The Gauteng High Court has suspended Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie's decision to dissolve the National Arts Council board pending a judicial review. The court ordered the reinstatement of the board and prohibited McKenzie from appointing an interim board until the review is finalised.
The Gauteng High Court has suspended Sports, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie's decision to dissolve the National Arts Council (NAC), ordering that the council be reinstated pending the outcome of a judicial review into the legality of his decision.
Judge A Millar handed down the judgment on Friday after council members successfully brought an urgent application challenging McKenzie's decision to dissolve the statutory body on May 25, 2026 in terms of Section 5(5) of the National Arts Council Act.
The order suspends the minister's decision with immediate effect and bars him from appointing a replacement council until the review application has been heard and determined.
The dispute arose after McKenzie informed the council in April that it should convene a special meeting to consider a proposed settlement of an ongoing employee bonus dispute. The council subsequently arranged the meeting before receiving a second letter in May informing members that the council had been dissolved.
