OnTap Magazine

On Friday, the 10th of February 2023, the KZN Liquor Authority (KZNLA) in partnership with the Beer Association of South Africa (BASA), and Tembe Traditional Council held the Umthayi Marula Brewing Competition in Manguzi, KwaZulu-Natal.   The Umthayi Marula Brewing Competition is a collaborated event with the aim of stimulating an interest in micro-brewing by women and economically active youth (of legal age) while also ensuring that the culture of brewing using the Marula fruit is preserved and continued by future generations. The acting CEO of the KZN Liquor Authority, Mr Bheki Mbanjwa said: “One of the objectives of the KZN Liquor Licensing Act, is to promote the development of a responsible and sustainable retail and micro-manufacturing liquor industry in a manner that facilitates the entry of new participants into the industry and diversity of ownership in the industry. The KZNLA further has a transformation strategy in place to ensure that black women are empowered to participate in the liquor industry, particularly in the micro-manufacturing space. Our intervention as the KZNLA should not only end with the awarding of winners for this competition but to further capacitate these participants to the level where they will be able to develop their own local beer product that will be manufactured in this area.” Historically the ‘Marula Season’ commences each year in mid-February and continues until May, bringing with it a celebration of the harvest of the Marula fruit. Once the green fruits fall to the ground, women and children gather and store them until they ripen, whereafter the fruits are then placed fermented, and finally distilled into a beer. This beverage mixture is called Buganu, or Marula Beer. The following top 3 brewers were awarded by BASA:  1. Bawinile Masinga 2. Nompilo Ntimbane 3. Senzo Ntuli BASA was proud to be part of this prestigious event. One of our key focus areas is promoting the art of brewing amongst women and younger adults and in this way empower them to become involved in the sector. What makes the Umthayi Marula Brewing Competition special is that it not only furthers this objective within the Manguzi community but also celebrates the rich culture and ancient tradition of brewing the Marula fruit, which has been practiced for hundreds of years. BASA AND KZN LIQUOR AUTHORITY SUPPORT UMTHAYI MARULA BREWING COMPETITION IN MANGUZI, KWAZULU NATAL Second Prize winner Third prize winner First prize winner 10 | Autumn 2023 | ontapmag.co.za