The 10th edition of Marula Festival to be held in Phalaborwa was officially launched on Friday.
The event to take place from February 20 to 28 is staged by the Limpopo Economic Development, Environment and Tourism (LEDET) in collaboration with other partners such as Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, Limpopo Tourism Agency, Department of Sports Arts and Culture Kruger National Park, Limpopo Economic Development Agency, Small Enterprise Development Agency (SEDA).
Speaking during the official launch, the MEC of LEDET, Seaparo Sekoati said most of the festival activities including the open air festival will take place at Impala Park stadium and as usual, “this will like the two previous festivals, happening over two successive weekends”.
Sekoati said the Government has taken a deliberate decision to empower communities around which Marula trees are found in abundance by establishing cooperatives that brew Marula beer and also produce other bi-products of Marula, such as achar, jam, cooking oil, soap, hand and body lotion, nuts, etc.
He said to date there are in total 13 such cooperatives which 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 Seaparoi.
He further said they will not relent until the living standard of the people in the province has improved.
Sekoati said 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, Modjadji’skloof, Magoebaskloof and Giyani.
This location and setting make Limpopo Marula Festival a major attraction for locals, domestic and international tourists,” he said.
He said to ensure the same quality brew for the festival, the same approach of brewing the beverage at a central venue will be followed.
“This ensures the standardization of the festival beverage.
The required quantity for 2015 is 15 000 litres of Morula beverage.
The supply will be provided by the 13 registered Mukumbi Cooperatives from various district municipalities,” said Sekoati.
Marula Festival kicks off on Friday February 20 with a fun fair park which will last until Saturday, February 28. On February 21, 22 and 28 there will be a Street Parade and an open air concert featuring Kwaito, Jazz and Gospel music.
Youth Rugby will also be played on February 21. Tourism Career Expo from February 23 to 27; Small, Medium and Micro-sized Enterprises (SMMEs) Exhibition from February 23 to 28; Themed Cultural Days & Cuisine Ala Marula from February 23 to 27; 4X4 Challenge on February 27 and 28; Golf Challenge on February 27 and 28 and the Half Marathon on February 28 which is the last day of the concert.
Meanwhile, the official launch was followed by a traditional heritage of the testing of the first marula fruit called Luma Nguva/ Go Loma Morula/ Ku Luma Vukanyi at Maseke Royal Kraal on Saturday.
