A delegation of some 120 visitors from Switzerland and Germany arrived in Limpopo last week and visited mission stations, heritage sites and other institutions, some of which were founded by Swiss missionaries in Elim, Shirley and Valdezia.

The event started at Elim Hospital, where the visitors expressed their love for the place and people through performing an orchestral item and singing choral songs. Jacques Cherpillod from Switzerland said that the purpose of the visit was to interact with the local community through choral concerts in Giyani, Elim, Polokwane and Durban.

In an official ceremony held at the Njhakanjhaka Traditional Authority's hall, the acting mayor for the Makhado Municipality, Cllr Gideon Tshavhuyo, invited the Swiss and German visitors to consider investing financially in the South African economy, particularly in the Makhado municipal area. “This is a positive role that former state president Mr Nelson Mandela spoke about and he encouraged people from outside South Africa to engage themselves in investing in our economy,” said Cllr Tshavhuyo.

The delegates from Switzerland and Germany had come at the request of a Giyani family, Musa Nkuna and his mother Violet Nkuna, who welcomed the visitors on behalf of the community. "South Africa is very good and people here are very sociable," remarked Jacques Cherpillod.

Musa also happens to sing as tenor in the Chocur de Chambre de R'Universite Fribourg choir (CCUF) in Switzerland. The choir is conducted by Mr Pascal Meyer. Mr Meyer led the choir in performing mellifluous melodies at the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of SA in Elim and the pupils who were around expressed enjoyment with wide smiles.

According to the church's chairperson, Mr Ephraim Lowane, the Evangelical Presbyterian Church of SA in Elim was founded by Rev Ernest Creux in 1879. Some of Rev Creux's sons and daughters were buried in the churchyard. The visitors enjoyed watching and capturing images of the scenery.

The project's co-ordinator, Mr Humphrey Shishavele, said that his duty was to make sure that a continued relationship was established and maintained between the local communities and the visitors. “The exchange programme will also help disabled children when they go abroad and learn about other cultures while they are also enhancing their personal talents,” Mr Shishavele said.