The ministry of Sports Arts and Culture remains mum over concerns raised by some members of the NAC Council, who are calling for the minister to reconsider the recent dissolution of the NAC Council.
The acting CEO of the National Arts Council (NAC), Vincent Mashale, has distanced himself from a letter addressed to Minister of Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, contesting the recent dissolution of the council’s board.
The minister's controversial decision has emerged as a response to ongoing labour disputes regarding performance bonuses that span the financial years 2019/20, 2020/21, and 2021/22. These disputes have entrenched employees in a protected strike amid considerable financial distress, raising alarms in the arts community.
On 22 April 2026, McKenzie formally addressed NAC's chairperson, requesting an urgent special council meeting aimed at resolving the ongoing disputes. In his letter, he proposed a once-off, full and final settlement to expedite an agreement to relieve the pressures confronting NAC employees.
McKenzie also set forth a detailed governance framework intended to guide the resolution process. However, despite these clear directives, the council had yet to act, with no settlement reached and frustration mounting within the NAC's ranks.
