Hermanus – Overstrand Executive Mayor Alderman Archie Klaas has directed that consequence management processes be initiated following the failure of the Milkwood Cultural Festival to take place as planned and in accordance with applicable municipal requirements and regulatory processes.

The 2025 Milkwood Cultural Festival in Zwelihle was canceled at the last minute after being scheduled for 3-5 October 2025. The event faced cancellation when setup crews were told the soccer field venue was double-booked.

Throughout the process, the municipality and the Executive Mayor sought to create opportunities for the organisers to proceed with the event.

Requirements Outstanding

The most recent event application for the Milkwood Cultural Festival, scheduled for 27 September 2026, was submitted on 18 September 2026. When the Municipal Event Committee considered the application on 23 September 2026, several requirements remained outstanding, including supporting compliance documentation and a site plan required to assess amplified sound arrangements and finalise the noise exemption process.

The Event Committee was also informed that the person named as organiser, had withdrawn from the application process and did not attend the committee meeting. As a result, there was no confirmed alternative organiser to address the outstanding requirements or accept responsibility for the event. The proposed venue was furthermore already booked for another sporting activity.

Consequently, the Event Committee determined that the application did not meet the Municipality’s event requirements and did not recommend approval. No provisional or final approval was issued for the event.

Letter of Demand

The Milkwood festival ultimately did not take place on 27 September 2026. Following this, a letter of demand was issued on Monday, 28 September 2026, for the repayment of the funds transferred in connection with the event.

In light of these developments, the Executive Mayor on 30 September 2026 issued a directive to the Acting Municipal Manager calling for:

• The Legal Department to initiate the necessary processes to determine the Municipality’s recourse and pursue recovery of the R250 000 CARE Fund contribution made towards the festival;
• The Municipal Public Accounts Committee (MPAC) to initiate an investigation into the matter, including whether the Municipality’s processes and conduct were above board; and
• A report on the matter to be tabled before Council at its October 2026 meeting.

Mayor Klaas said: “The Municipality provided the organisers with an opportunity to regularise the event application and proceed with the festival. However, the required compliance was not achieved and the event did not take place. We must now determine what recourse is available to the Municipality, including the possible recovery of funds, and ensure that the appropriate accountability processes are followed.”

The Executive Mayor confirmed the municipality is currently considering the legal remedies available to it following confirmation that the event did not proceed and that the organiser withdrew from the application process for the Milkwood Festival.

The Village News Report and AfriForum Raised Questions

On 25 September 2026 The Village News reported that The failed Milkwood Festival, received R250,000 in public funding from Overstrand Mayor Archie Klaas’s discretionary fund. This has raised ongoing questions about accountability as, a year later, the municipality has yet to provide clear answers on the money, while AfriForum and OCAN have called for investigations.

The Hermanus police confirmed that AfriForum Overstrand branch lodged a criminal complaint regarding the festival. The case was registered on 22 July.

“We considered the matter and consolidated the available information before the complaint was lodged. We are of the opinion that sufficient grounds exist to have the possibility of criminal offenses by the police investigated,” said Fanie Coetzee, chairperson of the AfriForum Overstrand branch.

Source and References

https://novanews.co.za/afriforum-overstrand-opens-criminal-case-over-missing-r250-000/

https://www.thevillagenews.co.za/opinion/still-not-showing-us-the-money/

Also read: October Celebrates Giants of Walker Bay

https://www.overstrand.gov.za/mayor-directs-further-action-after-milkwood-festival-fails-to-proceed/