex Kleyn.

The organisers said there were three incidents of car break-ins during the event, one inside in the exhibitors’ parking lot and the other two in the parking outside. These were dealt with immediately, and the rest of the show continued without a hitch.

“We have received multiple emails of thanks for a great show. We learned a lot and still have to improve on certain areas. We want to say thanks to all our sponsors, suppliers, media school groups and show visitors. Without you, the show would not have been possible. We hope to see see you all again in 2023.”