Singapore Trip: Service Provider not paid

Staff reporter

Welkom – The Department of Sport, Arts, Culture, and Recreation (SACR) in the Free State Province is set to face another litigation if the service provider for the infamous Singapore trip is not paid.

Currently, the department is embroiled in the court with DS Consortium over the 2022 Macufe edition after Judge Daffoe ruled in favor of the applicant.

The festival continued despite the tender being set aside and declared unlawful on the 3 October 2022.
It has been appeal after appeal and the department has been collecting Loses (Ls) the matter is now in the Free State High Court with the appeal reinstatement and condonation to be argued.

With a lawsuit of R30 million envisaged should the court dismiss the department’s application, another litigation is on the cards.

This is concerning the Singapore trip that Steve Tshabalala, a day in office saved the day after officials from the department and exhibitors were left stranded without not only money for food but flight tickets as well.

According to sources in Singapore who spoke on condition of anonymity the service provider was appointed by the Office of High Commissioner, My Arts International could not commit any assistance as they had not been provided with an order.

At the time of the Singapore Focus Week, Mokete Duma was acting as head of the department.

Step UP SA News has it on good authority that payment to My Arts International has not been paid (R900 000) and Tshabalala is allegedly at the heart of it.

Tshabalala has been in the thick of things having had a go at Dan Kgothule who heads the service delivery war room in the office of the premier.

In one stage Tshabalala is accused of convening a meeting on the same day Kgothule scheduled a meeting.

“And Steve has just decided to convene a meeting now, which was not planned/scheduled.”

Steve Tshabalala, Head of the Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation did not respond to our questions including if there would be any consequence management.

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