Come have a ball in Cinderella province

SAM Mashinini is a big man, with a big grin… and now the Free State MEC for Tourism is throwing his arms wide open and welcoming South Africans to what has been the Cinderella province of tourism.

Free State is not just the place of mealies and flat-rolling farm lands, nor is it the right-wing place where, at the height of apartheid, Indians were not allowed to stay overnight within its borders.

Mashinini says today the Free State is buzzing as a tourist destination, whether you are looking for an adrenalin rush, want to sit and imbibe its rich culture and history, or whether you simply want to relax in the magnificent natural beauty of the mountains on the western side of the province, which borders Lesotho.

Mashinini welcomes the fact that SA Tourism has chosen to focus on the Free State this month, which is Tourism Month.

“We are grateful for the assistance because we believe many South Africans are not aware of what we have to offer here.

“We connect with six other provinces – KwaZulu-Natal, North West, Northern Cape, Eastern Cape, Gauteng and Mpumalanga.

“We really are the heart of this country – the big, beating heart!”

Mashinini urged travellers to keep an eye on the Free State for special offers from tourist operators as well as major events, such as the upcoming Macufe Jazz Festival in Bloemfontein, which takes place next month.

“We think that festival is going to become the best in the country – if it is not already the best. I need to just tell people that if you want to come… you had better start booking now!”

Tourism Minister Derek Hanekom said, at the launch of Tourism Month, that he agreed South Africans generally knew little about what is going on in the Free State. “It really is an amazing province – like a mini-South Africa in the range of things that it offers – and people will not be disappointed if they try it out,” Hanekom said.

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