The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) is mandated to provide leadership to the sport, arts and culture sector to accelerate  its transformation; oversee  the development and management of sport, arts and culture in South Africa; legislate on sports participation, sports infrastructure and safety; improve South Africa’s  international ranking in selected sports through a partnership with the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC); preserve, develop, protect and promote the cultural, heritage, linguistic diversity and legacy of South Africa; lead nation-building and social cohesion through social transformation; enhance archives and records management structures and systems; and promote access to information.
 

In its efforts to enable transformed, capable and professional sport, arts and culture sectors, over the medium term, the department planned to focus on promoting and protecting heritage; creating job opportunities in the cultural and creative sector; and providing integrated and accessible sport infrastructure and events.

Over the medium term, the department aimed to continue developing, transforming, preserving, protecting and promoting sport, arts, and culture at all levels of participation to foster an active, winning, creative and socially cohesive nation.

In support of this, over the period ahead, the department aimed to focus on creating job opportunities to contribute to economic growth, promoting social cohesion and facilitating nation building, developing and promoting sport and recreation, transforming and building capacity in the arts and culture sector, and
building and maintaining heritage assets.

Creating job opportunities in the cultural and creative industries

In addition to their role in instilling social and cultural values  and fostering a national identity among South Africans,  the cultural and creative industries have the potential to contribute to economic growth, employment and international trade.

The Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) Programme seeks  to unlock this potential by facilitating the creation of job opportunities in the arts,  culture and heritage sector  by  supporting interventions designed  to develop audiences,  stimulate demand, increase market access and develop skills.

The MGE  funds community arts  development programmes, incubators,  other skills  development initiatives, national and provincial flagships,  and 270 projects in the creative sector. It has the potential to create 36 000 job opportunities in the cultural and creative industry.

Over 1 020 artists  were expected to be placed in schools  over the next three years  with the aim of developing and improving art practitioners’  pedagogical capabilities and skills  to collaborate with educators in schools and other learning centres, and communicate and interact more effectively with learners.

Promoting social cohesion and facilitating nation building

The DSAC implements the national social  cohesion  strategy and brings into the mainstream targeted groups in arts,  culture and heritage, including arts and culture in schools. It is also responsible for the coordination of its commitment to Priority 6 (social cohesion and safer communities) of government’s 2019‐2024 Medium Term Strategic Framework (MTSF). 

The department plays a crucial role in executing this commitment through various projects, which over the medium term include promoting South African national symbols, especially the national flag, through  public  awareness activations around the #IAmTheFlag campaign and the national anthem.

These projects will be complemented by community dialogue platforms to encourage active citizen participation. The department also planned to implement 20 annual advocacy platforms on social cohesion over the medium-term period.

Developing and promoting sport and recreation

Sport  has  the potential to bring together diverse groups and create  a socially cohesive society with a common national identity. In recognition of this, the department will be channelling funds to promote mass participation and sport development for programmes such as Move for Health, the national indigenous games festival, the Big Walk, National Recreation Day, national youth camps and various outreach programmes.

The department aimed to encourage the development of young people through sport and enable them to showcase  their skills  at events such as  the national school sport championship.

Transforming and building capacity in the arts and culture sector

In support of Priority 3 (education, skills  and health) of government’s 2019‐2024 MTSF, the department is committed to upskilling and transforming the arts and culture sector.

This mainly involves building capacity through bursaries, placements and incubator programmes,  including the design focus programme, the national craft incubator, the emerging creatives programme, the Eersterust visual arts incubator, the women writers’ programme, the creative and technology hub, and incubator programmes at each of the department’s performing arts institutions.

Funds have been allocated to provide financial support to 66 capacity-building projects in the cultural and creative sector, and to award language bursaries  to 750 qualifying students.

Maintaining heritage assets

The maintenance of heritage assets such as libraries and heritage sites is vital for the ongoing imperative of promoting, sustaining and enriching a national identity. To expand access to knowledge and information, the department planned to build 105 libraries  and upgrade 150 community libraries  over the medium-term period. Monuments, memorials and museums serve as important heritage assets that preserve legacies and pay homage to people and events that have shaped South African society and form part of the nation building and social  cohesion agenda.

