Stern warning to all organisers of events and gatherings

In a media release of the Oudtshoorn Municipality, issued on Tuesday 17 June, the Executive Mayor of Oudtshoorn, Alderman Johan Allers, issued a firm warning to individuals and organisations planning special events within the municipal jurisdiction.

In the statement it is made clear that all events must be declared to the municipality beforehand so that legal and safety requirements can be put in place. “This is not negotiable – all special events must be formally approved before they take place,” he stressed.

“Any gathering outside of the norm, a concert, a conference, or a cultural exhibition – if it involves people gathering for a specific purpose, it’s considered an event and must be declared.”

Allers made this clear during the Events Committee meeting held on Thursday, 12 June 2025, which he chairs. He explained that the term “event” includes a broad range of activities such as entertainment, recreation, education, cultural and religious gatherings, business-related functions, charitable drives, exhibitions, conferences, and organised activities, as defined in relevant municipal regulations.

The requirement is set out in the Greater Oudtshoorn Municipality’s Policy on Public Gatherings and Special Events, based on the Municipal Systems Act, 2000 (Act 32 of 2000) and local by-laws.

The mayor warned that muni-cipal law enforcement officers are authorised to immediately shut down any unauthorised event.

“There’s no minimum number of people that qualifies something as an event. If it’s outside the ordinary and it involves public activity, it must be reported. This is about safety, accountability, and compliance,” he concluded.

Responding to a query on this matter Allers said to Die Hoorn, that these measures are not being enforced to make things difficult for the organisers of events but to ensure that all legal requirements are met and organisers as well as participants are covered should something happen.

He emphasised that there is a tremendous responsibility on anyone organising an event or public gathering and that is the duty of the municipality to ensure the safety of everyone involved.