Staff Reporter
The Free State’s popular arts and music event, the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (Macufe), set for October, has been cancelled as the province battles to contain the COVID-19 pandemic.
Premier Sisi Ntombela told the media during a visit by Health Minister Zweli Mkhize in Bloemfontein today that all major events have been called off and their budgets will be channelled towards fighting the coronavirus outbreak.
“We have decided that this year we are not going to have Macufe,” Ntombela said.
The other major events cancelled include the Madeira Flower Festival which was to be held in Parys from April 29 to May 5, the National Youth Day celebrations on June 16 as well as all activities for the Women’s Month in August.
Macufe was scheduled for October 23-26.
Ntombela said after receiving a comprehensive briefing from Mkhize, she realised that it could be dangerous to host the events as they draw large crowds from across the country and beyond the borders.
“It’s going to be very dangerous for our people . . . After I was briefed by the minister, I understood very clearly how serious this thing is.
“So, I took a decision to say all big activities are going to be cancelled because I thought it was going to take us two-three months, but I have learnt this thing could take us the whole year.
“And after seeing what is happening, I realised that people in the Free State are in danger.”
The premier lamented the high poverty levels in the province saying it’s therefore important to ensure that the deadly coronavirus does not spread as it could have devastating effects on the people, many of whom live in informal settlements.
“I’m sure you are all aware that the Free State has the highest unemployment rate. So . . . that means most of the people . . . are very poor,” Ntombela said.
“The Free State has also been affected by the drought. Most of our people don’t have water.
“The Free State has 147 informal settlements. So, you can just imagine . . . 147 informal settlements equals how many people.
“Instead, we are going to take the budget for those events to assist our people in informal settlements to get sanitisers, gloves, water. . .”
Only 785 000 people are employed in the province with a population of about 2.8 million people.
Statistics South Africa reported in February that the province has an official unemployment rate of 35 percent.
The expanded unemployment rate which includes discouraged job seekers stands at 42.3 percent.