Christmas spirit to shine bright in Mbombela
The event will start at 18:30 on Friday, December 8, and members of the public are encouraged to bring along toys as entrance fee.
MBOMBELA – Sporting more than 74 000 LED bulbs and 2 000 metres of cabling, the enormous Christmas tree, the biggest of its kind in Africa, will illuminate the city’s skyline for the duration of the festive season.
Standing tall in The Grove shopping centre’s parking lot, the custom-made tree, designed and constructed in South Africa by a team of 15 from Magic Lighting, Durban, took approximately 4 158 labour hours to create.
Construction manager at CL Projects and Scaffolding, Terence de Klerk said that it took no ordinary rig to support the tree and ensure it stands firm.
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It took De Klerk and a team of five about four hours to erect the scaffolds, which were designed on the same principle as those used to support a concrete slab.
Julie Short from RMD Kwikform, the company that provided the materials and designed the platform used to secure the tree, said they were very excited to be part of the project.
“RMD Kwikform, a global formwork and scaffolding-solutions provider, was only too happy to be part of the festive cheer in our local community of Mbombela,” she said.
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Not only a delightful sight, the tree will be used as the venue for a carolling event at which local musicians, Gibraltar and the Casterbridge Music Development Academy will perform.
According to Roland Hill from SPAR, the event is about creating a reason for the people of Mbombela to unite and share the festive cheer by donating a toy and enjoying the nostalgia and excitement of Christmas.
Also read: Top 10 ways to get your children in the Christmas spirit
