“I can’t imagine myself dancing and smiling on stage, pretending that everything is okay, while deep down I know that people’s houses and roads are badly damaged in my own province.”
These were the words of Limpopo Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba as she officially announced the indefinite postponement of the 2026 Marula Festival, which had been scheduled to take place on March 7 at Impala Stadium in Phalaborwa, Mopani District.
Ramathuba said the decision was taken after the provincial government assessed the devastating impact of recent floods, which left many families homeless and caused extensive damage to roads and infrastructure across several districts, including Vhembe and Mopani.
Addressing the media at a briefing held in Polokwane on Wednesday, the Premier said the circumstances made it impossible for the province to proceed with a celebratory event while communities were in distress.
“We can’t be celebrating a music festival while people are in serious need of help after being badly affected by the floods,” Ramathuba said. “For this reason, we have taken a decision to cancel the festival and redirect the funds allocated for it towards road reconstruction, infrastructure rehabilitation and the restoration of essential services to support community recovery.”
The Marula Festival is one of Limpopo’s flagship cultural and tourism events, attracting thousands of visitors annually. However, Ramathuba stressed that the wellbeing of affected communities must take precedence over festivities.
She added that government efforts are now firmly focused on relief, rebuilding and restoring dignity to families whose lives were disrupted by the floods.
