OFFICIAL MEDIA STATEMENT | Ngwathe Easter Experience 2026 – Official Programme Announcement

Issued by: Edgar Legoale Foundation
Date: 10 March 2026

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INTRODUCTION

The Edgar Legoale Foundation is proud to officially announce the full rollout of the Ngwathe Easter Experience 2026, a comprehensive and multi-faceted Easter development programme that will take place from 21 March to 05 April 2026 in Tumahole and Parys in the Free State.

The Ngwathe Easter Experience is far more than a music festival. It is a structured, community-driven and development-focused initiative designed to integrate education, youth development, sport, tourism, arts and culture, SMME empowerment and family-centred social cohesion into one coordinated programme.

As outlined in the Ngwathe Easter Experience Master Sponsorship and Partnership Proposal, the 2026 edition has evolved into a fully integrated Easter activation aimed at delivering measurable socio-economic impact within Ngwathe Local Municipality and the broader Fezile Dabi District.

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A PROGRAMME WITH PURPOSE

The Ngwathe Easter Experience was established in 2023 by the Edgar Legoale Foundation in response to a number of pressing socio-economic challenges within the community, including:
• Limited structured Easter-period activities for young people
• High levels of youth unemployment and disengagement
• Lack of platforms that connect entertainment with development outcomes
• Limited exposure and opportunities for local artists and township entrepreneurs
• Under-utilisation of public infrastructure and community facilities

For the 2026 edition, the programme has been deliberately redesigned to align with national, provincial and municipal development frameworks, while ensuring practical impact over a focused two-week Easter programme.

The Foundation is pleased to welcome Ngwathe Local Municipality, Central News and Metsimaholo FM as key partners and sponsors of the Ngwathe Easter Experience 2026. Their support plays an important role in bringing this integrated development programme to life.

Additional sponsors and partners will be announced in due course as partnership agreements are finalised. The Foundation continues to invite corporate organisations, government institutions and development partners to come on board and contribute to this growing legacy initiative.

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FULL PROGRAMME CALENDAR

The Ngwathe Easter Experience 2026 will consist of the following interconnected events:

1. Hiking and Outdoor Tourism Experience

📅 21 March 2026
📍 Parys (venue to be announced)

This event promotes wellness, outdoor recreation and domestic tourism activation in the region.

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2. Tumahole High Schools Games

📅 28 March 2026
📍 Tumahole

The High Schools Games will provide structured sporting competition for learners, encouraging discipline, teamwork and talent identification within local schools.

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3. Career Exhibition and Subject Choice Expo

📅 02 April 2026
📍 Tumahole

The Expo will target more than 1 000 learners from Grades 10 to 12, providing career guidance, tertiary education exposure, bursary opportunities and subject alignment support.

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4. Ngwathe SMME Expo

📅 03 April 2026
📍 Tumahole

The SMME Expo will create market access opportunities for local entrepreneurs, informal traders, youth-owned enterprises and small businesses, allowing them to showcase their products and services to a large audience.

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5. Ngwathe Easter Experience Main Music Festival

📅 Saturday, 04 April 2026
📍 Fezile Dabi Stadium – Tumahole, Parys
⏰ Gates open at 10:00 until late

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6. Tumahole Kiddies Corner and Family Day

📅 05 April 2026
📍 Tumahole

This event ensures that the Easter programme remains inclusive and family-orientated, providing safe and engaging activities for children and families.

Official venue confirmations and detailed posters for all programme activities will be released during the week.

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NGWATHE EASTER EXPERIENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL 2026

The flagship music festival will feature a powerful line-up of national, regional and local artists including:

DJ Maphorisa, Cassper Nyovest, Boohle, Brandon Dhludhlu, Selimo Thabane, Tman Xpress, Aymos, Ba2Cada, Lawkiid, DJ Young, Afrotraction, Citizen Sthee, Just Sam, Masedi, Mshepepe Wase Vaal, Fantas The DJ, Zulu Tariana, Katleho Seobi, Teboho Moloi, Happy K, Bino Boy, Scova, 18 Hours Gang, Randy Da DJ, Piano Kinz and many more.

The festival is designed as a multi-genre, family-friendly Easter celebration that integrates music, township lifestyle, entrepreneurship and cultural pride.