Funds have been allocated over the medium term for projects such as finalising the Sarah  Baartman Centre of Remembrance and the OR Tambo Garden of Remembrance, and maintaining the Samora Machel Memorial Museum and Iziko Museums.

Role players

Boxing South Africa (BSA)

BSA was established in terms of the Boxing Act of 2001, which mandates the entity to: administer professional boxing; recognise amateur boxing; create and ensure synergy between professional  and amateur boxing; and promote engagement and interaction between associations of boxers, managers, promoters and trainers.

Over the medium term, the entity planned to continue focusing on contributing to nation building, healthy lifestyles and social cohesion by promoting participation in boxing, especially among young people and women; strengthening the boxing regulatory environment; and ensuring the effective administration of the sport.

Netball South Africa (NSA)

The NSA  is  the peak  governing body for the sport  of netball in South Africa, which is responsible for overseeing the practice of the sport across  the country. Additionally,  the NSA  is  the managing body for the National  Netball  Team  – the Spar  Proteas.  Since  1992,  South  Africa  has  participated  in  international tournaments primarily within the Commonwealth nations.

With a strong grassroots network in schools and universities, netball in South Africa has taken on a more professional position with the introduction of the Telkom Netball League, and with many of the players plying their trade in England, Australia  and New Zealand leagues. The NSA hosted the Netball World Cup in Cape Town from 28 July to 6 August 2023, which was the first to be held in Africa.

Sixteen nations contested for the title, which was won by undisputed champions of world netball, Australia, after beating England 61-45 to claim their 12th crown.

Tennis South Africa (TSA)

The TSA  is  the national governing body for the sport of tennis in South Africa created to standardise  rules and regulations and to promote and develop the growth of tennis in South Africa. The  not-for-profit organisation invests  its proceeds  to promote and develop the growth of tennis, from the grass-roots to the professional levels, and to raise funds for and on behalf of tennis players and the game of tennis within South Africa. The TSA is affiliated to both the International Tennis Federation and Confederation of African Tennis.

GolfRSA

GolfRSA is the unified body of the South African Golf Association and Women’s Golf South Africa, administering, operating and providing service to amateur golf in South Africa.

GolfRSA’s  role is  to look after the interests  of more than 460 golf clubs and 139 000 men, women, boy and girl club members, produce champion golfers and provide the opportunity for everyone in South Africa to experience the game of golf.

South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS)

The  SAIDS  promotes  participation  in  sport   without  the  use   of  prohibited performance enhancing substances and methods, and educates sportspeople on fair play and the harmful effects of the use of prohibited performance enhancing substances  and methods. The SAIDS’s core focus is to tackle doping in sport in order to ensure a culture of ethics and fair play within South Africa.

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee

SASCOC is the national multi-coded sporting body responsible for the preparation, presentation and performance of teams to all multi-coded events, namely the Olympic Games, Paralympic Games, Commonwealth Games, World Games, All Africa Games, Olympic Youth Games, Commonwealth Youth Games and Zone VI Games.

It also looks after the various national federations affiliated to it, together with the various provincial sports councils. SASCOC is responsible for the awarding for National Protea Colours to athletes/officials who have  met the criteria to represent South Africa in different sporting codes and arenas.

South Africa is also represented on the Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa and on the Confederation of Southern African National Olympic Committees.

World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)

The WADA was established in 1999 as an international independent agency composed and funded equally by the sport movement and governments of the world. Its key activities  include scientific research, education, development of antidoping capacities  and monitoring of the World Anti-Doping Code – the document harmonising anti-doping policies in all sports and all countries.

The Anti-Doping Education and Learning Platform (ADEL) is the central hub for WADA’s  eLearning courses and  education resources. ADEL supports the anti-doping community by providing training solutions for athletes, their support personnel and other stakeholders.

The Anti-Doping Administration and Management System is a digital tool thatsimplifies the daily activities of all stakeholders  and athletes involved in the anti-doping system.

Athletics South Africa (ASA)

ASA, which reports to the SASCOC, is the national governing body for the sport of athletics in South Africa that is recognised by World Athletics and is also a member of Confederation of African Athletics.

