Following the debacle around the cancellation of the much-anticipated and popular Mahika Mahikeng Cultural Festival, an ad hoc committee will be established to probe allegations of misconduct in the process of organising the annual event.
This was revealed at the legislature by the North West Department of Arts and Culture , when it was asked to account to the portfolio committee.
The Head of the Department, Itumeleng Mogorosi, said the committee will be tasked with investigating four aspects related to the cultural festival.
“To investigate whether or not there was misconduct from the leaking of the information. Or whether the bid committee members have been involved in misconduct in the execution of the processes.
“To determine the extent of fruitless and wasteful expenditure if any, and who should be held liable. And lastly, to take legal advice prior to us opening a case,” Mogorosi said.
Committee chairperson, Kabelo Mataboge, instructed the department to clarify allegations that a certain company has the sole rights to host the cultural festival as alleged by a group of disgruntled artists.
“There is a view that Mega Works and Show Time have got patent rights to Mahika Mahikeng. In actual fact from the little research that we did, we found that Mahika Mahikeng was a proposal, which went to the government for funding patents. So no one has any other authority to do it except Mega Works and Show Time,” said Mataboge.
Meanwhile, the Bokone Bophirima Business Forum and some local artists have earlier called on the department to ensure that everyone benefits from the province’s annual cultural music festival.
The Forum’s acting secretary, Katlego Rakuba, had earlier accused the department of making it difficult for the local businessmen to benefit from the event.
“Local business people have never benefited from that event because there are red tapes in that department, red tapes in the processes of this tender of Mahika Mahikeng. The department knows exactly what it is doing. It has only been one person that has been given an opportunity to organise this event for years,” Rakuba said.
One of the local artists, Kenosi Kehilwe, shared Rakuba’s sentiments. “The event does not serve the purposes that it is supposed to serve, and as artists, we are frustrated in the process. So we condone the postponement on the terms that the whole process will be transparent. This kind of event is supposed to benefit the economy of the province and offer opportunities for people in the province so let it be done in the right way and fairly,” said Kehilwe.
The cultural festival, which was scheduled to take place in December this year, was postponed to March next year.
