WHY PRACTITIONERS MUST ACT NOW
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.
.png)
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 dangerous erosion of institutional integrity.
The Council: Custodian or Compromised Structure?
But governance does not exist in reports alone — it lives and breathes through structures. And at the NAC, the Council is the heartbeat of that structure.
The Council carries the responsibility of oversight, ethical leadership, and safeguarding the mandate of the institution. It is entrusted with ensuring that decisions are made in the best interest of the sector — not for political convenience, not for internal protection, but for the artists and practitioners whose livelihoods depend on the NAC.
This is why we must zoom in on Council.
Because if Council is compromised, everything that follows becomes compromised.
Why the CEO and CFO Appointments Are Critical
This becomes even more critical when we consider the current process of appointing a Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chief Financial Officer (CFO). These are not ordinary appointments. The CEO defines institutional direction, while the CFO holds the financial spine of the organisation.
These roles determine whether funds reach artists on time, whether programmes are implemented effectively, and whether the institution operates within the bounds of transparency and accountability.
.jpeg)
The Risk of a Captured Leadership Pipeline
However, these appointments are influenced — and in many ways determined — by Council.
If Council is captured, weakened, or conflicted, it opens the door for the appointment of compromised leadership. And once a compromised CEO and CFO are in place, the cycle deepens: poor governance feeds poor leadership, and poor leadership further erodes governance.
It is a dangerous loop — one that ultimately impacts practitioners the most.
The Real Impact on Practitioners
Delayed funding, lack of communication, mismanagement of resources, and loss of trust are not abstract issues. They are lived realities for artists across South Africa.
This is why this moment calls for more than observation — it calls for action.
A Call for Collective Action
As practitioners, we are not outsiders to this system. We are its stakeholders. The NAC exists to serve us, and we have both the right and the responsibility to demand that it functions with integrity.
Supporting this petition is not just about adding a signature. It is about asserting our collective voice in matters of governance. It is about demanding that the Public Protector’s recommendations are taken seriously, that Council operates transparently and ethically, and that leadership appointments are made with the highest level of integrity.
.jpeg)
Add Your Voice
If we remain silent, we allow the system to continue unchecked. If we act, we begin to reclaim it.
The future of the NAC — and by extension, the future of the arts in South Africa — depends on what we do now.
Sign the Petition:
https://c.org/rMW8vKLcH5
Let us stand united — not just as artists, but as custodians of the integrity of our sector.
.jpeg)
.png)
Comments