Mind Sports South Africa (MSSA)

The MSSA is a non-profit association recognised as the national controlling body for mind sports in South Africa. It is affiliated to the International eSports Federation, Federation de Jeau du Mondiale, and the International Wargames Federation. Due to its membership of such international bodies, the MSSA  is the sole authority for the games that it caters for in terms of the Sport and Recreation Act of 1998 (as amended).

The MSSA is responsible for the good governance and promotion of historical figure games (also known as  wargames), board games (such as Diplomacy, Checkers, Draughts, Morabaraba, Sport Stacking, etc), card gaming, robotics, and eSports (whether they are played on ‘cell phones, Sony® PSP’s, personal computers or similar).

Major events

Big Walk

The Big Walk is staged on the first Sunday of October to encourage participation in physical  activity.  The annual Big Walk takes place in October. It is aligned with The Association  for International Sport  for All World Walking Day, which encourages and lobbies countries to walk by creating advocacy and awareness
during October.

Annual National Recreation Day

Although not a  public holiday,  the day  provides  an  opportunity to all  South Africans  to be actively involved by participating in recreation activities  that will improve their health and wellbeing.

National Indigenous Games

The  National  Indigenous Games  festival  forms  part  of  South  Africa’s   annual heritage celebrations  and brings  people from culturally  diverse  backgrounds together.  The  popularity of  the festival  in recent years has  contributed to an increase in the number of active participants in sport and recreation events.

The games played included khokho, intonga, ncuva, morabaraba, diketo, drie stokkies, kgati, dibeke and juskei, all of which are indigenous to South Africa.

Major sporting activities

Sporting codes

Major sporting codes in South Africa include:  Athletics; Biking; Mountain Biking; Cycling; Boxing;  Cricket; Canoeing; Rowing; Golf; Hockey;  Ice Hockey; Motorsport; Flying; Netball; Rugby; Running (including South Africa’s  two world-renowned ultra-marathons – the Comrades Marathon in KwaZulu-Natal  and the Two Oceans Marathon in the Western Cape); Soccer; Surfing; Sailing; Swimming; Tennis and Chess.

Services rendered by the DSAC

Some of the services rendered by the department include the:

National Archives, which makes  archival material available to the public. Although actual access to archival documentation is free of charge, the public is charged for the reproduction of material for further use, either on film or paper. Publications  are also  sold, and the public is charged for the transfer of data by magnetic means.

Video and Sound Archives which collects,  preserves  and provides access to audio-visual records  created both by government and private bodies or individuals.

Bureau for Heraldry,  which registers  the heraldic representations,  names, special  names and uniforms of individuals,  associations  and institutions. It also  renders advice on heraldic and related matters and provides financial assistance  to  institutions, boards, committees or other public bodies or persons  in order to promote the functional objectives of the Bureau  of Heraldry.

National Language Service, which provides a translating and editing service to all government departments. It also provides policy development support relating to official language development, particularly  related to the Use of Official Languages Act of 2012.

Promoting and preserving heritage infrastructure

The department’s infrastructure development initiatives aim to achieve redress for South Africa’s  historical imbalances and contribute to social  transformation by establishing and maintaining world-class  heritage sites  to boost tourism and create job opportunities, particularly in historically disadvantaged areas.

Community library services

In addition to building and upgrading libraries,  the department, in collaboration with the Department of Basic Education  (DBE),  the DSAC  also  plans  to build 70 dual library service  points to support school curricula and enhance learning outcomes.

Cultural and creative industries

The MGE  seeks  to create  economic and job opportunities in the arts, culture and heritage sector by supporting programmes designed to develop audiences, stimulate demand, increase market access, and develop skills.

