Lebombo Festival successfully entertains hundreds this year

KOMATIPOORT –  This year’s Lebombo Festival was off to a sociable start on Friday afternoon, as the local branch of the VLU treated the community’s elderly to a scrumptious lunch. Mnr and Mej Komati, Tian du Pont and Tanja Theunissen handed out gift packs and were rewarded with bright smiles and friendly chatter.

Stalls sold everything from leather shoes and mini-doughnuts to stir-fry and jewellery and several enterprising stallholders wandered through the showgrounds to hawk their wares.

SARS Customs’ K9 Unit was on duty throughout the festival and demonstrated how their animals are trained to find narcotics. At their stall in the hall, a variety of illicit goods that they have confiscated were displayed and people could enquire about their work.

The conservation demonstrations by Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and Paws and Crawls proved popular once again. Parents and children queued to snap photos with the cheetah and bird of prey from Hoedspruit.

Children could squeal on carnival rides, had fun at the Submerge kiddies tent or sing and dance with the Submerge team and Juda the Lion or Lollos and Lettie.

Festivalgoers could leave their hand- or footprints on a piece of cloth and make a donation to aid Bible distribution in the area or drop off a handbag filled with toiletries for needy women.

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Local singers like Philip Nel, Chimoné Kok, Sanet van Greunen, Candy Benson and bands like Backstage and Perspektief warmed up the crowd or entertained them late at night.

PHOTOS: Lebombo Festival entertains hundreds with programme packed with entertainment

On Friday evening, Hofmeyr had the crowd singing along to hits from throughout his career, ranging from “Agter Elke Man” to “Die Land”. The audience also sprang to attention and wholeheartedly belted “Die Stem” to show their support for cultural treasures that are slowly disappearing into history.

On Saturday morning, Inyoni Boerdery won the banana bunch competition with their winning entry of 87,9 kilograms. They also won the trophy for heaviest three entries at 251,95 kilograms. Crookes Brothers came second with their heaviest entry of 84,35 kilograms and total entry of 243,7 kilograms. Welgelegen was third with their three top entries weighing 219,6 kilograms.

The evening’s stage program included great entertainment by Martin Bester and Ampie, as well as a surprise performance by Arno Jordaan.

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The crowd also went wild for Dirk van der Westhuizen, who handed out a few hugs to audience members and closed the festival’s official proceedings.