REFILWE MEKOA
The Free State Department of Sports, Arts and Culture says this year’s Mangaung Cultural Festival’s budget was R46 million.
According to the department’s Head Of Department, Tshoarelo Malakoane, over the years, the department has never tried to hide Macufe’s budget. Malakoane was answering questions from the Free State Legislature’s Economic Development portfolio committee meeting in Bloemfontein on Tuesday.
He described the cultural event to the committee as a “multidimensional octopus”. Malakoane further explained that Macufe needed an integrated scientific analysis before the department can release details that the province was economically benefiting from the event.
The department denied declaring the full budget of Macufe prior to the event, in October this year.