New names of towns

The names of towns that have been changed in the post-democratic dispensation include the following:

Limpopo: Bela-Bela (Warmbaths); Lephalale (Ellisras); Modimolle (Nylstroom); Mokopane (Potgietersrus); Musina (Messina); Polokwane (Pietersburg); Senwabarana (Bochum); Mogwadi (Dendron); Morebeng (Soekmekaar); Modjadjiskloof (Duiwelskloof) and Mookgophong (Naboomspruit). Mpumalanga: eMalahleni (Witbank); eManzana (Badplaas); KwaDukuza (Stanger); Mashishing (Lydenburg); Makhazeni (Belfast); Emgwenya (Waterval Boven); eNtokozweni (Machadodorp);  Mbombela; (Nelspruit);  eMkhondo (Piet Retief) and Thuli Fakude (Leandra). Free State: Mamafubedu (Petrus Steyn), Hlohlolwane (Clocolan) and Intabazwe (Harrismith). Eastern Cape: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth); James Calata (Jamestown); Maletswai (Aliwal North); Cacadu (Lady Frere); Komani (Queenstown); Khowa (Elliot); KwaBhaca (Mount Frere); MaXesibeni (Mount Ayliff); Dikeni (Alice) and Makhanda (Grahamstown). KwaZulu-Natal: eMthonjaneni (Melmoth) and KwaDukuza  (Stanger). Gauteng: Sophiatown (Triomf). Western Cape: Bo-Kaap (Schotchekloof).

New names of airports

King Phalo Airport (East London Airport). Mthatha Airport (KD Matanzima Airport). Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (Port Elizabeth International Airport).

Some of the remarkable awards through which South Africa celebrates excellence in arts and culture include:

• South African Music Awards (SAMAs).
• South African Traditional Music Achievement (SATMA).
• South African Film and Television Awards.
• South African Fashion Industry Awards
• South African Literally Awards
• Van Toeka Af Living Legends Recognition Series.

Cultural Development

National Art Bank of South Africa (NABSA)

The NABSA  is a national programme of the then DAC, as part of the MGE Strategy implementation. The vision of the NABSA  is to promote, foster and stimulate a vibrant market for the collection of South African contemporary visual art.

It is tasked with purchasing artworks from South African  artists, particularly that of emerging artists in order to lease and sell the artworks  to South African Government departments, private companies and private individuals.

Young Patriots Programme

The Young Patriots  Programme was launched in 2016 to encourage  young actively in building the capacity of the arts, culture and heritage sector, and gain meaningful skills  through service delivery improvement and moral regeneration initiatives, and the youth social cohesion advocates programme.

National heritage

As part of efforts in recognising the work of South Africa’s Living Human Treasures, the department has produced two books on women artists who have made a unique contribution to the living heritage. The first two books are about Noria Mabasa, a world-renowned (ceramic and wood) sculptor from Tshino Village in the Vuwani area in Limpopo and Esther Mahlangu, world-famous for her largescale paintings referencing her Ndebele heritage.

Languages

South Africa is a multilingual country. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa  of 1996 guarantees equal status  to 11 official  languages to cater for its diverse people and their cultures. These are English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa,  isiZulu, Afrikaans, Sepedi,  Sesotho,  Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda and Xitsonga.

Other languages used in South Africa  include the Khoi, Nama and  San languages, Sign Language, Arabic, German, Greek, Gujarati, Hebrew, Hindi, French, Portuguese, Sanskrit, Tamil, Shona, Telegu and Urdu. South Africa has various structures and institutions that support the preservation and development of languages.

On 19 July 2023, President Cyril Ramaphosa signed into law the South African Sign Language (SASL) Bill during a ceremony at the Union Buildings  in Pretoria. On 2 May 2023, the National Assembly approved that Section 6 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa of 1996 be amended to include the SASL as the 12th official language to promote the rights of persons who are deaf and hard of hearing.

The SASL is an indigenous language that constitutes an important element of South African linguistic and cultural heritage. It has its own distinct grammatical structures  and lexicon  and it is  independent of any other language.  

The new legislation seeks  to:

• advance the cultural acceptance of SASL;
• ensure  the realisation  of the rights of persons  who are  deaf  and hard of hearing to equal protection and benefit of the law and human dignity; and
• promote inclusive and substantive  equality and prevent or eliminate unfair discrimination on the grounds of disability, as guaranteed by Section 9 of the Constitution.

South Africa became the fourth country on the African continent to recognise sign language as an official language. Other African countries are Kenya, Zimbabwe and Uganda.

