THOHOYANDOU - As the saying goes, "make hay while the sun shines," Thulamela Municipality is planning big for the 2002 Eclipse, which is believed will attract many international tourists to the far north area.

Mr Ronald Makhadi, from the Sport and Recreation Desk at the municipality told Mirror, that they are planning to make money between December 2 and 7. The main event, he said, will be happening at Magona Village east of Thohoyandou near Ha-Mhinga.

In that area, Makhadi said they are going to erect some structures where tourists will be staying. A company called Eclipse Production has also arranged a music festival that will run for the whole week. He said the festival is going to involve more than fifty international tourists. In order to boost the show, Makhadi said they have also shifted the staging of the annual show to the same dates of the eclipse. The show will be held at the Thohoyandou show ground, like in other years.

According to him, the Municipality is going to construct a display that every international tourist will never forget. Makhadi also urged local artists to exhibit all their works for the public, so that they can make more money.

"Our municipality will benefit a lot during this period as our people will make more money by displaying their work during the show. Such work will be displayed in and around the village home, which would be erected at Magona. It is also hoped that business people around Magona will also benefit as their businesses stand a chance of flourishing. "We are expecting more than 4 000 tourists in this area. Arrangements for both the camps and stages have been concluded. Some of the people at Magona will also get employed during the process of erecting the village home and the stages. Some will even work as tour guides in the area. Business people will relocate to the area and benefit directly as they will be selling there," said Makhadi who invited interested people to phone him at 083 400 9217 for any information.