Pannekoek steals the spotlight at Rocking the Vaal music festival

Even though Afrikaans celebrities such as Karlien van Jaarsveld, Demi Lee Moore, Kurt Darren and Droomsyndrome rocked the stage at the Rocking the Vaal music festival on Saturday, the humble pancake was the biggest star of the day.

Tannie Matie van Graan led the day’s proceedings. (Photo: Leonie Bezuidenhout/Maroela Media)

This year the festival once again interwoven music with community participation to make a significant impact.

With the support of the Golden Triangle Chamber of Commerce, Tsogo Sun and a growing network of sponsors and volunteers, a total of 29,610 pancakes were baked and distributed on the festival grounds and distributed to needy residents of the Vaal Triangle.

This massive effort ensured a Guinness world record for the most pancakes baked and distributed within eight hours.

Mbali Nkosi, an official judge and international representative of Guinness World Records, presented the award.

Jaco Verwey, head of the festival, thanked the approximately 7,000 festival-goers at the Emerald Resort and Casino and the team of Rocking the Vaal on Saturday evening for their enthusiastic participation.

Festival goers stand in long queues to eat pancakes. (Photo: Leonie Bezuidenhout/Maroela Media)

“Rocking the Vaal’s main goal is to create hope for people who are suffering. On behalf of me and the team, many thanks to everyone who makes this possible every year. Thank you to everyone who believes in what we do and who sacrifices time. We appreciate you. Keep believing in the Vaal Triangle.”

The pancake attempt required superb coordination. About 2,400 volunteers have used more than 3,700 eggs and numerous other ingredients to bake the pancakes.

The pancakes were donated to charities in collaboration with Rotary International and reached more than 25,000 needy people.

“This is undoubtedly one of the biggest successes we’ve seen at Rocking the Vaal,” says Marinda Human, marketing manager at Emerald Resort and Casino.

“To see how thousands of people come together, not only to be entertained, but to actively participate and make a difference, is incredibly special. This is what makes this festival truly unique and why it grows every year.”