Event organisers, producers and other creatives in the Free State have accused the provincial government of hijacking the Macufe festival and shutting them out of its organisation.
At the centre of the dispute is what the complainants have called a blanket procurement system allegedly practiced by the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
The Free State Events Forum, which represents organisers, promoters, producers, service providers, creative businesses and other stakeholders, has written to MEC Zanele Sifuba before the festival, which is scheduled for September 3 to 13.
In the letter, the forum raises concern about declining investor confidence, weak private-sector sponsorship and reduced economic activity around a festival once regarded as one of the province’s biggest cultural and tourism assets.
Forum representatives Tebogo Kotsi and Tshepo Sebidi say the crisis around Macufe is no longer about one event but about the survival of a wider events economy that supports hotels, restaurants, transport operators, retailers, security companies, technical production firms, artists, tourism businesses and informal traders.
“When the events industry grows, the wider economy benefits. When the industry contracts, the impact is felt far beyond event organisers,” Kotsi said.
The forum said Macufe has drawn more than 50 000 visitors between 2008 and 2019 and attracted support from major liquor, telecommunications, financial services, automotive and consumer brands.
It said that momentum had faded.
Kotsi said government could not be expected to carry the financial burden of a festival of Macufe’s scale indefinitely, adding that public money should be used to unlock greater private investment rather than replace it.
“A festival of the stature of Macufe should be capable of leveraging public investment to unlock significantly greater private-sector investment,” he said.
Sebidi said it was worrying that major brands no longer appeared to view Macufe as an attractive investment platform.
He said the province needed a new commercial model that positioned the festival as an economic platform involving government, private promoters, sponsors, tourism bodies, hotels, municipalities and the wider events industry.
The forum said previous attempts to engage officials responsible for the festival had largely been met with resistance or rejection.
Sebidi warned that government should not become a competitor to the businesses it is supposed to develop.
“The province has experienced events practitioners with decades of combined experience in producing concerts, festivals, conferences, sporting events and major cultural programmes.
“These businesses employ people, pay suppliers, hire artists, rent equipment, use hotels, purchase advertising, engage security companies and create opportunities for small businesses,” he said.
The intervention comes after Sunday World reported on allegations that some departmental officials had taken it upon themselves to handle artist bookings for Macufe, with claims that officials were allegedly colluding with artist managers to inflate fees for kickbacks.
The forum has proposed the establishment of a Free State events industry advisory committee or a dedicated Macufe industry advisory council to bring together government, events companies, tourism authorities, the Mangaung metro, hospitality businesses, sponsors, broadcasters, financial institutions, transport operators, venue operators, security firms and technical production companies.
“We are not approaching the department to demand appointments, tenders or preferential treatment,” Kotsi said.
“We are asking for something far more important — a seat at the table where the future of our industry is being discussed,” he said.
When contacted, Sifuba said the forum’s letter had not reached her office because it had allegedly been sent to an incorrect email address.
She said she would not comment on the contents of the letter until the forum approached her office directly. “If their concerns are valid, my office door is open,” Sifuba said, referring further questions to the department’s spokesperson.
Provincial department spokesperson Tankiso Zola declined to comment.
- Event organisers and creatives in the Free State accuse the provincial government of hijacking the Macufe festival and excluding them from its organisation.
- The Free State Events Forum claims a blanket procurement system by the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation is causing declining investor confidence and reduced economic activity around Macufe.
- The forum highlights Macufe's historical success in attracting over 50,000 visitors and major brand sponsorships but says this momentum has faded.
- Allegations exist that some departmental officials have managed artist bookings improperly, potentially inflating fees for kickbacks.
- The forum has proposed creating an advisory committee involving government, industry stakeholders, and sponsors to collaboratively manage the festival's future.
Event organisers, producers and other creatives in the Free State have accused the provincial government of hijacking the Macufe festival and shutting them out of its organisation.
At the centre of the dispute is what the complainants have called a blanket procurement system allegedly practiced by the Department of Sports, Arts, Culture and Recreation.
In the letter, the forum raises concern about declining investor confidence, weak private-sector sponsorship and reduced economic activity around a festival once regarded as one of the province’s biggest cultural and tourism assets.
Forum representatives Tebogo Kotsi and
“When the events industry grows, the wider economy benefits. When the industry contracts, the impact is felt far beyond event organisers,” Kotsi said.
It said that momentum had faded.
Kotsi said government could not be expected to carry the financial burden of a festival of Macufe’s scale indefinitely, adding that public money should be used to unlock greater private investment rather than replace it.
“A festival of the stature of Macufe should be capable of leveraging public investment to unlock significantly greater private-sector investment,” he said.
Sebidi said it was worrying that major brands no longer appeared to view Macufe as an attractive investment platform.
He said the province needed a new commercial model that positioned the festival as an economic platform involving government, private promoters, sponsors, tourism bodies, hotels, municipalities and the wider events industry.
Sebidi warned that government should not become a competitor to the businesses it is supposed to develop.
“
“
“We are not approaching the department to demand appointments, tenders or preferential treatment,” Kotsi said.
“We are asking for something far more important — a seat at the table where the future of our industry is being discussed,” he said.
When contacted, Sifuba said the forum’s letter had not reached her office because it had allegedly been sent to an incorrect email address.
Provincial department spokesperson
