04 Jan 2016

Hundreds of people made their way from Kanye to the nearby lands for the Christmas and New Year Holidays to watch choir competitions known as dikhwaere.

Long queues of vehicles were seen snaking along the roadways leading to the lands and bushes, where the choir competitions were held.

The numerous competitions and their audiences however proved not to be a source of entertainment only, but also a source of business ideas from which small entrepreneurs tapped .

The enterprising locals sold all sorts of things ranging from cooked food, braai, soft drinks and alcohol to choir spectators who came in large numbers to watch choirs sing their hearts out to prove their mettle.

Besides the ever so popular dikhwaere, on other parts of the villages and lands some took it to the football pitch to see which team is fit enough to be crowned the area champion and get the coveted prize.

Entrepreneurs Mr Otladisa Thipane and his friend Ms Khutsafalo Matibini said their businesses received a huge boost. They said their stock was sold out the moment they arrived at the place.

Ms Matibini stated that most spectators scrabbled at their makeshift tuck shop to buy fat cakes, fresh chips, braai and beer.

Ms Onkemetse Mokgosi, one of the traders at Gasethebe lands indicated, in an interview, that Christmas Eve  was much better than the New Year business wise.

She said most of the people went to Ga-Maila Melt Down festival during New Year's Eve and when they came back they were bankrupt.

Mr Basutli Ramakawa said he experienced a loss in his business because the competition was tough, compared to previous years. ENDS