Dihlabeng Local Municipality

Today, the Employee Wellness section of Dihlabeng Local Municipality hosted a Heritage Day celebration to honour the nation’s rich cultural heritage and diversity. The event brought employees together to recognise the many cultures, traditions, languages and customs found within the municipality’s workforce and communities. It also gave staff a chance to share their heritage with colleagues and learn more about the different backgrounds that help shape a shared sense of identity.

Municipal departments took part by preparing cultural food, presenting displays, performing dances and dressing in traditional clothing linked to the culture assigned to them. These activities gave each team a chance to show its chosen culture through food, dress and performance. The departments were judged in three categories: food, display and traditional clothing.

In the food category, Riol placed first, Finance came second and Roads took third place. For displays, Electricity earned first place, followed by Riol in second and Solid Waste in third. In the clothing category, Riol placed first and Electricity came second. Solid Waste and Finance shared third place. The results recognised the effort and creativity each department brought to the celebration.

HERITAGE CELEBRATION HELD IN HONOUR OF COMMUNITY ELDERS

Today, the Office of the Executive Mayor, Cllr Tseki Tseki, hosted a heritage celebration with elders from across the Municipality, providing an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the nation’s rich and diverse cultural heritage. The event also created a platform for elders to reflect on and share the customs, knowledge, traditions and stories passed down through generations.

Mrs Sibaya from the Department of Justice and Constitutional Development addressed the elders on the importance of making a will. She encouraged them to put their wishes in writing to provide clear guidance to their families and help minimise potential disputes over family matters and belongings after their passing.

In his address, Executive Mayor Cllr Tseki Tseki expressed his pride in celebrating heritage alongside the elders, describing them as custodians of valuable history, culture and knowledge. He emphasised the important role elders play in guiding younger generations on respect, cultural practices and good conduct.

The Mayor reaffirmed the Municipality’s commitment to continuing its efforts to protect, support and care for older persons within its communities.

The celebration featured cultural dancing, traditional food and displays of traditional items, including hats and bracelets, allowing attendees to share, appreciate and celebrate different aspects of their heritage together.

The Culture & Art Lover — Friday 25 Sept (daytime)

Slow down and take it all in 🎨

🕙 10:00 — Gates open, coffee at the Square of Lights
🎤 10:30 — Spotlight Sessions: meet the festival's artists & speakers, moderated by Heino Schmitt
🎨 14:00 — Meet the Light Artist guided tour
🚶 Self-guided — Take the Spotify audio tour through the installations: The Inner Glow, How Shall We Live Mother, As Above, Echoes of the Tetrastargate and more
🎬 16:00–17:15 — Clarens Cinema: When the Light Changes at Protea Hotel — two short docs + filmmaker Q&A on Clarens becoming SA's first ""smart town""
🗺️ Any spare moment — Tick off a few stops on the Clarens Heritage Trail app (31 sites, 5 free)

The Family Day — Thursday 24 Sept

Bring your familiy for opening day 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Here it is a suggestion to make your itinerary for this day:

🕙 10:00 — Gates open, coffee at the Square of Lights
🕚 11:00–19:00 — Kids Supervised Play Area (entertainment + painting contest, ages 4+)
🦕 All day — Dinosaurs at Adventure Square
🔬 12:00–13:00 — The Science of Light (free UFS demo, Adventure Square)
🎨 14:00 — Meet the Light Artist guided tour (max 20 people, so get there early)
🔬 16:00–17:00 — Second Science of Light session
🏮 18:00 — Lantern Parade & Official Opening — the festival's big family moment
🎶 20:00 — Live on Stage: The Best of Clarens (stay as long as the little ones can handle!)

The Dihlabeng Local Municipality (DLM), together with the Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment (DFFE) and Thabo Mofutsanyane District Municipality (TMDM), celebrated Arbor Day through a tree-planting initiative at two schools. A total of 32 trees were planted, with 13 trees planted at Bodikela Primary School and 20 trees at LK Primary School. Ms Grace Ramokotjo from TMDM attended the event to provide support, while the Parks and Cemeteries Division, Solid Waste Division, and EPWP participants also participated actively in the Arbor Day activities.

The strong attendance and involvement of the various municipal teams demonstrated a collaborative commitment to greening, environmental awareness and sustainable development within the community.

🏠 NOT EVERYONE QUALIFIES FOR A HOME VISIT SPECIAL VOTE!

A home visit special vote is for registered voters who are physically infirm or have a disability that prevents them from reaching their registered voting station on 4 November 2026.

Applications are open and close 12 October 2026 at 17h00.

🔗 Apply for a special vote: https://registertovote.elections.org.za/voter/specialvotes/application/submit

‼️Remember: To qualify, the home address you provide must be in your registered voting district.