Silence, Delay, and a Sector Left in the Dark by Thami akaMbongo Manzana There are only 15 days left before the National Arts Festival in Makhanda, yet a troubling silence hangs over the cultural and creative sector. Practitioners and organisations who applied for support through the National Arts Council are still waiting for outcomes that were reportedly meant to be announced on 29 May 2026. No communication. No clear explanation. No accountability. And in that silence, uncertainty grows. The question is no longer simply about delayed funding. It is about governance, communication, and respect for an entire sector that carries the emotional, cultural, and economic heartbeat of the country. Who is responsible for the delay? Is the delay sitting with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, or is it deeper within the decision-making chain of the Minister himself? Or is it somewhere in-between—lost in administrative corridors where accountability becomes blurred and responsibili...

  Questions Mount for the NAC as Calls Grow for Transparency From Council Members The growing scrutiny around the National Arts Council (NAC) continues to raise difficult questions about governance, accountability and transparency within one of South Africa’s most important cultural institutions. For several years, journalist Zama Nteyi has consistently reported on governance concerns, internal disputes and allegations surrounding the NAC and broader arts sector institutions. While her reporting has often attracted criticism and attempts to discredit her work, many of the issues she raised continue resurfacing publicly through disputes, investigations and concerns raised by artists and sector stakeholders.  Recent discussions circulating within the sector have intensified further following claims regarding the alleged procurement of premium mobile devices for Council members and associated individuals. While the authenticity and context of the claims still require official co...

A STRIKE, A WARNING IGNORED, AND A SECTOR ON THE EDGE By Thami aka Mbongo Manzana Day 21 of the National Arts Council (NAC) staff strike. Three weeks of silence. Three weeks of institutional denial. Three weeks of a government watching a crisis unfold — and choosing not to act. But let’s be clear from the beginning: This did not start 21 days ago. This crisis was diagnosed, documented, and debated in Parliament nearly a year ago. Parliament Saw It Coming On 27 May 2025 , the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture convened to engage the NAC and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC). What happened in that meeting should disturb every single stakeholder in the arts sector. “The Committee unanimously agreed that proceeding with a presentation by the NAC would amount to legitimising a potentially unlawful board… the Council was not properly constituted… decisions taken by the current Council could be legally questionable.” Read that again. Parliament refused to even engag...

The Soul of the NAC is at Stake By Thami akaMbongo  A Governance Crisis, Not Just a Labour Dispute As practitioners, we often speak about creativity, expression, and storytelling — but behind every stage, every production, and every opportunity lies something far less visible yet far more powerful: governance. Right now, the National Arts Council (NAC) finds itself at a critical crossroads. What may appear on the surface as a labour dispute is, in truth, a deeper governance crisis — one that threatens the very foundation of how the arts sector is supported, funded, and sustained. Why the Public Protector’s Recommendations Matter From a policy and governance perspective, one cannot ignore the importance of the Public Protector’s recommendations. These are not casual observations; they are constitutional instruments designed to correct wrongdoing, enforce accountability, and restore public trust. When such recommendations are not urgently and transparently implemented, it signals a d...

  A Brutal Interrogation of Lies, Contradictions, and a Council in Crisis By Thami akaMbongo Manzana The latest media statement issued by the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC), titled “NAC Confirms Continued Operational Delivery Amid Union Picket,” is not just misleading. It is a calculated attempt to mask a crisis. And when placed alongside a damning letter from the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture — now circulating among artists — the situation becomes even more alarming. Because what is being presented as “stability” may, in fact, be institutional dysfunction dressed up as control . 1. WHO IS ON STRIKE — NEHAWU OR NAC WORKERS? The NAC repeatedly refers to National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) as if it is an external force. But let us be precise: Is it NEHAWU that is on strike? Or is it NAC employees who are members of NEHAWU ? Why is the NAC distancing itself from its own workers? This is not accidental....