FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 10 South African Sopranos to Grace The Mandela stage at Joburg Theatre 25 February 2026, Johannesburg, South Africa –  Imibungazo Personality  Management Production, in partnership with the Joburg Theatre , proudly presents the  third instalment of 10 South African Sopranos , taking place on 28 and 29 March 2026 at  The Mandela theatre.                   Image  Source: Joburg Theatre Produced by acclaimed opera singer and arts entrepreneur Sibongile Mngoma , the  production continues to celebrate the richness and diversity of South African soprano  voices within a powerful sacred production format. The journey of 10 South African Sopranos began in 2013 at Carnival City, followed by a  successful second instalment at The Playhouse Company in 2023, which played to a  sold-out audience.  The 2026 staging at Joburg Theatre marks a significant continuation  of a producti...

After Listening to SAGA at AFDA Johannesburg — The Sector Has No Excuse to Stay Silent By Thami aka Mbongo Manzana On the 17 February 2026 at AFDA Johannesburg, I did not hear a radical demand. I heard a sober, well-argued, legally grounded call for clarity. After listening carefully to the presentation by the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) , I left convinced of one thing: this is not an actors-only issue. It is a sector-wide turning point. And if we fail to engage now — if we fail to submit inputs, attend meetings, and support structured reform — we will once again allow decisions about our industry to be shaped without us.                       Image  Source: SAGA The Problem We Have Normalised For years, creative workers have operated in contradiction. We are called “independent contractors,” yet: We are directed. We are controlled by production schedules. We are bound by contracts we often have no power to negotiate....

  This Is Not a Routine Notice — It Is a Turning Point Why Every Creative Practitioner Must Submit and Attend On 23 January 2026 , the Department of Employment and Labou r published a notice proposing to deem performers in advertising, artistic and cultural activities as employees for purposes of key labour legislation in South Africa. For many in the sector, this may sound like another government circular. It is not. It is a structural shift that could redefine contracts, budgets, working conditions, liability, and rights across the entire creative value chain. And the most important part of this process is happening now: public participation . Why Making a Submission Is Critical A written submission is not just a comment — it is a formal intervention in policy formation. When you submit, you: Influence the final wording of the law Protect your specific discipline’s interests Raise practical implementation challenges Propose workable solutions Place your concerns on official recor...

A Necessary Transition, A Serious Commitment The transition from Blogspot to our own domain is more than a technical upgrade. It is a clear statement of intent. For The Creative Passport, moving from a free blogging platform to a dedicated domain signifies our serious commitment to building a credible, independent, and accountable online media publication focused on the Cultural and Creative Industries in South Africa. We would like to begin by thanking everyone who has supported the platform since its early days — readers, practitioners, artists, cultural workers, policymakers, researchers, organisers, critics, and even those who have challenged us.  Every read, share, comment, disagreement, and engagement has helped shape what this platform is becoming. This transition would not have meaning without the community that has grown around the work. Why the Move Matters Moving from Blogspot to a dedicated domain is not about aesthetics or status. It is about credibility, ownership,...

  The Creative Passport is inviting Contributing Writers to join a growing independent online media publication dedicated to the Cultural and Creative Industries in South Africa and the African continent. Founded by Thami akaMbongo Manzana,  The Creative Passport documents, interrogates, and amplifies conversations around arts, culture, policy, governance, heritage, community, and the creative economy.  Our work sits at the intersection of practice, lived experience, accountability, and cultural justice. As the platform continues to grow, we are opening space for multiple voices, perspectives, and disciplines to contribute meaningfully to public discourse. WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR We are inviting practicing practitioners, thinkers, researchers, and cultural workers who are passionate about the sector and can write with clarity, honesty, and depth. You do not need to be a trained journalist. You do need to understand the sector you are writing about. CONTRIBUTING WRITER FOCU...

  THURSDAY EDITION |  FUNDING / OPPORTUNITIES / INDUSTRY NOTICES   WHAT PRACTITIONERS NEED TO KNOW, PREPARE, AND GET RIGHT January 2026 presents two critical funding opportunities for the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) in South Africa.  While both are state-funded and aim to strengthen the sector, they serve very different purposes, support different stages of organisational growth, and require different types of preparedness. These are: 1. Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Open Call – 2026/27 2. National Arts Council (NAC) Arts Organisation Support Funding (AOSF) – 2025–2028 Understanding the differences, similarities, and compliance expectations between these two opportunities is key to avoiding unnecessary disqualifications and missed opportunities.                             Image: DSAC Logo      (Source: DSAC) WHY THESE OPPORTUNITIES ARE SIGNIFICANT 1. They Address ...

.                           Image: NAC Logo      (Source: NAC) A NECESSARY STEP TOWARDS FAIRNESS AND TRANSPARENCY                   Image: NAC PESP 6 Statement       (Source: NAC) The recent statement by the National Arts Council (NAC) announcing the opening of the PESP 6 Appeal process is a welcomed development within the cultural and creative sector.  Most importantly, the confirmation that funding has been set aside specifically for the PESP 6 Appeal signals a recognition that errors, gaps, or misjudgements may have occurred during the initial adjudication process. Appeals are a critical mechanism in public funding systems. They provide practitioners and organisations with an opportunity to seek reconsideration, especially where they believe that applications were misunderstood, unfairly assessed, or administratively disadvantaged....