By Staff Reporter
PHALABORWA-In a move to empower local communities and enhance the benefits of the marula fruit harvest, LEDET MEC Tshitereke Matibe met with executives from Heineken Beverages on Tuesday, February 11 in Phalaborwa.
The primary aim of the discussions is to explore potential partnership opportunities that would directly benefit the 14 women-led cooperatives involved in marula fruit harvesting in the area.
The meeting, which included Ba-Phalaborwa Local Municipality Mayor Merrium Malatji, officials from LEDET’s tourism and enterprise development sectors, and Heineken Beverages MD Jordi Borrut, highlighted the growing role of the marula fruit industry in the local economy.
The marula fruit, currently in season, is being harvested by rural women, who supply the fruit to producers like Heineken Beverages, where it is brewed for commercial purposes, particularly for the internationally renowned Amarula liqueur.
Limpopo, the province with the highest concentration of marula trees in South Africa, plays a central role in the production of the fruit that contributes to Amarula’s global success.
This unique connection between the natural resources and an iconic international brand provides opportunities to create long-term, sustainable development for local communities.
To ensure that these local harvesters benefit more substantially, the Department of Limpopo Economic Development, Environment, and Tourism (LEDET) has spearheaded the formation of a Marula Industry initiative, which encompasses 14 women-led cooperatives.
These cooperatives play a vital role in harvesting the fruit during the three-month marula season, a time when the fruit is collected to supply both commercial breweries like Heineken and local consumers for personal use.
However, the department’s efforts go beyond seasonal harvesting. In collaboration with Heineken Beverages, LEDET is working to drive industrialisation by exploring ways to produce marula byproducts that could be used throughout the year.
This shift would create year-round job opportunities, transforming the local economy from one that relies heavily on the short marula fruit season to one with sustained, long-term employment and economic growth.
The discussion with Heineken Beverages signifies a promising step toward a more inclusive, sustainable future for the communities involved in marula harvesting.
With Heineken’s commitment to working with local cooperatives, women in the region are set to benefit from expanded opportunities, ensuring they have a stronger presence in the broader supply chain.
This partnership also underscores the power of collaboration between local government, corporate entities, and rural communities. Through joint efforts, the aim is to ensure that the full value of the marula fruit harvest is realized, not just within the confines of the seasonal period, but as an ongoing resource for the communities of Limpopo.
The conversation between the MEC, local municipality representatives, and Heineken Beverages is an important step in fostering the growth of the marula industry, ensuring that local women-led cooperatives are empowered to maximize the potential of this indigenous resource. As the partnership develops, the vision is clear: to create a thriving, sustainable marula industry that benefits both the people of Limpopo and the global market.
