By Emily Setona
QWAQWA – Makwane Village was a hive of excitement this past weekend as traditional horse racing took centre stage in the community’s Heritage Month celebrations.
The event, staged in partnership between Thapelo Mokeretla, the Office of the Executive Mayor of Thabo Mofutsanyana District Municipality and other stakeholders, drew crowds from Lesotho, KwaZulu-Natal and neighbouring towns such as Ficksburg.
The day blended heritage, sport and festivity. “As you can see, there are lots of kids here. We want to encourage them to realise that horse racing is a sport one can pursue professionally,” said organiser Thapelo Mokeretla.
Youngsters in the crowd were captivated by the spectacle. “I’m happy to be here because it’s the first time I see horses racing,” said 15-year-old Kamohelo Mosia from Tebang.
Sixteen-year-old Lebohang Mofokeng of Bluegumbosch and his namesake, Lehlohonolo Mofokeng of Thebang, added that the event helped them overcome their fear of horses.
On the track, competition was fierce. The highlight came when KwaZulu-Natal’s Mr. Hlope stormed to victory, taking home a cow as his prize.The celebrations formed part of a Mayoral Tourism Imbizo, aligning with Tourism Month.
Executive Mayor Conny Msibi, accompanied by Members of the Mayoral Committee, stressed the event’s dual role in cultural preservation and local development.
“By celebrating traditional horse racing, we are supporting indigenous culture while also promoting tourism in Maluti-a-Phofung,” Msibi said.
