Crime shuts down OppiKoppi festival, hurting local economy
Besides the people who worked in preparing the goods‚ designers‚ promoters and other creatives had been roped in with the hope of strengthening their brand at the festival this year
It is not just the musicians and the festival-goers who are reeling from the cancelation of this year’s OppiKoppi festival — the economy of Northam‚ in Limpopo‚ will be devastated too‚ one of the food vendors said on Thursday. “There are people who sell firewood‚ others that sell liquor and meat. Even supermarkets [will feel the pinch] because people travelling from outside don't usually stock up on what they will need until they get to the area‚” said Hezron Louw of Sumting Fresh. He said his business will also feel the impact‚ as the festival provided a major boost to annual turnover. “We also employ local people from Northam for the festival‚ train them on food safety and get them on board to work with us. We have had regulars who have worked with us for three to four years, but this year there will be no work for them‚” said Louw.
The festival organisers issued a statement saying the 25th annual festival had been put on hold after the 2018 event was ruined by criminals tar...
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