Looting at center of imminent suspension of Chief Director at Free State SACR

Following the story published on 21 October 2021, *Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in Free State takes another “L” as festivals are postponed* Step Up SA News can confirm that the district festivals are back on track as MEC Mahasa has embarked on district meetings.

According to sources close to the publication, the budgeted amount for all five districts is R8 million and MEC Limakatso Mahasa allegedly wanted to bypass supply chain processes and there was resistance from the then acting HOD Kutlwano Tlhakudi and Chief Director Vincent Khetha as they refused to sign off the project due to lack of compliance.

As previously reported former HOD Kutlwano Tlhakudi was adamant supply chain processes be followed while it was alleged MEC Mahasa wanted to handpick service providers hence the festivals were stalled.

With Tlhakudi now out of the way having been replaced by Zola Thamae, news reached Step Up SA News, that the Chief Director, Vincent Khetha is on the verge of suspension by Mahasa and according to sources, this is to make way for Mahasa to handpick service providers for five district festivals.

Therefore, it will come as no surprise if Vincent Khetha will also be removed from his position as he is regarded to be a very strict person by MEC Mahasa when it comes to the protection of the public purse from looters. We are also reliably informed that MEC Mahasa had allegedly plotted to discredit Khetha in a meeting she organized with an art group in Thabong, Welkom on 11 January 2022 which turned out to be a failed malicious project leaving MEC Mahasa disappointed.

Those who know Khetha say that he is a quiet and patient man but when he is pushed too hard he can be very dangerous because as a museologist and an academic he knows the importance of keeping records.

SACR allegedly splurged R1 million to unveil a statue in Parys and its alleged Mahasa handpicked a service provider with both acting CFO and acting HOD at the time refused to sign it off. It’s not clear if the service provider was paid or not without Purchase Order.

MEC Mahasa did not respond to our questions at the time of publication.