POST DELETED, QUESTIONS REMAIN

Why DSAC Appointments Must Now Be Closely Watched

This is not a sponsored article. I am fully aware that members of the Patriotic Alliance and supporters of Gayton McKenzie will dismiss this as an attack — but the issues raised here are real, and they are not going away, hulle baiza.

In a telling turn of events, the controversial Facebook post by Meshe Habana — Deputy Secretary General of the Patriotic Alliance — has now been deleted.

This follows growing scrutiny, public questioning, and the circulation of concerns amplified by our publication:

https://www.thecreativepassport.co.za/2026/03/political-influence-public-recruitment.html

But while the post may be gone, the questions it raised remain firmly in place.

                  Image Source: Facebook

Deletion Is Not Accountability

Deleting a post does not erase the implications behind it.

The original message encouraged applicants to submit their personal details directly to a political office bearer after applying for positions linked to the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC). This created a perception — and concern — that political structures were positioning themselves alongside public recruitment processes.

Now that the post is gone, one must ask:

• Was the deletion an acknowledgment of wrongdoing?

• Or simply a response to public pressure?

More importantly, what mechanisms — if any — were already set in motion before the post disappeared. 

                      Image Source: DSAC

From Incident to Pattern: A Sector Already on Edge

The Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) sector has long expressed concerns about:

• Lack of transparency

• Recycled leadership structures

• Politically connected appointments

This latest incident does not exist in isolation — it feeds into an existing anxiety.

There have already been widespread claims within the sector that:

• Councils within DSAC entities are politically influenced

• Adjudication panels are not always independent

• Opportunities often circulate within familiar networks

Whether proven or not, these perceptions are damaging enough on their own.

                          Image Source: Facebook

The Real Issue: Who Is Being Appointed — and Why?

With the spotlight now firmly on the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, the focus must shift from the deleted post to what comes next:

Who will ultimately occupy these positions?

This is where vigilance becomes critical.

If appointments begin to reflect patterns of:

• Political proximity

• Party affiliation

• Network loyalty

Then the concerns raised are not hypothetical — they are validated.

                        Image Source: PA

A Call for Monitoring and Transparency

This moment demands more than silence. It demands active monitoring.

Stakeholders in the sector — artists, practitioners, administrators, and civil society — must now:

• Track appointments across DSAC and its entities

• Question selection processes where necessary

• Demand transparency in adjudication and council placements

Because oversight cannot only exist after a scandal — it must exist during the process.

             Image Source: SA Government 

Leadership Under the Microscope

As Minister, Gayton McKenzie carries both political and administrative responsibility over DSAC.

This moment presents an opportunity for leadership to:

• Clarify boundaries between party and state

• Reaffirm commitment to fair and open processes

• Address concerns before they escalate further

Silence, at this stage, will only deepen suspicion.

                      Image Source: Facebook

You Can Delete a Post — But Not a Precedent

The deletion of the post may close a chapter, but it has opened a much larger conversation.

Because what South Africans witnessed was not just a social media misstep — it was a glimpse into how easily lines between political power and public administration can blur.

And once that line is crossed, even briefly, it changes how people see the system.

                           Image Source: Facebook

Final Reflection

The issue is no longer the post.

The issue is trust.

Can the public trust that DSAC appointments are fair, independent, and free from political influence?

Until that question is answered with transparency — not statements, not deletions, but visible integrity — the sector will continue to watch.

Closely.

The Creative Passport is an independent platform focused on Arts, Culture and the Creative Industries. Readers are encouraged to follow, comment and engage constructively.

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