By Matšeliso Phulane
One of the biggest annual events on the local entertainment scene, the Spring Jump Off, is set to take place on September 6-8.
Besides bringing fun experience, the festival is this year also expected to create some jobs for Basotho. Available vacancies include: bartenders, waitrons, waiters, bottle girls, cleaners, runners and hostesses.
Spring Jump Off is the brain child of renowned South African musicians Mahoota vs Vetkook who have been in the music industry for years.
The event, which has been running for over 10 years, gives a platform to artists from different genres and different walks of life, even up and coming ones, to showcase their talent. It also gives them an opportunity to network and make collaborations which best suits their style, liking and have potential of harnessing their growth in the industry.
The decision to bring a similar experience to Lesotho came after realising how much talent there is in the country and how some of it goes unnoticed. This is the third edition of the event.
In an interview with theReporter this week, one of the event organisers, Khoaele Komtata, known as DJ Mekonko, said the aim is to employ 60 or more Basotho for those mentioned vacancies.
The reason for creating jobs for Basotho is informed by the need to give opportunities to locals, given the unemployment rate in the country.
“We have noticed there is really a need for jobs in the country, looking at the number of people who always apply when there are available posts in different clubs. So, the aim is to give Basotho such opportunities through the Spring Jump Off,” Mekonko noted.
The plan is that there will be people working interchangeably from Friday to Sunday during the events.
Mekonko mentioned that this is one of the biggest events that attracts people from as far afield as Swaziland who start looking for accommodation as soon as they know about it.
He said the event is in its third year and this shows that there are still more tourists to come who will generate income and boost the country’s economy.
“Last year’s event was so massive that accommodation places were full, more than 60 rooms at Avani hotel were occupied. The Clan Guesthouse and others were fully booked that people struggled to get accommodation.
“This year we hope there will be more people from outside the country than last year, and will benefit more businesses in the country,” Mekonko added.
He indicated that the Spring Jump Off is a programme that is set to take the whole weekend; it starts on Thursday with comedy, pre-party on Friday, followed by the main event on Saturday and the after-party on Sunday.
“We had a very big after party last year and this year people should expect more from comedy to the main event,” he stated.
Mekonko noted that people should be aware that the event does not specifically benefit people from South Africa (owners) like some people always claim. However, they should be aware that 70 percent of the money generated from the Spring Jump Off remains in Lesotho.
Interested applicants are expected to send their three recent images, (facial, half and full body properly dressed) by email to: tumiletsapo98@cloud.com. Applications close on June 30, 2024.
They can visit the Spring Jump Off page for more details or contact Mekonko at: +266 62066993. More information about the event will be updated soon.
