The Hawks in the Free State have raided the offices of the Free State Department of Sport, Arts, Culture and Recreation in Bloemfontein and seized documents relating to the controversial multimillion-rand tender for the Macufe Festival.

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Philani Nkwalase said the raid was carried out after they received information that the tender was awarded irregularly and in contravention of Section 217 of the Constitution.

News24's sister publication City Press reported that the department failed in its attempt to have the Free State High Court's ruling last month that the R16-million tender was invalid, irregular and unlawful overturned. The department and company C Squared, which was awarded the tender to organise the Bloemfontein festival, appealed the ruling last month.

The report cited sources who said the ruling meant that the company would be required to repay the money because the court had set aside the agreement to host the annual festival.

DS Consortium director Mosa Likobo said the company was confident that it had a solid case against the department and that they were not intimidated by its application to appeal the ruling. DC Consortium had also bid to stage the festival, but the tender was awarded to C Squared.

"The department shows no remorse for its unlawful behaviour in awarding the tender to another company without following due procedure. If you read the judgment, you would understand that there was no way any judge in this country would have ruled differently," said Likobo.