The 2025 Buffalo Regatta has hit turbulent waters with the Eastern Cape Development Corporation (ECDC) having withdrawn its sponsorship, adding to the pressure of the unresolved lease dispute between the East London Boating Association and Transnet Ports Authority that continues to cast a shadow over the regatta’s future.
Scheduled to run for the 137th time in February, the Buffalo Regatta is the country’s oldest sporting event and brings millions into the city annually.
The ECDC has played an integral sponsorship role in the regatta since 2019, which has included providing sizeable event sponsorship funding, including availing financial support for youth development teams.
In a letter sent to the boating association, the ECDC said it hoped to resume sponsoring the event in 2026.
ECDC support for the Buffalo Regatta over the past three years has been:
- 2024 — R150,000
- 2023 — R200,000
- 2022 — R200,000
ECDC spokesperson Lunga Mtshizana said: “The Buffalo Regatta is not simply an event; it brings good media coverage for the city and surrounds, generates tourism revenue and has created a platform for previously disadvantaged youth to access a sport and use it to uplift their lives.
“We have had a long-standing partnership with the regatta, and we intend to continue doing so but due to fiscal constraints out of the ECDC’s control, the ECDC is not able to contribute towards the event for this financial year as it has in previous years.”
The GO! & Express, the Dispatch’s sister publication, was unable to get comment from the boating association on the impact that the loss of the sponsorship would have on the event, as well as on preparations for 2025’s event.
The lease dispute between the association and Transnet has been dragging on since May.
After court action, Transnet proposed a discounted rental of R17,000 per month at Buffalo River, but the association, a nonprofit body, said it was unfeasible.
Losing the lease would jeopardise rowing development at Walter Sisulu and Fort Hare universities, which lack resources to relocate to alternative facilities, while also forcing the city to give up the regatta.
Mtshizana said the ECDC had not engaged with the boating association or Transnet on the lease dispute but championed a solution to ensure the regatta would continue to be hosted at Buffalo River.
“Port infrastructure is an enabler for the growth of the city, province and country and the ECDC is willing to provide support where required to find a solution that ensures the event is able to go ahead while addressing port planning and schedules,” he said.
“In October, the DA’s Eastern Cape MPL, Leander Kruger, launched a bid to advocate for provincial intervention [to protect] the regatta, which calls for possibly exploring more private sector involvement through CSI or profit-sharing models.
Kruger said: “The Buffalo Regatta is crucial for regional tourism because it draws visitors that boost the local economy and contribute to job creation.
“It enhances the region’s profile, showcases East London’s natural beauty, promotes regional identity and pride and creates a vibrant tourism ecosystem that benefits everyone involved.”
The Eastern Cape Rowing Association’s Ryan Baisley emphasised the value of engaging local businesses to support rowing through sponsorships, advertising or partnerships to develop the venue for events alongside the rowing calendar.
He highlighted the potential for collaboration with businesses in hospitality, tourism, sporting goods, and fitness, which could benefit from increased visitors during regattas while fostering a stable environment for clubs, events, and community participation.
Baisley added that the East London rowing community envisioned two world-class facilities: the Buffalo River and the developing Nahoon Dam freshwater venue.
Concerns over the Buffalo River lease prompted the Selborne and Leander Rowing Clubs to move to Nahoon Dam, independent of the boating association’s current committee changes.
This dual-venue approach positions East London uniquely in SA, offering both river and freshwater courses for training and events, aligning with national standards for hosting major competitions such as SA schools’ and senior championships.
The rowing and boating associations and local clubs aim to collaborate with stakeholders to grow rowing regionally and nationally, making East London a premier destination for the sport.
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