Oudtshoorn is ready for Ramaphosa!

OUDTSHOORN NEWS - Oudtshoorn will host the national Heritage Day celebration today, Thursday 24 September, after the event was moved from KwaZulu-Natal to the Western Cape at short notice.

The Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, announced the change on Tuesday evening.

The national celebration was initially planned for KwaZulu-Natal, where it was to coincide with uMkhosi weLembe, the Zulu nation's annual commemoration of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, founder of the Zulu nation, who died on 24 September 1828.

According to a statement from McKenzie's office, discussions were held with King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sports, Arts and Culture, Mntomuhle Khawula, and it was decided that uMkhosi weLembe should be held separately.

The department then explored hosting the national celebration in George. McKenzie said George Municipality and the Western Cape Government were "unable and unwilling" to make the arrangements required at short notice. "Oudtshoorn Municipality then accepted the invitation at even shorter notice and committed itself fully to the event's success," he said.

Oudtshoorn had also hosted the national Heritage Day celebration in 2025.

Oudtshoorn Mayor Jan van der Ross said Oudtshoorn was "extremely excited and deeply honoured" to welcome President Cyril Ramaphosa, national leaders and visitors from across the country.

Despite the short notice, the municipality had stepped forward to host the event and was proud of the opportunity to showcase the hospitality, diversity and rich heritage of the Little Karoo.

"Ons is gereed, en ons ontvang almal met ope arms," he said.

Western Cape raises concerns

The decision to move the event has prompted concerns from the Western Cape Government and George Municipality about the short notice and the process followed.

According to Regan Thaw, spokesperson for Western Cape Premier Alan Winde, the province had received correspondence from McKenzie on Saturday 19 September, informing it that the national celebration would be moved from KwaZulu-Natal to the Western Cape.

Thaw said the Western Cape welcomed major events, but questioned what he described as the "last-minute and seemingly chaotic way" in which the event was relocated.

"Welcoming an event does not mean we should remain silent when established principles of good governance, planning and intergovernmental co-ordination appear not to have been followed."

Thaw said George Municipality was placed in a difficult position, with national officials arriving at short notice to make arrangements for an event that had not been included in the municipality's programme. "Venues, municipal services, security, infrastructure and personnel are planned well in advance," he said.

George's Mayor Browen Johnson said the municipality supported cultural, sporting, heritage and community events, but stressed that major events require proper planning, consultation and co-ordination between the different spheres of government.

"Our concern is therefore not about hosting Heritage Day. Our concern is about the process that brought us here," Johnson said.

The Western Cape Government also raised questions about the potential financial implications of relocating the event.

Thaw said taxpayers should be informed about any commitments already made towards the preparations in KwaZulu-Natal, whether the relocation would result in duplicated costs and who would be responsible for any additional expenses.

The province had already planned its own Heritage Month and Heritage Day activities, he said.

Oudtshoorn ready

McKenzie said his department had worked with Oudtshoorn Municipality and the South African Police Service to ensure that the necessary safety and statutory requirements for the event were met.

He praised the municipality for accepting the event at extremely short notice. "They were given less time than anyone has ever been given for an event of this stature, and they said yes without hesitation," he said.

McKenzie also apologised to the George community, acknowledging that its residents and businesses had been looking forward to hosting the national event. "We can only apologise, as we know many people were looking forward to welcoming their national leaders, especially the president," he said.

McKenzie said George would still have an opportunity to host a national event, with sufficient advance notice for municipal and provincial authorities to prepare.

He encouraged South Africans to celebrate Heritage Day in their own communities and invited residents from Oudtshoorn and the broader Little Karoo to attend the national celebration.

Event details