The Free State High Court in Bloemfontein has ruled in favour of the Free State Department of Sports, Arts and Culture (DSACR) pertaining to the Mangaung African Culture Festival (MACUFE) tender contract.
In a statement released by the department it has been confirmed that the High Court has agreed with the requests as set out in the appeal of the DSACR pointing out that there was no unlawful conduct and irregularity on the part of the Department in awarding the MACUFE tender.
This ruling will now set aside the initial ruling by the court of first instance which on 3 October 2022, issued an order that the MACUFE tender as awarded by the DSACR was unlawful.
“The Department had always asserted, the court of first instance did not consider the full records related to the awarding of the tender by the Department,” mentioned the statement.
The statement concluded that this ruling by the high court will finally put the public speculations and suppositions regarding the future of Macufe to rest.
“The Department will in due course make pronouncements regarding the staging of this festival in line with Premier Mxolisi Dukwana’s 2023 State of the Province injunction about the need to reimagine this brand.”
Compiled by Abigail Visagie
