12th annual Marula Festival launched

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 23 through to March 5.

A budget of R5 million is set aside for the festival and there is also going to be other partners who will contribute.

Speaking during the official launch, LEDET’s MEC, Seaparo Sekoati, said his department through the support of the provincial EXCO, decided not to only host the annual Marula Festival with no long term benefits but to develop a sustainable industry out of the marula fruit for the primary objectives of addressing the triple challenges of inequality, poverty and unemployment.

“Today the Limpopo Marula Festival contributes in excess of R40 million to the local economy of Ba-Phalaborwa and the Mopani District through the general trade and aldo generate more than 500 job opportunities to the local communities, a figure that should be doubled in 2017,” he said.

The annual festival benefit more than 1400 rural women whose Marula Brewing Co-operatives are registered with LEDET.

“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,” Sekoati said.

He also added that they will not relent until the living standard in the province has improved.”We are still prepared to have other cooperatives registered and their members trained because cooperatives have shown to be catalysts of development in a number of societies,” he added.

“We are very pleased with the social advances we have made through this festival as the town of Phalaborwa becomes full during this period,” the MEC further added.

Karl Schutte, of Amarula Distell Group, said they are proud to be part of the economic intervention (Marula Festival).

“In excess of 60 000 people currently benefit from our harvest, from collecting the fruit to extracting the nuts for oils and proteins used in an array of products. It’s this involvement with the people that holds the key to a rewarding and sustainable future for all.

The venues that will be used during the festival include Impala Stadium (street parade, kwaito youth concert, tourism exhibitions, open air concert and tourism career expo fair), Hans Merensky Golf Club (golf challenge), Kruger National and Ballanoto Information Centre (half marathon), Hlolwa Lodge (4X4 challenge), Kruger/Phalaborwa Airport (cuisine ala marula long table event) and Groen Skool (youth rugby).