HERMANUS – Afriforum has lodged a criminal complaint with the South African Police Service over the R250 000 paid by the Overstrand Municipality towards the cancelled 2025 Milkwood Cultural Festival.
Fanie Coetzee, chairman of Afriforum’s Overstrand branch, confirmed to Whale Coast Report on Tuesday that the complaint was lodged at the Hermanus Police Station on 22 July 2026. The matter has been registered under CAS 380/7/2026.
“The fact is that R250 000 was given by the Municipality towards the festival and then nothing happened. It clearly points to a waste of taxpayers’ money,” Coetzee said.
The complaint relates to the 2025 Milkwood Cultural Festival, which was scheduled to take place in Zwelihle from 3 to 5 October last year. The Overstrand Municipality approved a R250 000 grant from the Mayor’s Special Fund for the event, with the money paid to the Phawulethu NPO on 18 September. However, the festival never took place after what the municipality said was a double booking of the venue.
The cancellation raised questions about the fate of the R250 000 in public funds after the festival failed to take place. Phawulethu has previously denied any involvement in organising or administering the festival, saying it was not responsible for procurement, payment approvals or the postponement of the event. The organisation has also said it supports a transparent process to establish the facts.
At the time, Mayor Archie Klaas said the festival had been cancelled because of a double booking of the venue and indicated that the municipality’s booking system needed to be improved.
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