KNYSNA NEWS - Oakhill School announced the cancellation of the 2026 Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festival last week, citing serious concerns over water safety at the Knysna Waterfront marina.
The decision, described by the school as deeply disappointing, affects all three scheduled tournaments in February - the U13 festival (5 to 7 February), U19 festival (12 to 14 February) and U15 festival (26 to 28 February).
Together, the three events form one of South Africa's most distinctive school water polo showcases and have become a major highlight on the national schools sporting calendar.
According to Oakhill School, independent laboratory testing has confirmed that water quality in the marina is currently not suitable for recreational use. The situation is further complicated by the ongoing drought and broader water crisis affecting the Knysna region.
Safety first
The school said that, given the unpredicta-bility of current conditions and its lack of control over environmental factors, it could not reasonably guarantee the safety of participants.
"Oakhill School, together with its partners and sponsors, has emphasised that the well-
being of children remains its foremost responsibility," the school said in a statement. Despite extensive engagement with stakeholders and investigations into alternative lagoon venues, no suitable location that meets the required safety and logistical standards could be identified.
Nationally recognised event
Now in its 15th year, the Oakhill Waterfront Chukka Festival has grown into a nationally recognised sporting and tourism event. Hosted at the Knysna Waterfront Quays, they are among only a few open-water school water polo tournaments in the country.
Across three weekends each February, the festivals attract more than 1 600 players from about 70 schools, with around 600 games played in floating arenas.
Originally developed by Oakhill School to promote water polo locally in the absence of nearby facilities, the festivals have evolved into high-energy, inclusive events that reflect the school's ethos of "The Joy of Learning".
Economic impact
Beyond sport, the tournaments deliver significant economic benefits to Knysna, drawing thousands of visitors who support accommodation providers, restaurants, retailers and tourism operators.
Oakhill School acknowledged the disap-pointment the cancellation would cause players, families, coaches, schools and local businesses.
Visitors who have already made travel arrangements have been encouraged, where possible, to retain or defer bookings in support of the town during challenging conditions.
Looking ahead, the school confirmed its commitment to working with government, non-profit organisations and business partners to address water quality and supply challenges in the region.
Its intention, the school said, is for the Waterfront Chukka Festival to return in 2027.
Regret
Meanwhile, the Democratic Alliance (DA) in Knysna has expressed regret over the cancellation, describing it as a significant loss for learners, families, local businesses and the broader community.
While commending Oakhill School for acting responsibly in the interests of public health and safety, the DA said the decision highlighted deeper governance challenges in the municipality.
The party noted that, in addition to the independent laboratory results relied upon by Oakhill School, it had also seen separate test results indicating that the marina water is currently safe for recreational use.
This, the DA said, points to a complex and uncertain operating environment rather than a single clear-cut failure.
However, the DA argued that ongoing water, sewage and waste management problems in Knysna have created sustained risk and uncertainty, which likely contributed to the cancellation. It warned that the loss of a major tourism event would have serious economic consequences for businesses reliant on peak-season visitors and jobs linked to tourism.
Knysna Municipality had not responded to requests for comment by the time of publication.
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