Despite all irregularities being rectified, the Macufe festival in the Free State remains suspended.
This was confirmed by the Free State MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Ntombizanele Sifuba, during her speech on the budget for the 2024/25 financial year at the Fourth Council Hall in Bloemfontein on Tuesday (20/8).
Sifuba’s announcement follows a protracted legal battle in which the Free State High Court ruled in April that the tender awarded to events management company C-Squared was lawful and free from irregularities.
Free State MEC for Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Ntombizanele Sifuba, delivers her speech on the budget vote. Photo: Kekeletso Mosebetsi
The ruling, which overturned an earlier decision by Judge Phillip Loubser that the tender process violated Article 217 of the Constitution because it was neither fair, equitable nor competitive, would pave the way for the festival’s revival.
Despite the legal green light, Sifuba confirmed that Macufe will not take place this year, noting that the festival is “being repositioned, reimagined and restructured” to ensure it returns stronger and more impactful than before.
‘Any use of the festival’s name without government permission is illegal’
Sifuba also debunked rumours that the provincial government was collaborating with private entities to organise Macufe, warning that any use of the festival’s name without government approval is illegal.
“We understand what Macufe means to the people of the Free State, but let me make it clear: the department is not involved in any activities that currently use the Macufe name. The festival is government property and we are determined to bring it back in a form that truly reflects its cultural significance,” Sifuba said.
Sifuba also reflected on the conflicting public sentiment surrounding Macufe. “In the past, the ANC was criticised for supposedly wasting money on Macufe, but today the same critics are demanding his return.”
Macufe’s suspension, combined with the loss of key provincial football clubs such as Bloemfontein Celtics and Free State Stars, has left many Free State residents frustrated. Both the festival and the football clubs were seen as vital to the province’s economy, providing jobs and promoting tourism.
Opposition parties including the DA and EFF have stressed the importance of reviving Macufe. DA MPL Werner Pretorius stressed the role of the festival in boosting the local economy and providing a platform for local artists. He also called on government to explore ways to restore both Macufe and Bloemfontein Celtics as valuable provincial brands.
EFF provincial president Mapheule Liphoko criticised the government for abandoning workers who were suspended during the investigation into the festival, even after the Supreme Court ruling.
Meanwhile, Free State Member of Parliament for Social Development Mathabo Leeto also weighed in on the budget debate, assuring critics that Macufe is not gone for good.
“The ANC government will be the one to revive Macufe. We are not going to let it go. We are going to look at it again to see how we can make it better than before. Macufe is not dead,” Leeto said.
Former Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana, who now chairs the legislature, had previously vowed to restore Macufe to its former glory, recognising the important role the town plays in fostering community cohesion, promoting tourism and providing a platform for local talent.
However, now that the festival has been postponed for a year, the future of Macufe remains uncertain, leaving residents and local artists in limbo.
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