Dullstroom Information and Accommodation

United in the Arts Festival
Waterval Boven

They say that the keys of a piano are black and white but sound like a million colours in your mind. The people of Waterval Boven experienced the joy of coming together as a community and uniting in the arts this past weekend. Songs were heard all over this little village as people came from Mozambique, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Emthonjeni and Emgwenya to pay their respects to the miners who died in the tragic 1949 railway accident.

The Emakhazeni Tourism Association in conjunction with Kreatif Publications originally organized the United in the Arts Festival as a tourism attraction in order to promote this majestic part of our country and uplift the local businesses. Over the past few months numerous obstacles had to be overcome, topics that were discussed and debated ranged from xenophobia, religion and politics, the main theme always being uniting the social community of this beautiful little village in order to promote prosperity.

Working on a shoe-string budget and with a lot of help from the private sector and small businesses in and around the area, the preparation festival for next years’ 60th anniversary was a huge success. The input they received from the Mohlakeng Adult Choir was invaluable. This choir was also the reason that the so-called “untold story” came to light. The late Mr P J Simelane, composed a song called “Indlela Eqonde Ekhaya” (The road that is leading home), which sparked great interest amidst our Mozambican neighbours, whom have made the annual journey to Waterval Boven and to the accident site where over 60 people lost their lives, the river, carrying their blood to Mozambique (as the mayor of Waterval Boven, Ms Linkie Mohlala so eloquently put it.)

A uniting ceremony was held in the Nicholas Ndlovu Hall, 2 rock-climbing ropes (a symbol of Waterval Boven’s popularity overseas) adorned with South African and Mozambican flags were bound together, uniting the 2 countries. Mr Cameron, somewhat of a hero in the town and a healthy 90 odd year old, was thanked by the Mozambicans as well as the Mohlakeng Adult Choir for his contribution in keeping the tale of the accident alive. Amongst the dignitaries were Mr Luis da Silva, Consul General, Mr Arthur Verissimo, Consul to Mpumalanga, Mr Dennis Mpangani from the Counsel of Unifiers (acting against Xenophobia). Mr Solly Molemane who made an emphatic speech, urging the municipality to keep to the promises made years ago to promote the town of Waterval Boven and protect the local heritage sites. Organising representatives, Trina Matheson from the Emakhazeni Tourism Association and Anton J van Rensburg from Kreatif Publications welcomed representatives from SAHRA, The Emakhazeni Municipality as well local businesses and churches that attended the event.

The entertainment for the day start with the Moya Strings, a group of young musicians from the Johannesburg Orchestra Company– who is also planning a youth training programme for 2009. Yvonne Zwane, project manager from the Johannesburg Orchestra Company was invited to do a workshop with the Emgwenya Choir in Action as well as the Emthonjeni Shining Stars the weekend before the festival and says that it is desperately needed to teach these enthusiastic young people the joy of making music. Local performers took to the stage and amazed the audience with gumboot dancing, choral performances, drama and modern dance. A Mozambican Choir, lead by Graca Moqwaqwa and the well known Mohlakeng Adult Choir of Krugersdorp (who started off the tradition of visiting the accident site and who were instrumental in organizing the monument to the miners with SAHRA) lead by Mike Sesiko as well as a Mozambican dance group lead by Abilio Mathe further entertained the audience until the start of a Mass Church Service lead by Ann Sampson.

The dust has hardly settled and the songs and memories still remain clear in our minds but preparation, together with the Mohlakeng Adult Choir for the 2009 event has already started. The idea is to uplift the community, promote tourism while paying tribute to people who helped build South Africa’s economy and lost their lives in the process.

Any contributions or assistance will be greatly appreciated for next years’ event. For further information, please contact Anton J van Rensburg: 072 192 8311 or Trina Matheson: 082 892 1364.

 

Dullstroom Today

Today Dullstroom is one of the prime spots for fly fishing in South Africa.

Dullstroom is on the panorama route, halfway from Johannesburg to the Kruger National Park.

Dullstroom has five claims to fame:

• it is one of the coldest villages in South Africa
• it is South Africa's premier trout fishing area
• it is the home of the highest railway station (2076 m above sea-level)
• it is the only place where elm and beech trees grow in any number
• it is also the only region in South Africa where you will find the endangered Crowned Crane, the Blue Crane, as well as the Wattled Crane which is critically endangered.