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 polit...

When Recruitment Becomes Political: Are We Witnessing a New Form of Capture? This is not a sponsored piece. I already know PA members and supporters of Gayton McKenzie will say this is an attack — but the truth does not become an attack just because it is inconvenient, hulle baiza . In a constitutional democracy, public trust in state institutions rests heavily on one principle: fairness .  Nowhere is this more critical than in the recruitment of public servants. The expectation is simple — that positions in government are filled through transparent, merit-based processes that serve the public interest, not political agendas. Yet, recent developments involving the Patriotic Alliance raise uncomfortable questions. A social media post by Deputy Secretary General Meshe Habana encouraged applicants to submit their details — including full names and positions applied for — directly to her after applying through official channels.  On the surface, this may appear administrative or ...

  2026 CCI Sector Clusters Launch: Big Announcement, Bigger Questions The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie , have announced the inaugural launch of the 17 Cultural and Creative Industries (CCI) Sector Clusters , positioning it as a landmark moment meant to reshape and strengthen South Africa’s creative economy. On paper, the language is ambitious: collaboration, sector growth, transformation, and sustainable economic impact. In practice, however, many practitioners across the CCI value chain are more confused than inspired. Money Was Allocated — But Where Is the Accountability? It is public knowledge within the sector that individual clusters received between R1.2 million and R2 million . Yet, practitioners on the ground report that they remain largely in the dark about what has actually happened within many of these sectors since the funds were released. At the Bosberaad , Minister McKenzie was explicit: fo...

The Compromised State of South Africa's Department of Sport, Arts and Culture: A Call for Urgent Overhaul and Leadership by Industry Experts By Farook Mohammed           Image  Source: Farook Mohammed  As a dedicated artist, activist, and Pan-Africanist deeply embedded in South Africa's cultural landscape, I have watched with growing alarm as the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) under Minister Gayton McKenzie has descended into a state of profound compromise . Appointed in July 2024 amid the formation of the Government of National Unity, McKenzie's tenure has been marred by controversies that undermine the very essence of artistic freedom, transparency, and equitable support for creatives.  Far from fostering the social cohesion and creative excellence the department is mandated to promote, his leadership has amplified divisions, stifled voices, and prioritized political patronage over the needs of artists.  This is not mere mis...

A Non-Negotiable Imperative for South Africa’s Cultural and Creative Industries Public funding is not an act of generosity. It is a constitutional obligation, administered through government and public institutions on behalf of the people of South Africa.  In the Cultural and Creative Industries (CCIs), where public resources are often the lifeline for artistic production, employment, and cultural preservation, accountability must be unapologetic, uncompromising, and consistently enforced . Anything less weakens institutions, discredits the sector, and ultimately punishes practitioners who operate with integrity. Why Accountability in the CCIs Cannot Be Optional The Cultural and Creative Industries occupy a complex space in society. They are economic drivers, job creators, educators, activists, and custodians of identity and heritage.  Yet they are also among the most precarious sectors, frequently forced to justify their value within policy and budgetary debates. When account...

  NAC Is Right. SAACYF Is Wrong on Contractual Obligations: Setting the Record Straight on PESP 6 Yesterday, confusion has escalated within the Cultural and Creative Industries following the SAACYF media statement dated 09 February 2026 , which challenges the National Arts Council (NAC) on what it terms additional contractual demands placed on PESP 6 beneficiaries. While the concerns raised speak to broader frustrations within the sector,  The Creative Passport is compelled to state clearly and responsibly: on the issue of contractual obligations, the NAC is correct — and SAACYF’s interpretation is flawed. This article is not written to undermine artists, practitioners, or representative bodies. It is written to  protect beneficiaries from misinformation , and to remind the sector of a hard but necessary truth: a signed contract governs obligations, not selective readings, assumptions, or public sentiment.                   ...

When Communication Breaks Down, Redress Must Still Be Possible Today is the final day for appeals for the National Arts Council (NAC) Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme 6 (PESP 6) funding. Beyond the deadline itself, this moment invites a deeper reflection on why appeal mechanisms exist and why they must be exercised responsibly — by both applicants and institutions. At its core, an appeal is not an act of defiance. It is an act of engagement. In everyday life, misunderstandings often escalate when assumptions replace dialogue.  Messages are interpreted emotionally, intentions are questioned, and relationships fracture — not always because harm was intended, but because clarity was lost along the way.  Public funding processes are no different. Appeals Exist Because Human Error Exists The NAC’s mandate recognises a simple truth: public institutions are run by people, and people can make mistakes. Miscommunication, administrative oversight, incorrect assumptions, or inc...