ALBEIT THE line-up for the 2022 Mangaung African Cultural Festival, has not been made public, the show does go on.
Synonymous for drawing sought after musicians both locally and internationally, this time it seems things have been scaled down due to the pandemic.
The 2022 MACUFE iteration is a 2 week-long fest beginning from September 25 with soccer (Kaizer Chiefs vs Royal AM) at the Toyota/Bloemfontein Stadium). Usually the soccer match closes the curtain on what was a fun-filled weekend of the fest- but the program has been altered.
Confirmed my source, “C-Squared that is owned by Ben Moseme, has exclusive rights to the soccer match hence they’ve decided to host it on September 25”.
From then on, it overlaps to October 2 to 9, to be hosted in different regions in the province; providing Gospel Show, Comedy, Hip Hop Music Festival, Theatre, Arts and Craft Market, main festival and soccer, and others.
In her address the MEC for sport and arts in FS, Limakatso Mahasa said: “We will again like to assure the patrons and stakeholders of Macufe that everything will be done for the successful delivery of this festival.
Indeed, the environment has changed following the two years’ interruption by the Covid-19 pandemic which has disrupted our momentum with preparations. The pandemic has also affected the economy and thus resulted in the need for reprioritisation.
The preparations are nevertheless solidly underway,” she was quoted.
Usually at this time of the preparations, the main festival line-up is made out to conscientious the public to purchase tickets, alas not.
According to source(s) this delay of mentioning of local acts has to do with contracting them for their services, amongst others.
The source also confirmed that ‘nine companies put their bids to host Macufe, among them DS Consortium which according to CIPC was registered just two days before the bid closing date’.
The alleged companies and their quotes are as follows:
Accurate Events – R3 000 000
Black shift Entertainment – R4 073 825.36
T-Music Man PTY (LTD) – R1 778 661.00
SaSha Trading – R2 469 452.00
Trish Industry R22 314 051.00
Central Plaza Investments 199 JV – R22 600 000.00
C-Squared – R16 849 863.80
DS Consortium R22 960 962.41
WW P-Group PTY (LTD) – no specifications on pricing
Though the list has not been independently verified few sources close to the situation say the Supply Chain and Security team have visited bidders to check their resources.
Based on pricing, skills, experience, and resources, and considering the event is just thirty-eight (38) days, the only company that can deliver is the the controversial C – Squared.
But as indicated in my opening stanza, the show does go on!
