MEC launches 17th Marula Festival at Meropa Casino
The 17th annual installment of the Marula Festival will take place from April 12-22 at the Impala Park Stadium, Phalaborwa.
POLOKWANE – The Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (Ledet) MEC Rodgers Monama launched the 17th installment of the Marula Festival at Meropa Casino and Entertainment World last Thursday.
Mokone said Ledet has made a purposeful economic intervention by developing the Limpopo Mukumbi Industries as a viable business industry in the province, as they take advantage of the vast concentration of marula trees, mostly found in the subtropical parts of the province.
The 17th annual installment of the Marula Festival will take place from April 12-22 at the Impala Park Stadium, Phalaborwa.
The MEC added that the intended Marula Festival is a combination of activities that normally span over two weeks but this year, will only be for one weekend.
“The project comprises of several activities that cover the Mopani municipal area. The different aspects of the festival as highlighted will be used to showcase the tourist offering of the Mopani District and Limpopo. The Mukumbi Industries co-operatives will also brew marula beer for the enjoyment of the event. The involvement of these registered co-operatives had positive spin-offs on investment into the industry and on the employment of rural community members who assist with harvesting and transportation of the fruit annually depending on the orders from the organisers of the Marula Festival,” said Monama.
He said it is easily packaged with products around Hoedspruit, Tzaneen, Modjadjiskloof and Giyani, benefiting from the festivities as overflow venues in respect of accommodation.
“This location and setting are reasons for the Marula Festival to become a major attraction for locals, national and international tourists. We expect many international guests during this edition of the festival, especially now that we have successfully moved out of the Covid-19 pandemic,” he said.
He told CV that the department values the Marula Festival as one of the key building blocks in the economic development initiative. “It is through this festival that we provide a platform for our artists to connect with their fans so that they take advantage of the opportunity to observe what they like and don’t like. Marula Festival also provides artists with a platform for networking and exposure, where artists can have a chance to get their music heard or loved by a whole lot of new audiences,” he concludes.
