29 May 2017

The annual Khawa Dune Challenge and Cultural Festival will be sustained for its good cause of changing the lives of people in the Kgalagadi South constituency and beyond.

Minister of Youth Empowerment, Sport and Culture Development, Thapelo Olopeng said in Khawa on May 26, that the event which started in 2012, together with the President’s Day Arts competition had revived culture and unearthed dances particularly in the district, positively impacting on residents in several other ways.

Olopeng shared that some 10-year-olds from Khawa and environs had so far been trained to ride quad bikes with the intention to inspire them to become professional bikers and eventually eke a living through sport in future.

To this end, Olopeng also Member of Parliament for the Tonota constituency encouraged the private sector to support sport tourism and enable the initiative to benefit many other young people.

He further revealed that the Vice President, Mokgweetsi Masisi, who was in attendance had also pledged to sustain the event when he becomes president in 2018.

Furthermore, he said the ministry would continue coming up with innovative ways to help the spectacle to grow.

Olopeng was reacting to a call from Kgosi Piet Manyoro of Khawa for the event to be sustained.

Kgosi Manyoro, who said he would retire in 2021, said the event had made Khawa known across the country and beyond.

All along, he said Khawa used to be so distant and so obscure to many.

He said his village last year, received proceeds worth P140 000 from the event, adding he was hoping for over P200 000 this year.

One of the highlights for the night was when a standard seven pupil of Khawa Primary School, Ally Vissagie stole the spot light with breathtaking skills playing the piano. ENDS