Thami AkaMbongo Manzana: Is the National Arts Council playing the sector, or is this postponement justifiable?

Once again, the arts sector finds itself in a familiar state of uncertainty. On 16 October 2025, the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) issued a media statement announcing the postponement of the 2025 Annual Project Funding Call outcomes – moving the release date from 17 October to 31 October 2025. The reason? To uphold fairness, quality, and integrity in the adjudication process.

At face value, this explanation sounds reasonable. After all, artists and organisations would rather have a transparent and credible process than a rushed one. But behind the polished language of “fairness” and “quality” lies a deeper concern – trust. The arts sector has heard these words before, often as a prelude to disappointment.

Broken Promises and Shifting Dates

When the NAC met with the South African United Cultural and Creative Industries Federation (SAUCCIF), the South African Arts and Culture Youth Forum (SAACYF), and various stakeholders later this year, a clear agreement was made. The Annual Funding Call outcomes were to be announced no later than 17 October 2025. It was also agreed that the PESP 6 outcomes would be finalised by 1 December 2025.

Now, with the Annual Call results moved to 31 October, the question naturally arises:

What does this mean for PESP 6?

If the first process is delayed, can the second realistically remain on schedule? Or are we bracing for yet another postponement dressed in the same language of “integrity” and “fairness”?

Accountability or Administrative Failure?

Somewhere between the promises made and the press release issued, something went wrong. Who dropped the ball? Was it a failure of planning within the NAC? Did the adjudication panels fail to deliver on time? Were the promised inductions and preparations for adjudicators even conducted as scheduled?

And perhaps most importantly – were stakeholders consulted before this postponement was decided, or were they merely informed after the fact?

This decision seems to reflect deeper governance issues within the NAC. Leadership transitions – from one Interim CEO to another – often bring shifts in direction and accountability. Could this postponement indicate that the new Interim CEO is not following through on commitments made by their predecessor? If so, what does this mean for institutional continuity and the credibility of the NAC’s engagements with the sector?

The Human Cost of Delays

Beyond the bureaucratic explanations lies a stark reality: artists and organisations have been waiting all year for these outcomes. Many have gone without work, without income, and without support – clinging to the hope that this funding would provide a lifeline. Every delay deepens the financial and emotional strain on a sector already on its knees.

Postponing funding decisions is not merely an administrative inconvenience; it is a delay in livelihoods, a pause on creativity, and a betrayal of trust. The arts community deserves clarity, consistency, and respect – not repeated postponements disguised as “quality control.”

Who’s Fooling Who?

The NAC’s statement ends by reaffirming its commitment to “excellence” and “accountability.” But words alone no longer suffice. The sector is right to ask: who is fooling who?

Are artists being asked to accept inefficiency as integrity? Or is the NAC genuinely overwhelmed by the process – a victim of its own structural constraints?

If transparency is truly the goal, then the NAC must do more than issue carefully worded statements. It must openly communicate what went wrong, acknowledge the impact, and engage directly with the stakeholders it claims to serve.

A Call for Action

This moment should not pass quietly. The sector must demand accountability, not as an act of defiance but as an assertion of dignity. The NAC must realise that delays have consequences, and that promises bind institutions just as much as they do individuals.

Until real transparency and reliability take root, the question will linger:

Is the NAC truly serving the arts sector – or merely managing its expectations?

Thami AkaMbongo Manzana
akambongo@gmail.com
AkaMbongo Foundation Pty Ltd

Disclaimer: Artslink.co.za encourages freedom of speech and the expression of diverse views. The views published do not necessarily represent the views of Artslink.co.za.

This piece is penned by Thami akaMbongo Manzana in his personal capacity – as an artist, thinker, and observer of life.

The reflections, ideas, and expressions shared here are entirely his own and are not meant to represent the views or positions of any organization, structure, or association he may be part of.

These are personal thoughts flowing from the heart, mind, and lived experience – meant to provoke thought, inspire dialogue, and spark the imagination.