Arts and culture organisations

Some  of  the organisations  which are  playing an  active  role  in upholding the mandate of the DSAC include the following:

• The National Heritage Council engages heritage stakeholders in public and private institutions, including the various organs of civil society, mobilises debates and builds awareness about heritage.
• The South African Heritage Resources Agency is the national administrative management body for the protection of South Africa’s  cultural heritage.
• The National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) facilitates opportunities for people to practice and appreciate the arts.
• The National Film and Video Foundation develops and promotes the film and video industry in South Africa.
• The Pan South African Language Board is a constitutional institution that promotes an awareness  of multilingualism as a national resource and supports previously marginalised languages.
• The South African Geographical Names  Council is  an  advisory  body that facilitates  name changes by consulting with communities to advise the Minister of Arts and Culture.
• Arts institutions include the State Theatre in Pretoria, Playhouse Company in Durban, Artscape in Cape Town, Market Theatre in Johannesburg, Performing Arts Centre of the Free State in Bloemfontein and the Windybrow Theatre in Johannesburg.
• Heritage institutions include Die Afrikaanse Taalmuseum en monument, Paarl; Ditsong Museums  of  South  Africa, Pretoria;   Iziko  Museums,  Cape  Town; KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg; National Museum, Bloemfontein; National English Literary  Museum, Grahamstown; Robben Island Museum, Cape Town; Voortrekker Museum, Pietermaritzburg; War Museum of the Boer Republics, Bloemfontein; William Humphreys Art Gallery, Kimberley; Luthuli Museum, Stanger; Nelson Mandela Museum, Mthatha; Freedom Park and the Engelenburg House Art Collection.

Festivals

Some of the different arts and cultural festivals in South Africa include the following:

• The Aardklop National Arts Festival is held annually in October in Potchefstroom, North West. Although it is inherently Afrikaans, it is universal in character.
• Arts  Alive International Festival  in Newtown in Johannesburg  provides the best in homegrown and overseas  entertainment in September.
• The Cape Town International Jazz  Festival features international and African artists.  It also features photographic and art exhibitions.
• The Grahamstown  National Arts  Festival  at the end of July  is  the biggest annual  celebration of  the  arts  on  the  African  continent and  consists   of drama,  dance,  theatre,  comedy, opera,  music,  jazz, visual  art  exhibitions, film, lectures,  a craft fair and workshops,  as well as a children’s arts festival.
• The  Kirkwood  Wildlife  Festival   attracts  visitors   to  see the  game  animal auction, agricultural exhibitions.
• The Dance Umbrella is a festival of  contemporary choreography and dance, presenting work ranging from community-based dance troupes to international companies. The Dance Umbrella has  established  itself as the main “stepping  stone”  for many South  African choreographers who now work internationally.
• The Klein Karoo  Nasionale  Kunstefees, a vibrant festival for the performing arts,   is  held annually  in  Oudtshoorn and  presentations  include  drama, cabaret, and contemporary and classical music.
• The  Moretele Park  Tribute Concert  is  an  annual festival which is  held at Moretele Park  in Mamelodi, Pretoria.
• The Cape Town Minstrel Festival  sees  the minstrels taking over the streets of Cape  Town (Mother City) annually on 2 January  for a parade that dates back to the mid-19th century. Minstrels in troupes parade throughout the city centre in their colourful garb.
• The Mangaung African Cultural Festival in Bloemfontein is one of the biggest cultural tourism events in southern Africa. This 10-day  festival in October showcases the cream of African and international talent.
• The National Arts Festival, held annually in July in Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape, is one of the largest and most diverse arts gatherings in Africa.
• The Splashy Fen Music  Festival near Underberg in KwaZulu-Natal offers a variety of mainstream and alternative rock and pop music.
• Standard Bank Joy of Jazz is Johannesburg’s biggest annual jazz festival, with local and international artists performing at different venues across the city.
• Up the Creek is a popular music festival held in February on the banks of the Breede River near Swellendam in the Western Cape.
• The White Mountain Folk Festival in the Central Drakensberg mountain range offers  great music in an awesome setting for three days  in September.  It features acoustic performances by some of South Africa’s  top folk musicians.
• 503 Music Festival takes place twice a year in KwaMashu, KwaZulu-Natal.  It is all about celebrating and thanking icons who were born and raised in the area,  also bringing other national icons to the township.

