11th Marula Festival launched
The Limpopo Economic Development Department (LEDET) officially launched the annual Marula Festival at Sefapane Lodge and Safaris in Phalaborwa recently.
This year marks the 11th edition of the festival since its inception in 2006. The festival is used as a platform for locals to showcase products they have made from the marula fruit such as jam, hand and body lotion, soaps, cooking oil, nuts and atchar.
The music festival will be held over a period of two weekends, starting from February 20-27.
LEDET’s MEC, Seaparo Sekoati said the festival will not only benefit Ba-phalaborwa but it will also benefit nearby towns as well.
“The objective of this festival at its inception was not just about fun but was to fight poverty and unemployment among our people, to develop local tourism and hospitality industries through the promotion of Marula month,” said Sekoati. 13 cooperatives across the province will benefit from the festival which the government continues to support and help market beyond the borders of the province.
“Our involvement as government in the facilitation of registration of these Cooperatives had positive spin-offs on investment into the industry and the employment of rural community members who assist in harvesting and transportation of the fruit annually depending on the order from the organizers of the Marula festival,” said Sekoati. He also added that they will not relent until the living standard in the province has improved.
The town of Phalaborwa, because of its tourism profile and close proximity to other major tourist destinations including the world’s renowned Kruger National Park, has been declared a permanent home for hosting the annual Marula festival. The town has a well-developed infrastructure, a top class airport and golf course, a wide variety of tourists’ accommodation, tourism products and numerous game lodges in close proximity. It is easily packaged with products around Hoedspruit, Tzaneen, Modjadjiskloof, Magoebaskloof and Giyani. This location and setting make Limpopo Marula Festival a major attraction for locals, domestic and international tourists.The MEC has also vowed that a recording studio will be opened from funds that will be gathered throughout the event. The studio is aimed at assisting local emerging artists.
