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...

Why South Africa’s Cultural and Creative Industries Must Rethink Their Vote South Africa’s democracy is rich with political contestation, ideological diversity, and manifesto promises.  Yet, beneath the noise of service delivery, infrastructure, and economic reform lies a quieter crisis — the systematic sidelining of the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) .  For a sector that shapes identity, preserves heritage, and contributes to economic activity, its marginalisation in political thought is not just an oversight; it is a structural failure. THE MANIFESTO MIRAGE Every election cycle, political parties release manifestos — glossy documents filled with commitments. However, these mentions are frequently symbolic rather than strategic. Arts and culture are typically framed as “soft sectors” — appendages to tourism or social cohesion — rather than as economic drivers or tools of transformation. This framing diminishes the sector’s potential and reduces practitioners to cere...

Non-Scholars vs Scholars: A Manufactured Myth There is a quiet lie we have learned to live with — that some people are “scholars” and others are not. That knowledge belongs to a select few, while the rest must sit, listen, and accept. But when you strip away the titles, the institutions, and the language of power, something simple remains: people are people. Knowledge is knowledge. Experience is experience. So where does this division come from? It begins in the way society has chosen to measure intelligence. Formal education — degrees, certificates, academic language — has been elevated as the ultimate marker of worth. Those who pass through lecture halls and graduate ceremonies are crowned as thinkers, while those who learn through life, labour, struggle, and survival are often dismissed as lacking. Yet this logic is deeply flawed. A farmer who understands the rhythm of the soil, a street vendor who reads human behaviour better than any textbook, a grandmother who carries generations...

Gauteng’s Sport, Arts and Culture Portfolio Enters a New Chapter Amid Cabinet Reconfiguration The political landscape of Gauteng has shifted once again, and at the centre of this recalibration lies a portfolio that speaks directly to identity, unity, and youth development — Sport, Arts and Culture . Premier Panyaza Lesufi has announced changes to his provincial cabinet following the inclusion of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) into the Provincial Government of Unity. This development does not only signal a political realignment, but also introduces a new rhythm in how key social portfolios, particularly Sport, Arts and Culture, will be managed going forward. At the heart of this transition is the appointment of Lebogang Maile , who now takes on an expanded and integrated portfolio of Education, Sport, Arts and Culture. This is not a minor adjustment. It is a consolidation that places creative expression, athletic development, and educational growth under one umbrella — a structure ...

Allegations Plague South Africa’s Arts and Culture Minister  by Paul Noko In a shocking development that has sent ripples through the political landscape, South Africa’s Minister of Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, finds himself embroiled in serious allegations of involvement in illegal activities, including drug dealing and association with the notorious Big Five cartel. These claims have cast a dark shadow over his reputation and his ability to serve the nation at a time when leadership integrity is more crucial than ever. According to sources and anonymous prison inmates, there are claims that McKenzie has been instructing underworld figures to facilitate illegal staff dealing, with some prisoners reportedly claiming to have received instructions from the minister himself. While these reports are yet to be officially verified, they have ignited a firestorm of controversy and suspicion across social media and political circles. The impact on his role and the nation. The allegat...

OPEN LETTER TO ARTS FUNDING BENEFICIARIES Dear Arts Funding Beneficiaries, I hope this letter finds you well — though I write it with a heavy heart and a conscience that has been restless for years. After working on a real project that genuinely incorporated all the elements of a PESP initiative — real planning, real implementation, and most importantly, real job creation backed by clear evidence — I have seen firsthand what accountability looks like. I have seen the effort it takes to pay people properly, to document honestly, and to deliver impact beyond paper. And when I now look at the level of funding allocated to such work, and compare it to the amounts given to projects that cannot account, cannot prove, and cannot demonstrate any real impact, my conscience refuses to be silent. It would be a betrayal of the very artists we claim to serve if I did not speak out. This letter, therefore, is not just opinion — it is a moral obligation. There is a question that has refused to leave ...

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...

From the Cross to the Crown: A Night of Sacred Power at Joburg Theatre Tonight at 19h30, the stage of Joburg Theatre becomes more than a performance space—it transforms into a sanctuary of sound, spirit, and storytelling as From the Cross to the Crown takes centre stage. At a time when both South Africa and the world are navigating deep uncertainty, social strain, and emotional fatigue, this production arrives with profound relevance. It asks a timeless question: in moments of collective grief, who carries the sound of mourning, healing, and hope? The answer echoes powerfully— the soprano. The Sound of Wailing, The Voice of Healing In many traditions, the role of “wailing women” has always been sacred—those who give voice to sorrow when words fail. In this production, that ancient calling is reimagined through the extraordinary artistry of South Africa’s leading sopranos. Who is more skilled at carrying lament, lifting prayer, and transforming pain into beauty than a soprano? Through ...