Unlike previous years, this year’s Makhado municipal show, according to the residents, was a complete disaster.

The municipality held its annual show at the Louis Trichardt Show Grounds from Thursday, October 29 to Saturday, October 31. The show was postponed several times before it was eventually held. It is not clear, however, what really caused the postponement.

Children, who forked out their money at the gate, hoping that they were going to enjoy themselves on the famous funfair, were disappointed to find that none of the usual rides and treats had arrived. Other people who attended the show were also disappointed as nothing was happening inside the premises. However, the children were not given their money back.

Of all the usual activities that normally take place at the show, very few actually materialised.

The mayor of the Makhado Municipality, Cllr Mavhungu Luruli, who was supposed to have opened the show officially, did not perform this duty, ostensibly because the show was not well organised.

Limpopo Mirror interviewed some of the people who attended the so-called “disaster show”. One of the people who were disappointed about the show was Mr Khathutshelo Mukwevho of Makhado Park in Louis Trichardt, who said that the show had failed, compared to previous years. “Well, the timing was very bad. It is exam time and you can’t expect parents to allow their children to attend the show during exams,” he said. He said he was surprised when he arrived at the gate where only three cars were parked outside, which really showed that the attendance was very poor.

Some of the invited artists who were supposed to have entertained people in the arena did not perform as a result of the poor turnout.

When contacted for comment, the spokesman for the Makhado Municipality, Mr Louis Bobodi, said that postponements of the annual show might have impacted negatively on the arrangements and turnout. Asked why the show was postponed so many times before it was staged, Bobodi said that “because of logistical problems we had to postpone the show.”

He said the fact that it is exam time also impacted negatively on the turnout.

“However, I assure members of the Makhado community that things will be back to normal next year. The show will be organized on time. Inputs on how the municipality should improve in terms of the arrangement of the show are also welcomed,” said Bobodi.