Other festivals  that attract both national and international visitors are: Innibos in Nelspruit,  Mpumalanga; Taung Cultural Calabash  in North West;  the Awesome Africa Music Festival in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal;  the Windybrow Theatre Festival in Johannesburg;  Hilton Arts Festival  in KwaZulu-Natal,  and the One City Many Cultures in Cape Town, Western Cape.

Cultural tourism

Cultural festivals, African-cuisine projects, cultural villages, heritage routes and storytelling are areas that benefit from South Africa’s booming tourism industry. Many cultural villages have been established throughout South Africa to reflect the different cultures and traditions of the country’s people.

Initiated by the DSAC  through the MGE  Strategy of 2011, the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) is a statistical and socio-economic research project, launched in 2014, which charts the socio-economic impact of the arts, culture and heritage sectors and the cultural and creative industries in South Africa.

The SACO supports the collection and analysis of data, influences policy, shares  insights and builds on the intellectual capacity gained across the arts, culture and heritage sectors. It works across the breadth of all cultural domains, including the arts, heritage, tourism, museums, libraries, archives and creative industries.

Theatre

There are over 100 active venues across the country offering everything from indigenous drama, music, dance, cabaret and satire to classical opera and ballet.

Performing arts

Performing arts institutions are schedule 3A public entities established in terms of the Cultural Institutions Act of 1998. They are mandated to advance, promote and preserve  the performing arts  in South Africa; enhance the contribution of arts and culture to the economy; and create job opportunities and initiatives that
further nation-building.

The following arts institutions receive annual transfers from the DSAC: Artscape  (Cape Town); The Playhouse  Company (Durban); The Market Theatre (Johannesburg); Performing Arts Centre of the Free State (Bloemfontein); and the South African State Theatre, (Pretoria).

Music

Music  is  one of the key  cultural industries  identified in the Cultural Industrial Growth Strategy  Report and government has committed itself to harnessing its potential. In addition to its  cultural value,  music plays  an important economic role in the country, generating significant copyright revenue. In this industry, the department has solid foundations on which to build.

These include the annual South African Music Week,  the in-school education programme run in conjunction with the DBE, and the Moshito Music Conference and Exhibition. The Taking South African Music to the World Programme is aimed at improving export opportunities for South African music.

Government funds a number of musical ensembles  directly and  indirectly, through the NAC. South Africa is the 25th largest  market for recorded music, with the industry employing more than 20 000 people. Local music accounts for a third of all the music bought by South Africans.

Township jazz  and blues, especially the kwêla music of the 40s and 50s, are being redefined; the country also has a rich choral tradition, and pop and rock musicians have made their mark internationally.

Even techno-rave and house music have found their own variations in local culture. Kwaito and hip-hop are very popular, combining elements of rap, reggae and other musical styles into a distinctly South African style. Kwaai Jazz is also gaining momentum.

South African Music Awards

The Recording Industry of South Africa announced the full list of winners of the SAMAs  at the SunBet  Arena in Pretoria on 18 November. The winners were:

