By Thys Khiba -A joint venture between Dots Design Group (Pty) Ltd and Sonaqua Events and Promotions CC has launched an urgent court application against the MEC for provincial Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation, Limakatso Mahasa for awarding the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (MACUFE) tender to C-Squared Group (Pty) Ltd in Bloemfontein.
The annual festival used to showcase African arts, culture and various sports disciplines is expected to return following a two-year break due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions.
DS Consortium wants the court to instruct Mahasa to re-evaluate the bids submitted and give the tender to qualifying bidder ‘who achieved the highest score.’
“Reviewing, declaring unlawful, and setting aside the decision of the first respondent [MEC Limakatso Mahasa] to award tender “SCM/MACUFE 01/22” (the “tender”) to the second respondent [C-Squared Group Pty Ltd]”
DS Consortium director Mosa Likobo has also indicated that C-Squared must be excluded from the re-evaluation processes, if the court agrees with view of ordering the MEC to reevaluate submitted bids.
Likobo has given the involved parties until 21 September to oppose this application.
In the affidavit provided by Likobo alleges that the MEC has deviated from the tender specifications.
He said; “What is more alarming is that the facts point toward the Department having skewed the entire tender process to ensure that the tender is awarded to C-Squared.”
In July, the department invited service providers to bid to render event management services for the Macufe events. Tender specifications, which includes dates, venues and capacity were shared.
Amongst other issues that Likobo is arguing is the change in venues that were outlined in the bid invitations.
He indicated that he learned from media report published on 26 August 2022 that the tender had been awarded to C-Squared.
Meanwhile, it was reported that the C-Squared Consumer Connectedness has won R16 849 863.80 to organise the 2022 Macufe.
The matter is expected to be heard in court on the 26 September 2022 at 14:15, while the department is expected to launch the event on 25 September with a soccer tournament and other activities.
“The applicant wrote a letter to the MEC that same day to alert the Department that an investigation report published by the Special Investigations Unit (the “SIU”) on 10 December 2021 implicated C-Squared in possible tender fraud.”
At the time of publishing this article, Free State Central News couldn’t get a comment from department.
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