08/09/2025
08 September 2025
Media Release
MACUFE RELAUNCH SURPASSES EXPECTATIONS
The relaunch of the Mangaung African Cultural Festival (MACUFE), executed from the 3rd to 7th September 2025, was a spectacle to behold. Kicking off after a two-year hiatus, being recalibrated as a festival celebrating our cultural heritage during heritage month in September, the festival did not disappoint on many fronts.
1) A formidable artistic line-up of national and local artists entertained the revellers from beginning to end.
2) Opportunities for local Free State artists surpassed expectations. 80% of artist in the festival were Free State artists.
3) A total number of 24 Community Media houses were brought on board in a strong media partnership unlike any other period. Community print, online and electronic media passionately advanced the course of the festival.
4) The marketing campaign, encapsulating below and above the line interventions, reached thousands across the length and breadth of our land, utilizing social media and digital media, print and electronic media, street marketing, blitz campaigns and so on.
5) Opportunities for SMMEs continued unabated with platforms created for 49 hawkers/vendors at the festival. With these opportunities, and MACUFE's broader ecosystem, local economic development was yet again a winner.
6) Temporary job opportunities were created through the various services rendered, including 902 security personnel, hospitality, stage, sound system, audio visual, ablution facilities and catering services also provided job and economic opportunities for SMMES.
7) Through formidable safety and security measures in place, an incident free festival was delivered.
"Despite the short time frame within which the festival was arranged, the tough economic times as well as the limited budget, the festival was overall a resounding success in terms of the various aspects of planning, coordination and ex*****on. We commit to start right away with planning for the next edition of the festival. We will welcome any inputs from stakeholders and the general public on where to improve”, stated Member of the Executive Council, Me Ntombizanele Sifuba.
On behalf of the Free State Provincial Government, MEC Ntombizanele Sifuba extends her gratitude to:
a) The multitudes of arts and culture lovers who came in numbers to support the festival.
b) Artists and technical personnel who gave their all to ensure the patrons were enthralled from beginning to end.
c) Partners and stakeholders who stood shoulder to shoulder with the Department in ensuring the success of the festival.
d) Service providers who delivered according to specifications.
e) Safety and security officials for securing the festival and the thousands of patrons over the entire duration.
f) Last but not least, the organising team who spent endless hours in planning, coordinating and ex*****on.
The 2025 relaunch of MACUFE served as a clear testimony to the solid nature of MACUFE as a historical flagship cultural programme, and its potential as a catalyst for socio-economic and cultural advancement.
"The quest to advance the Free State as a mecca of major cultural events continues at a heightened pace along the same efforts to transform the province as a mecca of major sporting events. The Bafana Bafana FIFA World Cup Qualifier match against Lesotho that was hosted in Mangaung on the 5th of September, is being followed by yet another FIFA World Cup Qualifier match between Bafana Bafana and Nigeria in Mangaung on the 9th of September 2025. We are proud of this positive trajectory in the promotion of major sporting and cultural events in our province", concluded Me Ntombizanele Sifuba.
A big thank you to everyone for again placing the Free State on the map in a very positive way, and let's continue to celebrate our cultural heritage. See you in MACUFE 2026!
Issued by the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation (DSACR)
Media Enquiries:
Tankiso Zola
Department Spokesperson
Cell: 082 940 2392
Email: [email protected]
