13/12/2025
Mahika Mahikeng 2025 Descends Into Chaos After Safety Failures And Poor Organisation
What was meant to be a proud celebration of culture and music is quickly turning into a public embarrassment. This year’s Mahika Mahikeng is already facing serious criticism after a chaotic first day that exposed deep problems in organisation, safety, and leadership. For many people on the ground, it now feels like this might be the worst organised Mahika Mahikeng ever.
The event is being handled by a new company this year, and from day one, the cracks were impossible to ignore. Poor coordination, confusion around access, and a lack of clear communication left both attendees and stakeholders frustrated. But the most worrying part is not just inconvenience, it is safety.
A leaked internal statement revealed that SAPS officially withdrew its participation inside the stadium due to unresolved issues with the organisers. Police were instructed to only conduct general policing outside the venue to prevent robberies, rapes, and theft. Let that sink in. An event of this size continued without full police presence inside the stadium because organisers failed to get their house in order.
It gets worse. No VOC meeting was convened because organisers and the safety officer failed to properly communicate and comply. Emergency Medical Services and Fire were placed on standby, not as part of a smooth plan, but because things were clearly not in order. Even more alarming, no compliance certificate was issued by Disaster Management due to incomplete documentation. This means the event effectively went ahead without full safety clearance. That is not just irresponsible, it is dangerous.
Despite all this, the event was allowed to proceed, leaving ordinary people exposed while organisers remained silent. As Revv Network TV, we tried repeatedly to get clarity from the media team before the event and even during day one. Calls went unanswered. Messages were ignored. Emails received no response. For an event that relies heavily on media coverage and public trust, this silence is unacceptable.
Mahika Mahikeng has always been more than just a festival. It is a symbol of pride for the North West. Seeing it handled this way is disappointing and honestly insulting to the community it claims to serve. When safety structures collapse, communication breaks down, and accountability disappears, the question must be asked: who is really protecting the people?
If this is how day one looks, the rest of the event is hanging by a thread. The organisers owe the public answers, not excuses. Until then, this year’s Mahika Mahikeng will be remembered not for the music or culture, but for chaos, silence, and failure at the top.