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TICKETING INFORMATION

🎟 Tickets are available online at:
https://computicket-boxoffice.com/e/ngwathe-easter-experience-HMYkxt

Tickets are also available nationwide at Shoprite and Checkers stores.

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TICKET CATEGORIES

General Access

Early Bird – R100
Phase 1 – R150
Phase 2 – R200
Phase 3 – R250
Gate – R300

✔ Seating in stadium stands
❌ No camping chairs allowed

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Golden Circle

Early Bird – R200
Phase 1 – R250
Phase 2 – R300
Phase 3 – R350
Gate – R400

✔ Access to stadium field
✔ Bring your own camping chair

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VIP

Early Bird – R400
Standard – R550
Gate – R800

✔ Access to VIP, Golden Circle and General areas
✔ Photo opportunities
✔ VIP parking

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VVIP TABLE PACKAGES

Package 1 – R3 000
• Table for 4 guests
• Lounge seating
• Food included
• Cash bar
• Dedicated waitress
• Secured parking

Package 2 – R6 000
• Table for 8 guests
• Lounge seating
• Food included
• Cash bar
• Dedicated waitress
• Secured parking
• Two Hubblys included

⚠ Cooler boxes are not permitted in the VVIP area
⏳ Table bookings close 27 March 2026

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SMME STALL OPPORTUNITIES

SMMEs, food vendors, traders and exhibitors are invited to participate in the event.

Stall Fee: R1 000

Benefits include:
• Prime location within the event
• High customer foot traffic
• Strong brand visibility

The stall programme forms part of the Foundation’s commitment to township economy activation and youth entrepreneurship development.

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EVENT POLICIES

Cooler Box Policy
• Maximum size: 25 litres
• Cans only (no glass bottles)
• Cooler permit: R100 online / R150 at gate

Cooler boxes are not permitted in the VVIP area.

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Hubbly Policy
• Hubblys will be provided within VIP and VVIP areas via the official hubbly bar.
• Guests may not bring their own hubblys into VIP or VVIP sections.
• Hubblys are only permitted in designated smoking areas.
• Hubblys are not permitted on stadium stands.

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ESTIMATED ECONOMIC IMPACT

Projected impact indicators include:
• 5 000 – 8 000 attendees expected
• 40% – 50% visitors from outside Ngwathe
• Estimated local economic injection of R4 million – R10 million

This will directly benefit:
• Local accommodation establishments
• Transport operators
• Informal traders
• Security providers
• Artists and technical crews
• Tourism operators

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GOVERNANCE AND SAFETY

The Ngwathe Easter Experience 2026 will operate under strict governance and compliance measures, including:
• Municipal approvals
• SAPS coordination
• Professional security deployment
• Emergency medical services
• Public liability insurance
• Structured financial oversight
• Post-event monitoring and evaluation

Transparency, accountability and compliance remain non-negotiable principles of the Edgar Legoale Foundation.

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MESSAGE FROM THE FOUNDATION

The Chairperson of the Edgar Legoale Foundation stated:

“The Ngwathe Easter Experience 2026 is not simply an event; it is a catalyst for community development, youth empowerment and economic growth. Since its inception in 2023, the programme has grown into a platform that integrates education, sport, tourism, arts and entrepreneurship. Our goal is to create opportunities, strengthen social cohesion and position Parys and Tumahole as a leading Easter destination in the Free State. With an expected economic impact of between R4 million and R10 million, we are proud to be building a platform that empowers SMMEs, promotes tourism and creates opportunities for young people.”

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HOW TO GET TO PARYS

Festival Venue:
📍 Fezile Dabi Stadium – Tumahole, Parys

Approximate distances:

Johannesburg – 120 km
Pretoria – 150 km
Vanderbijlpark / Vaal – 50 km
Sasolburg – 45 km
Potchefstroom – 55 km

Parys is one of the Free State’s most scenic tourism towns, located along the Vaal River and near the Vredefort Dome World Heritage Site.

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ENQUIRIES

Email:
info@ngwatheexperience.co.za

Website:
www.ngwatheexperience.co.za

Social Media:
@ngwatheexp

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Issued by
Edgar Legoale Foundation
32 Buiten Street
Parys, Free State

“Building community. Empowering youth. Growing the township economy.”

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NgwatheEasterExperience

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Tumahole

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