The Limpopo provincial government has officially launched the 20th edition of the Marula Festival, marking two decades of one of the province’s flagship cultural events. The launch took place on Friday, 12 December 2025, at the Mall of the North in Polokwane, bringing together provincial leadership, municipal representatives, tourism authorities, media organisations and community stakeholders.

Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and the MEC for Economic Development, Environment and Tourism, Mr Tshitereke Matibe, led the proceedings, outlining the festival’s continued role in cultural preservation, tourism growth and local economic development.

Marula Festival Positioned as Cultural and Economic Strategy

In her address, Premier Ramathuba emphasised that the Marula Festival is embedded in Limpopo’s broader cultural tourism strategy, serving both heritage preservation and economic advancement.

“The Marula Festival is a key component of Limpopo’s cultural tourism strategy. It enables us to preserve indigenous knowledge systems while unlocking sustainable economic opportunities for communities,” she said, adding that the initiative helps position Limpopo as a competitive cultural tourism destination.

The Premier also acknowledged the presence of members of the provincial legislature and local government leaders, calling for cooperation between executive and oversight structures and urging that challenges be addressed collaboratively rather than through political confrontation.

Community Media Recognised as Critical to Rural Communication

A significant part of the Premier’s address focused on the importance of community media. She stressed that local radio stations and newspapers remain vital in reaching rural and marginalised communities often underserved by mainstream media.

“Our constituency remains Muleji FM, Rembe FM, Makado FM, Waterberg FM,” she said, crediting community radio with playing a decisive role during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“If I was relying on the mainstream media, we would not have defeated COVID in our province,” she added.

Tourism Confidence and Event Hosting in Limpopo

Reflecting on recent large-scale sporting and cultural events, Premier Ramathuba said Limpopo has demonstrated growing confidence as a tourism and events destination, noting that people attended events without incentives or free transport.

“People just came on their own,” she said, adding that the goal is to ensure visitors leave with positive impressions and return to the province.

Economic Participation, Local Procurement and Legacy

Turning to economic issues, the Premier highlighted job creation, local procurement and the role of government in enabling private sector growth. She urged residents and institutions to support locally produced goods and called for stronger regional and continental trade within Africa.

She also paid tribute to the late Collins Chabane, founder of the Marula Festival, marking ten years since his passing and reaffirming the commitment to continue his legacy.

Marula Festival as an Economic Catalyst

MEC Tshitereke Matibe described the festival as both a cultural milestone and an economic platform, noting growth in tourism, hospitality and leisure since the start of the current administration.

He highlighted traditional marula brewing as an ancestral practice that has evolved into a growing local industry, with government committed to expanding its economic benefits.

The Marula Festival will take place across different districts in the coming months, aligned with the marula harvest season, as Limpopo celebrates 20 years of this flagship cultural event.

Scene Feed Thought

Two decades in, the Marula Festival is no longer just about tradition; it’s about ownership, economic participation and telling Limpopo’s story on its own terms.