ARTS , CULTURE AND THE POLITICS WE PRETEND NOT TO SEE  By  Thami akaMbongo Manzana Politics affect us as Cultural and Creative Industries practitioners whether we like it or not. We can debate it, resist it, even deny it but we cannot escape it. The sooner we accept this reality, the sooner we begin to engage the system with clarity rather than confusion. We often hear repeated calls from within the sector: we need a Minister who understands the Arts and Culture sector . This is not a new demand. It has been voiced across generations of practitioners, festivals, workshops, and policy engagements. Yet it is important to understand the constitutional framework within which executive appointments are made. Under Section 91(3)(c) of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1996, the President is explicitly authorised to appoint no more than two Ministers from outside the National Assembly. This means the President does, in fact, have limited but real discretion to...

  THE SOUTH AFRICAN CREATIVE INDUSTRY'S BIGGEST CRISIS By Thami aka Mbongo Manzana Truth be told, the Cultural and Creative Industries in South Africa are suffering from a leadership crisis. We have more followers than leaders. We have more social media activists than industry builders. We have more keyboard heroes than policy warriors. Every day artists flood Facebook, X, TikTok and WhatsApp groups with complaints, insults and gossip. Yet when it is time to confront the structural problems that have crippled the sector since 1994, the room suddenly becomes empty. The uncomfortable truth is that the South African Cultural and Creative Industries remain largely unregulated and fragmented.  Despite numerous policy interventions, funding agencies, strategic plans and consultations over the years, artists continue to experience many of the same challenges: unequal access to opportunities, funding disputes, gatekeeping, weak accountability and political patronage.   Since 1994...

AUDITION CALL: JOHANNESBURG-BASED YOUNG TOURING COMPANY 2026/27  A dynamic Young Touring Company based in Johannesburg is seeking versatile young performers to join its 2026/27 repertory touring season. The company stages a diverse repertoire of productions, including the works of William Shakespeare such as Romeo & Juliet, Othello, and Macbeth, alongside contemporary and classical theatre productions performed throughout Southern Africa and internationally. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR? • Male and female performers under the age of 35 • Actors residing within a 10km radius of Johannesburg CBD (due to early call times and rehearsal schedules) • Passionate theatre practitioners with strong discipline and commitment • Performers who are confident working with Shakespearean text • Strong team players who thrive in an ensemble environment • Artists who can sing, dance/move, and act • Strong musical and vocal abilities are highly desirable and will be considered an advantage dur...