Siphelele Nketo
LAST weekend Ntabankulu was alive with horse-racing events and beautiful fashion.
The Ntabankulu Traditional Horse Racing and Fashion Show 2026 also celebrated culture as it created economic opportunities and supported local businesses.
Hosted from November 6-7 under the theme ‘Butterfly Bliss’, the event brought together communities, traditional horse racing enthusiasts, fashion lovers, artists, entrepreneurs, sponsors and visitors in a celebration of Ntabankulu’s rich cultural heritage. It attracted an impressive turnout with over 250 horses, demonstrating the growing popularity and significance of traditional horse racing in the region.
“The strong participation also highlighted the importance of preserving indigenous sporting traditions while creating opportunities for economic activity and community participation,” said Mandisile Vakalisa, the Ntabankulu Local Municipality senior manager for development planning. Among the event highlights was Aphiwe Fundzo for winning the 2026 Fashion Show, taking home R20 000.
Vakalisa thanked the sponsors, saying that their support demonstrated the importance of partnerships between local government and the private sector in driving community development, promoting social cohesion and creating economic opportunities.
Vakalisa further said that the success of this year’s event reinforces the municipality’s commitment to ensuring that community activations like this deliver value beyond the event itself.
