Despite being cleared of all irregularities, the Macufe Festival in the Free State remains suspended.

This was confirmed by the Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, Ntombizanele Sifuba, during her budget vote speech for the 2024/25 financial year in the Fourth Raadsaal in Bloemfontein on Tuesday (20/8). 

Sifuba’s announcement comes after a protracted legal battle that saw the Free State High Court rule in April that the tender awarded to the event management company C-Squared was lawful and free of irregularities.

Free State MEC for Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation, Ntombizanele Sifuba, delivering her budget vote speech. Picture: Kekeletso Mosebetsi

This ruling, which overturned a previous decision by Judge Phillip Loubser that the tender process had violated Section 217 of the Constitution by being neither fair, equitable, nor competitive, was expected to pave the way for the festival’s revival.

However, despite the legal green light, Sifuba confirmed that Macufe will not be held this year. She noted that the festival is being “repositioned, reimaged, and restructured” to ensure it returns stronger and more impactful than before. 

‘Any use of the festival’s name without government authorisation is illegal’

Sifuba also dispelled rumours that the provincial government was collaborating with private entities to host Macufe, warning that any use of the festival’s name without government authorisation is illegal.

“We understand what Macufe means to the people of the Free State, but let me clarify: The department is not involved in any activities currently using the Macufe name. The festival is the property of the government, and we are committed to bringing it back in a form that truly reflects its cultural significance,” Sifuba stated.

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 its return.”

The suspension of Macufe, combined with the loss of key provincial soccer clubs such as Bloemfontein Celtics and Free State Stars, has left many Free State residents frustrated. Both the festival and the soccer clubs were seen as crucial to the province’s economy, providing jobs and promoting tourism.

Opposition parties, including the DA and the EFF, have emphasised the importance of reviving Macufe. DA MPL Werner Pretorius highlighted the festival’s role in boosting the local economy and providing a platform for local artists. He also called on the government to explore ways to restore both Macufe and Bloemfontein Celtics as valuable provincial trademarks. 

EFF provincial chairperson, Mapheule Liphoko, criticised the government for abandoning employees who were suspended during the investigations into the festival, even after the high court ruling.

Meanwhile, Free State Social Development MEC Mathabo Leeto also weighed in during the budget debate, reassuring critics that Macufe is not gone for good.

“The ANC government will be the one to resuscitate Macufe. We are not letting it go. We are revisiting it to see how we can make it better than before. Macufe is not dead,” Leeto said.

Former Free State Premier Mxolisi Dukwana, now the Speaker of the Legislature, had previously pledged to restore Macufe to its former glory, recognising its vital role in fostering community cohesion, promoting tourism, and providing a platform for local talent. 

However, with the festival’s suspension now extended for another year, the future of Macufe remains uncertain, leaving residents and local artists alike in limbo.

OFM News/Kekeletso Mosebetsi cg