Get those tickets ready for Mapungubwe Arts Festival

The MEC for sport, arts and culture, Merriam Ramadwa re-launched the Mapungubwe Arts Festival at Ivory Lodge last Wednesday.

The week-long festival, which was scheduled to take place in December was postponed due to the passing of Nelson Mandela.

“We apologise to residents for the postponement of the festival, especially to those who had already bought tickets. But all government activities were put on hold so we could mourn Madiba,” said Ramadwa.

The festival, which has a total budget of R4,5 million is scheduled to start on March 17 with a cultural carnival from the Olympic Towers in Biccard Street to the SABC park, and will include a Mapungubwe craft market, a heritage theatre, Miss Mapungubwe and Mapungubwe Gospel Festival. The festival ends on March 23 with the Mapungubwe Jazz Festival.

The festival will also celebrate South Africa’s 20 years of democracy, with the premier launching the celebrations during the festival on March 20.

“We have incorporated the celebration of the country’s 20 years of democracy into the festival. Those who had already bought tickets will receive new tickets, and those who haven’t can still find them at Computicket,” she said.