Festival fever meets residents' fears

KIMBERLEY’S beloved Diamonds and Dorings Festival will go ahead this year, but not in its usual setting at Langleg Resort. Due to rising water levels caused by increased outflow from the Vaal and Bloemhof dams, the Langleg area has become water-logged and unsuitable for hosting a large-scale event. Organisers, in collaboration with the Sol Plaatje Municipality, acted swiftly and selected the Kimberley Diamond Oval as the new venue.

- DANIE VAN DER LITH

While the move has ensured the festival's survival for 2025, it hasn’t come without its share of controversy. Local residents living near the Oval in Cassandra have voiced concerns about the potential disruptions the festival may bring right to their doorsteps.

RESIDENTS VOICE THEIR CONCERNS

When the DFA visited the area this week, it became clear that while some residents are willing to tolerate the event, others are bracing themselves for what they fear could be a night of chaos.

"Every time there’s a big event at the Oval, we suffer," one frustrated resident told the DFA. "People just park in front of our driveways. Imagine we have an emergency and need to leave quickly — what then?"

Another resident raised issues around the volume and duration of the music. “We have elderly people and babies here. The music goes on past the allowed time. It affects everyone. There needs to be respect for the people who live here,” she said.

However, not all residents are upset. “It’s just one day,” said one woman with a more relaxed outlook. “As long as they clean up after themselves and don’t damage property, let them enjoy. We can’t stop people from having fun.”

SOL PLAATJE MUNICIPALITY RESPONDS

To address these concerns, the DFA contacted the Sol Plaatje Municipality, which provided detailed responses through Thabo Mothibi, manager of the Communications Unit for Corporate Services.

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