• Female Artist of the Year: Ntokozo Mbambo – Lavish Worship.
• Male Artist of the Year: AKA – Mass  Country.
• Duo/Group of the Year: DJ  Maphorisa  and Kabza   De Small  – Scorpion Kings Live Sun Arena.
• Album of the Year: Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo.
• Newcomer of the Year: Myztro – 2.0 Nkwari.
• Best Amapiano Album: KOA II Part 1 – Kabza  De Small.
• Best Collaboration: AKA featuring Nasty C – Lemons (Lemonade).
• Best Hip-Hop Album: This Is Religion – MashBeatz.
• Best Traditional Album: African Queen 2.0 – Makhadzi.
• Beste Pop: Jona – Bernice van der Westhuizen.
• Best Adult Contemporary Album: Dark Secrets  – Louise Carver.
• Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album: Toe Roep Ek Jou Naam – Jan Blohm & Ryno Velvet.
• Best African Adult Contemporary Album: Usiba Lwe Gazi – Nathi.
• Best Alternative Album: On the Romance of Being – Desire Marea.
• Best African Indigenous Faith Album: Emmanuel – JTG  Gospel Choir.
• Best Classical/Instrumental Album: Fire Beast  – Vox Chamber Choir and Franco Prinsloo.
• Best Reggae Album: Unleashed – Blakka Yut.
• Best R&B Album: But Could the Moments in Between – Ndumiso Manana.
• Best Dance Album: Asante – Morda.
• Best Rock Album: Kanniedood – Francois Badenhorst (Francois Van Coke).
• Best Afropop Album: Isibuko – Sjava.
• Best Traditional Faith Album: The Overflow – Dumi Mkokstad.
• Best Contemporary Faith Album: Lavish Worship – Ntokozo Mbambo.
• Best Jazz Album: In the Spirit of Ntu – Nduduzo Makhathini.
• Best Produced Music Video: Shine  – Elaine  (producer:  Shayna  Gianelli; director: Jesse Ray Diamond).
• Best Produced Album: KOA  II Part  1 – Kabza  De Small  (producer: Leslie George Theko, Artwork Sound,  Da Muziqal Chef,  Mdu aka  TRP, Stakev, DJ Maphorisa and Felo Le Tee).
• Best Engineered Album: Mass  Country – AKA (engineered & produced by Robin Kohl and Itu).
• Best Pop Album: Seasons – Lloyiso.
• Remix of the Year: Ndinovalo – Morda.
• Best Maskandi Album: Umqhele Nethawula – Khuzani.
• Best Kwaito Album: Speak  n Vrostaan – Kwesta  and Kabza  De Small.
• Best Gqom Album: Meeting with the King – DJ Lag.
• Rest of Africa Award: Sounds of Peace – Moreira Chonguiça.
• SAMRO Highest Airplay Composer Award: ‘Sete’  ft.  Young  Stunna  & Blxckie.
• CAPASSO Most Streamed Song Award: ‘Sete’ ft. Young Stunna & Blxckie.
• Lifetime Achievement Award: Mandoza (posthumous); Ihhashi Elimhlophe;
• Gloria Bosman (posthumous) and Pops Mohamed.
• International   Achievement:  Wouter   Kellerman,    Zakes  Bantwini   and Nomcebo Zikode.
• Record of the Year: ‘Stimela’ – 2Point1 ft. Ntate Stunna & Nthabi Sings.
• Music Video of the Year: ‘Stimela’ – 2Point1 ft. Ntate Stunna & Nthabi Sings.

South African Traditional Music Achievement Awards

The 18th SATMA  Awards, which featured 27 categories, took place at the DCC Jesus Dome in Durban on 15 December 2023. The winners were:

• Best Afro Soul Song: Ukukhanya by Eves  Manxeba.
• Best African Jazz Artist/Group: Sandile Masilela.
• Best Reggae Artist/Group: Phumi Maduna.
• Best Praise Singer: Lizo Ndobe.
• Best Indigenous Poet: Msa Lomshiyo.
• Best Upcoming Artist/Group: Mamakie Motlogelwa.
• Best Mbhaqang Artist/Group: Impumelelo.
• Best Traditional Acapella Artist/Group: Bergville Green Lovers.
• Best Traditional Collaboration: MC  Records   KZN  ft.  Mduduzi Ncube  & Musiholiq.
• Best  Traditional Music  Community Radio  Presenter: Silulami  Dumza (Nkqubela FM).
• Best Department of Art and Culture: Free State.
• Best Department of Cultural Affairs Chief Director: Sibongile Nkosi.
• Best Traditional Outfit: Maggymargs Designs.
• Best Traditional Social Media Influencer: King Nuba.
• Best SePedi Artist/Group: Seremi Crew.
• Best Xitsonga Artist/Group: Mr Post.
• Best Ndebele Artist/Group: Isumi Lamadoda.
• Best IsiXhosa Artist/Group: Balungile Shezi.
• Best SeTswana Artist/Group: Nomtiti 9.
• Best SiSwati Artist/Group: Msa Lomshiyo.
• Best TshiVenda Artist/Group: Vhudie.
• Best Indian Artist/Group: Yoji Cee.
• Best Sesotho Artist/Group: Choko.
• Best Boeremusiek Artist/Group: Donovan de Buys.
• Best Maskandi (T&D) Artist/Group: Inkos’yamagcokama.
• Most Voted Song of the Year: Umbayimbayi by Inkabi Zezwe.
• Best Traditional Music SABC Radio Presenter of Year: Mawaza  Kabini (Kwekwezi FM).

