Executive Mayor of Mopani District Municipality, Councillor Pule Shayi, MEC’s Violet Mathye of Transport and Community Safety and Tshitereke Matibe of LEDET, Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba and Mayor of Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality, Councillor Miriam Malatji.
Moyahabo Mabeba
The 2026 edition of the Marula Festival has been postponed to next nest year due to the recent calamities that destroyed critical infrastructure on the northeastern parts of the province.
Significant routes leading to Phalaborwa have been severely impaired, with many homes affected by adverse weather conditions. The Limpopo Provincial Government has postponed all activities leading up to the main festival to next year.
The funds initially budgeted to support the festival and its activities will be redirected to support and provide permanent relief to all residents in Phalaborwa affected by the floods.
Addressing the media during a provincial task team, Premier Dr Phophi Ramathuba announced that the Limpopo Provincial Government commits to recover roads and restore electricity and water supplies. With 15 water treatment plants affected, short-term intervention measures have been put in place while bigger plans are yet to be implemented.
“We will continue to keep the public informed about the disaster response and rescheduled festival dates through official” she said.
The torrential downpours have ravaged the area, leaving the road network several damaged.
The annual festival, which is one of the iconic events in the province, has been unfortunately affected by the recent calamities. Phalaborwa, the intended host town, has faced significant challenges, with key routes leading into the area severely compromised.
Ramathuba noted that key routes such as the R40 near Maseke Game Reserve, the R71 between Gravelotte and Phalaborwa, the R36 between Ofcolaco and The Oaks, and the R527 in Hoedspruit have incurred extensive damage.
“This deterioration has limited access to essential services and disrupted the lives of local residents.
“Communities that are essential to the tourism sector have expressed deep concerns, as access issues between Phalaborwa, Hoedspruit, the Phalaborwa Gate of the Kruger National Park and the Blyde River Canyon corridor have resulted in cancellations and reduced visitor activity. The catastrophic damage witnessed at Kambaku Boat Safaris and Lodge for example, along with delays in readiness at venues such as Ba-Phalaborwa Golf and Spa Hotel, has placed immense pressure on this vital economic sector” said Ramathuba.
“Phalaborwa remains in a sensitive phase of relief and early recovery, where our immediate focus is on restoring dignity, safety, and essential services to residents. People of Phalaborwa have been without electricity for weeks, without water for weeks, and we recently had to lay to rest two young lives who perished because of the floods. Phalaborwa is still a place of pain
As a result, we have made the difficult yet necessary decision to postpone the build-up activities for the Marula Festival, including the main open-air music festival. We have decided to take all the resources and funds that were aimed at supporting this festival and should be re-directed towards rebuilding Ba-Phalaborwa Municipality. This will be in addition to other funds that we anticipate from the National Disaster Management Center” she said.
Ramathuba’s went on to say, “The decision acknowledges the festival’s substantial economic impact on the local community; however, it ultimately prioritises the humanitarian needs of our residents over commercial interests. By allowing the community the necessary time to heal and recover, we aim to ensure that when the Marula Festival returns next year, it will do so in a safe and stable environment that the town of Phalaborwa can be proud to welcome guests into, rather than amid adversity.”
“We extend our sincere appreciation to Executive Mayor Councillor Pule Shayi, Ba-Phalaborwa Mayor Cllr Meriam Malatji, traditional leaders, organisers, sponsors, artists, vendors, and community members for their understanding and cooperation during this challenging time. “We will continue to keep the public informed about the disaster response and rescheduled festival dates through official channels.
I urge members of the public to remain vigilant, adhere to official directives, and cooperate with disaster management teams” she said.