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.
‘We bring you the latest Garden Route, Hessequa, Karoo news’
