THE NATIONAL ARTS COUNCIL’S WAR ON ITS OWN WORKERS

The National Arts Council Must Stop Threatening Its Workers

By Thami akaMbongo Manzana

The recent media statement issued by the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) regarding the anticipated strike action on Wednesday, 18 March 2026 by the union National Education, Health and Allied Workers' Union (NEHAWU) raises serious concerns about the tone, posture, and institutional attitude of the Council and management towards its own workers.

While the statement attempts to reassure the arts sector that operations will continue uninterrupted, the language used reveals a troubling approach: one that leans more toward legal intimidation than constructive engagement.

                          Image Source: NAC

A Tone of Threat Rather Than Dialogue

One of the most problematic aspects of the statement is the Council’s assertion that the proposed strike may constitute an “unprotected and unlawful strike” under the Labour Relations Act 66 of 1995.

This framing immediately positions workers as potential offenders rather than legitimate stakeholders raising workplace grievances. Instead of demonstrating empathy or acknowledging the root causes of worker dissatisfaction, the statement prioritizes legal warnings and the possibility of interdictory relief.

Such a tone undermines the principles of fair labour engagement in a democratic society. Workers have a constitutional and legislative right to organise, protest, and strike when negotiations fail. When a public institution responsible for nurturing the cultural sector responds with legal threats, it signals a breakdown in trust and leadership.

                    Image Source: SA Parliament 

A Pattern of Institutional Arrogance

The current situation did not emerge overnight. Concerns about worker dissatisfaction at the NAC have been building for some time.

On 20 November 2025, I raised concerns on my Facebook post about the Council’s attitude toward workers were already raised publicly, particularly in relation to the union’s engagement with the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture.

During that process, NEHAWU took the extraordinary step of presenting directly to Parliament regarding the conditions and concerns of employees at the NAC. The union did so after engaging both NAC management and the Council itself without adequate resolution.

Rather than demonstrating humility and introspection during this parliamentary oversight process, the Council’s posture appeared dismissive and defensive. That approach continues to echo in the latest statement.

When workers feel compelled to escalate workplace matters to Parliament, it is a clear signal that internal governance systems are failing.

                               Image Source: NAC

Threatening Workers Is Not Leadership

The NAC exists to support artists, cultural workers, and the broader creative sector. Its credibility depends not only on funding decisions but also on how it treats its own staff.

Threatening workers with legal consequences instead of addressing their grievances reflects a command-and-control mentality that is incompatible with the values of the arts sector — a sector built on collaboration, dialogue, and human dignity.

Public institutions must remember that workers are not adversaries. They are the backbone of institutional delivery.

The Council must therefore stop threatening its workers — period.

                            Image Source: DSAC

The Risk of Misleading Political Leadership

This situation also raises another critical concern: the possibility that the Minister responsible for the portfolio may be receiving an incomplete or distorted picture of events.

The NAC operates under the oversight of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture. When institutional leadership frames labour disputes primarily as operational disruptions or legal risks, it can inadvertently — or deliberately — mislead political leadership about the seriousness of worker grievances.

If the Minister is only being briefed through the lens of “operational continuity,” the deeper issues affecting staff morale and institutional culture may never be properly addressed.

This is dangerous not only for the NAC but for the credibility of governance within the cultural sector.

                   Image Source: SA Parliament 

Parliament Must Continue Its Oversight

The presentation by NEHAWU to the Parliamentary Portfolio Committee was therefore an important and necessary intervention.

By raising concerns directly before Parliament, the union ensured that worker voices entered the public record and that the issues affecting NAC employees were subjected to democratic oversight.

The well-being of staff across South African institutions must remain a priority. Cultural institutions cannot claim to champion artists and communities while neglecting the dignity and conditions of their own employees.

For those who wish to understand the concerns raised by workers, the union’s presentation before the Committee can be viewed here:

https://youtu.be/lf6_TkR6t5E?si=8-F8JDVEXcitx6sb

                             Image Source: NAC

A Call for Responsible Leadership

What the arts sector needs right now is not legal posturing, but leadership grounded in accountability, transparency, and care for the people who make institutions function.

The NAC Council must take this moment seriously. The sector is watching closely.

Resolving this dispute will require humility, genuine engagement with workers, and a willingness to confront institutional shortcomings.

Anything less will only deepen the crisis of trust that is already unfolding.

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

HOW TO FOLLOW THE CREATIVE PASSPORT

RECEIVE POSTS BY EMAILS