A cold war is brewing at the Polokwane High Court over a lucrative R25-million tender to host the popular Marula Festival, which is set to take place in Phalaborwa in seven days.
Music organiser MT World has dragged the Limpopo economic development, environment and tourism department to the high court after being awarded the lucrative tender but later finding out that another company was also appointed.
According to the tender bulletin, which was released on April 19, Chulumanco Lilitha was awarded the tender of R25-million.
This is R2-million less than the R27-million that the same department had previously awarded MT World the tender.
Sunday World is aware that the owners of MT World have filed an urgent court application.
A source close to the case, who asked not to be named, said the company needs the court’s urgent intervention to stop the activities that have started happening in anticipation of the actual festival, which is scheduled for May 4.
Pleas for out-of-court settlement
“MT World just wants to know how possible it is to be awarded and have documents to this effect but later be told that someone else has been awarded the same gig,” the source said.
“They just want to know how they went wrong and how it is possible that they could just be sidelined like that even after following all the proper procedures.”
The deep throat added that MT World asked to settle the matter out of court with the department on numerous occasions, but its pleas fell on deaf ears as the department only promised answers after the festival.
“A letter was written to the department on April 16, requesting answers as to how it is possible that another company could receive the tender after it has already been awarded.
“MT World was requesting a paper trail, meetings held, recommendations and everything else as legal as possible, but they received a message saying they could only receive the requested information in 20 days, which is after the festival.”
Quest for justice
A representative for MT World, who asked not to be named, said: “This whole application is just a quest for justice.
“We are fighting for everyone else who suffered the same injustices but could not say anything because they did not have the resources and could not make it to court like we did.”
The department spokesperson, Zaid Kalla, confirmed that the matter is in court, stating that he would only comment when the verdict has been handed down.
The annual festival is scheduled to take place at the Impala Park Stadium in Phalaborwa.
It features big names including King Monada, Makhadzi, Master KG, Lloyiso, Pleasure Tsa Manyalo, Busta 929, Penny Penny, Henny C, and Dr Winnie Matlanalo.
