The Vhembe District Municipality officially launched its partnership with the Mpumalanga-based Dr JS Moroka municipality at a gala dinner that was held at LaNdou Guest House in Louis Trichardt on Tuesday.

According to the acting mayor of the Dr JS Moroka municipality, Cllr Charles Molelemane, the main objective of the partnership was to provide a forum for the sharing of good practices, as well as the exchange of ideas, insights, experiences and skills within the municipality and its tourism entrepreneurs. “We want to create a referral network amongst tourism entrepreneurs in the Vhembe District municipality,” he said.

Members of the JS Moroka municipality and tourism entrepreneurs from Mpumalanga engaged in a tour through the region that started on Tuesday March 2 and will only end on Saturday, March 7. The tourists visited the Vhembe heritage sites, such as Mapungubwe, Lake Fundudzi, Kruger National Park, Beit Bridge, Tshatshingo Pot Holes, Kokwane Footprints, Dzata Ruins, Mutale´s Big Trees, Thulamela in the Kruger National Park, Crooks Corner, the Thomas Chauke Studio, the Noria Mabasa Gallery, the Arts and Culture centre and the Sarah Munyai Pottery Centre.

In his address, the executive mayor of the Vhembe District municipality, Cllr Falaza Mdaka, said that they welcomed any initiative that shared information and learning with other municipalities and with different spheres of government. “During the previous years, we spent considerable time and efforts on learning practices of good government in other parts of the world, but this seminar has been organised so that we may learn from our own experiences,” he said.

The chief executive officer of Tourism and Parks in Limpopo, Mr Benny Boshielo, said that development did not have boundaries and borders. “It is a good thing to see a partnership initiative of the two municipalities,” he acknowledged.

The event was attended by, amongst others, Limpopo SABC General Manager Mr Victor Ravhuanzwo, Munghana Lonene FM SABC Radio Manager Mrs Tsakani Baloyi, South Africa´s well-known muralist, Mrs Esther Mahlangu, the mayor of Makhado municipality, Cllr Mavhungu Luruli, the speaker of the Vhembe District municipality, Cllr Suzab Sibiya, the executive mayor of Vhembe municipality, Cllr Falaza Mdaka, the acting mayor of Dr JS Moroka municipality, Cllr Charles Molelemane and his mayoral committee.