It was supposed to be a bloody battle in the Pretoria High Court. Instead, lawyers for the Tshwane metro and organisers of the TribeOne Festival spent hours haggling in the judge's chamber.
The metro rushed to court last week after the organisers cancelled the festival, for which it had already paid R65-million - R25-million to secure artists, including US female rapper Nicki Minaj, and R40-million spent on infrastructure for the open venue in Cullinan.
The parties spent yesterday morning locked in discussions in Judge Eben Jordan's chambers.
Tshwane metro spokesman Selby Bokaba refused to comment.
TribeOne organisers cited Tshwane metro's failure to deliver on infrastructure for cancelling the festival. Tshwane claimed organisers cancelled due to poor ticket sales.
The DA's Kevin Mileham yesterday said he has asked auditor-general Kimi Makwetu to investigate the "gross mismanagement of public funds".
Minaj was reportedly paid a R10-million non-refundable appearance fee for the three-day concert.
SA Municipal Workers Union's Tshwane regional secretary Mpho Tladinyane called for an investigation into the botched festival.
Judge Jordan will hear the matter on Thursday.
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