Pacofs says the Office of the Auditor-General, Tsakani Maluleke, awarded them an unqualified audit opinion in October 2021, and this opinion will be publicised on Wednesday when Maluleke briefs the media on the audit outcomes of the national and provincial government departments, as well as their entities. OFM News’ Olebogeng Motse reports on the ways Pacofs tried to generate income during the pandemic.

In their Annual Report, Pacofs Acting Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Sharon Snell, says despite the online initiatives and productions that were created during hard lockdown in 2020 and the earlier part of 2021, the centre - which falls under the National Department of Sports, Arts and Culture - still did not break even. “Pacofs successfully staged and video streamed 45 productions. Three skills workshops were conducted to develop performing arts practitioners. Support to local artists was prioritised with 95 % of the productions that were presented, done by artists from the Free State,” says Snell in her report. Pacofs is also looking into reorganising its workforce to address certain skill gaps.

There is no mention, however, of the sit-in that was staged at Pacofs by artists in the province, who remain aggrieved to this day. The Free State coordinator of the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa (Ccifsa), Mbuyiselo Nqodi, previously told OFM News that it is still more of the same since Snell was appointed as Pacofs’ acting CEO in April 2021. Her controversial predecessor, Meshack Xaba, was removed from the top post but retained in the artistic director position following mounting pressure from Ccifsa. Nqodi tells OFM News’ that they are awaiting a report on the allegations levelled against Xaba that will reveal whether he will be completely sacked from the institution or not. The issue in this regard remains up in the air.

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