Front left to right: Ian van der Linde (DJ); Ronel de Jager (Agri Marketing Assistant); Lizelle Schoeman (Non-motor claims Assessor) Back left to right: Marlize Fourie (Non-motor claims Assessor); Dawn Grant (Senior Assessor); Willem Branders (DJ); Reina Pansegrouw (Non-motor claims Assessor)
The Mokopane community was treated to three days of arts, crafts, games, fun and music this past weekend at the Agri Mutual & Federal Kierieklapper Kunstefees (KKKF), held at Hoërskool Piet Potgieter. The arts festival, sponsored by Mutual & Federal, a member of the Old Mutual Group, is an annual event which raises money for the Service Centre for the Aged in Mokopane.
“As a strong supporter of South Africa’s agricultural community, we at Mutual & Federal always look forward to this event, which we have sponsored since its inception,” says Andries Wiese, Group Manager for Mutual & Federal Agri. “Most of the elderly individuals who are looked after at the Centre are part of this farming community, so it is our way of giving back to a community which we are so involved with on a business level.”
The Kierieklapper Kunstefees was conceptualised eleven years ago when subsidies in the Limpopo area started to shrink. With the decrease in subsidies, the needs of farming communities like Mokopane consequently increased and finding other sources of income became a pressing necessity. This annual event, which is named after a tree endemic to the area, has now grown to become the biggest festival in Limpopo.
This year, the KKKF included 145 stalls selling quality arts, crafts and food made by the locals, a funfair and games for children, a beer garden, food and wine pairings and informative workshops. A festival highlight was performances by well-known South African musicians like Nianell, Bobby van Jaarsveld and Chris Chameleon.
With 20 919 visitors over the three days, organisers hope to have their expectations met with regards to funds raised for the Service Centre for the Aged. “We at Mutual & Federal are thrilled by the amount of visitors to this year’s Kierieklapper Kunstefees. The money will go a very long way towards helping the Centre to continue to care for the aged who can no longer care for themselves,” states Wiese. The Service Centre for the Aged provides over 16000 meals to Mokopane’s elderly every year, along with medical assistance, general care and additional services to enhance their quality of life such as bible studies, hairdressing and even aerobics classes.
“The welfare of this predominantly agricultural community is very important to Mutual & Federal,” Wiese explains. “This is where our business lies and we need to contribute. We form an integral part of the organising committee, and many of our staff get very involved in the Festival. The KKKF gives us a perfect opportunity to give back to this community in a very practical, hands-on manner that makes the lives of its members easier.”
Mutual & Federal is one of the leading short-term insurers in southern Africa and a member of the Old Mutual group.