Sport, Arts and Culture hosts 2026 National Heritage Day celebration at Oudtshoorn, 24 Sept

The 2026 National Heritage Day celebration will take place in Oudtshoorn, Western Cape, on Thursday, 24 September 2026, the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, has announced.

The national celebration was originally planned for KwaZulu-Natal, where it would have been held together with uMkhosi weLembe. uMkhosi weLembe is the Zulu nation’s annual commemoration of King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, founder of the Zulu nation, who died on 24 September 1828.

After discussions with His Majesty King Misuzulu kaZwelithini and the KwaZulu-Natal MEC for Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Mntomuhle Khawula, the Ministry concluded that uMkhosi weLembe should have its own day. It is one of the most significant cultural occasions in our country, and a national programme on the same day and in the same place risked taking attention away from the Kingdom’s own plans and its celebration.

“uMkhosi weLembe belongs to the Zulu nation, and it deserves its own stage,” said Minister McKenzie. “We have no wish to take anything away from a commemoration that has been a source of pride for generations. We wish His Majesty and the Zulu Kingdom great blessings for their celebrations this Thursday.”

The Ministry thanks the Premier of KwaZulu-Natal, Mr Thamsanqa Ntuli, the provincial government and MEC Khawula for their dedication and commitment in preparing for the event prior to its relocation.

The Department then explored hosting the national celebration in George. Regrettably, George Municipality and the Western Cape Government were unable and unwilling to make the accommodations needed to host the event at short notice.

Oudtshoorn Local Municipality then accepted the invitation at even shorter notice and committed itself fully to the event’s success. Oudtshoorn hosted the national celebration in 2025 and brings that experience to this year’s event. The Department is working with the municipality and the South African Police Service to ensure that all safety and statutory requirements for an event of this scale are met.

“Heritage Day is extremely important to the majority of South Africans, and the leaders of Oudtshoorn can certainly be counted among them this week,” said Minister McKenzie. “They were given less time than anyone has ever been given for an event of this stature, and they said yes without hesitation. I am confident that together we will deliver a highly memorable celebration of our living heritage, and we have been humbled and inspired by the servant leadership of the administration in Oudtshoorn, who saw only an opportunity to serve their country, not a reason to say no.”

The Minister added: “To the community of George, we can only apologise, as we know many people were looking forward to welcoming their national leaders, especially the President. We also have sympathy with the local businesspeople who would have benefited from hosting a national day.

“George will still get its national day, however,” said Minister McKenzie. “We will bring one there, with the advance notice that both the municipal and provincial administrations have told us they require without exception.”

All South Africans are invited to celebrate Heritage Day in their own communities, and those in and around the Klein Karoo are welcome to join the national celebration in Oudtshoorn.

Event details

Date: Thursday, 24 September 2026
Venue: Bongolethu Sport Stadium, Oudtshoorn
Official programme: From 9am
Keynote address: His Excellency President Cyril Ramaphosa
Theme: “Celebrating Our Living Heritage: Strengthening the Ties That Bind Us”
Attendance: Entry free for up to 5 000 attendees

Enquiries:
Ms Stacey-Lee Khojane
Spokesperson: Office of the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture
E-mail: StaceyK@dsac.gov.za
Cell: 077 608 7579

Ms Zimasa Velaphi
Head of Communication and Marketing: Department of Sport, Arts and Culture
E-mail: ZimasaV@dsac.gov.za
Cell: 072 172 8925

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