FOLLOWING the recent spread of foot and mouth disease through inland areas of KwaZulu-Natal, organisers of the N3TC Drak Challenge have taken the difficult decision to cancel the race for 2026.

The popular two-day canoeing race on the uMzimkhulu was set to take place on January 31 to February 1, 2026.

In a statement the organisers said the recent spread of foot and mouth disease poses a significant risk to many of the farmers in the district and that three events over that weekend would be cancelled, N3TC Drak Challenge, Eurosteel Drak Descent and the Eurosteel Run the Rivers events.

“Each of these events relies on access to private, commercial farmland. The events recognise and respect the need for farmers to implement biosecurity measures on each of their respective farms to protect their livestock accordingly. It is important to note that only farm-based activities are affected by these decisions and that the Southern Drakensberg is fully open to visitors and tourists accordingly,” the statement read.

The organisers said the events will return in January 2027.

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