Orchestras

The NAC is responsible for funding the  KwaZulu-Natal, Cape and Gauteng orchestras as well as the Cape Town Jazz Orchestra.

Dance

Dancing is part of the African way of life and has become a prime means of artistic expression, with dance companies expanding and exploring new territory. Contemporary  work ranges from normal preconceptions of movement and performance art or performance theatre to the completely unconventional.

The DSAC’s Breathing New Vision  into Theatre and Dance in South Africa, a National Theatre and Dance Policy aims  to nurture and celebrate theatre and dance, embracing and celebrating the diversity of theatre and dance forms in South Africa. The policy builds on a number of proposals that have been made by civil society and other organisations and institutions over the last decade.

Visual arts

South Africa has a rich variety of visual art, with influences ranging from prehistoric, ancient and indigenous art to western, Asian and contemporary art. Art galleries, ranging  from  small  privately owned commercial galleries, to major regional galleries  such as  the South African National Gallery  in Cape Town, the Durban Art Gallery in KwaZulu-Natal, the Johannesburg Art Gallery in Gauteng and King George VI Gallery  in Gqeberha  in the Eastern  Cape,  showcase  collections  of indigenous, historical and contemporary works.

Rock art

There are many traces  of ancient cultures that existed in southern Africa in the distant past. Experts estimate that there are 250 000 rock-art  sites  south of the Zambezi.

The San  people left a priceless  and unique collection of Stone Age paintings and engravings in the region, which also represents  the largest collection of its kind in the world.

Photography

With its scenic beauty, abundant wildlife, diversity of cultures and rich historical heritage, South Africa is a photographer’s paradise. Many South African photographers have been acclaimed  for their work, which features in coffee-table books, documentaries, local  and overseas exhibitions, magazines  and newspapers.

Architecture

South Africa has a rich architectural heritage, reflecting contributions from all the cultural groups in the country. Through the centuries, a unique trend has developed in South Africa’s architectural style, which has been referred to as an innovative marriage of traditions.

This is evident in the variety of architectural structures found all over the country, ranging from humble dwellings,  historical homesteads and public buildings, to modern, commercial buildings reflecting state-of-the-art technology and designs that match the best in the world.

Crafts

South African beadwork, once the insignia of tribal royalty alone, has  found a huge range of applications, from the creation of coverings for everything from bottles to matchboxes. With workplaces ranging from the pavements and markets of the big cities to dwellings in deep rural areas, South Africans produce a remarkable range of arts and crafts, including various forms of traditional artwork and innovative new products.

These range from jewellery, tableware, home decorations, embroidery and key rings to skilfully crafted wooden engravings and wirework sculptures. In addition to the standard  materials such as  beads, grass, leather, fabric and clay, many other mediums are also used, including telephone wire, plastic bags, empty cans, bottle tops and even food tin labels, to create  brightly coloured paper mâché bowls. Shops, markets  and collectors dealing in African crafts provide much-needed employment and income to communities.

Literature

South Africa has a rich and diverse literary history, and the local literature sector has become globally competitive and the country’s writers continue to command respect throughout the world. South Africa commemorates the annual National Book Week  (NBW)  in September. It is an initiative of the South African Book Development Council, in collaboration with the DSAC.

South African Literary Awards (SALA)

The SALA  honoured 34 South Africa’s authors, 25 winners and nine runners-up, at the 18th SALA held on the 32nd International African Writers’ Day, 7th November 2023, Snowflake Venue, Potchefstroom, JB Marks Local Municipality in North West.

Children’s Literature Award
1. Claudette Browne Storrar – Nelly and Sam Thwala.
2. Molebatsi Bosilong – Montsane le Motho.
3. Philip de Vos – Tokkelossiebossie en ander dol gedoentes.
4. Sinathi Mpukwana – Unakho.

Youth Literature Award
1. Onke Mazibuko – The Second Verse.
2. Mihlali Blackie  – Ukuzazi Ukuzithemba Nokuzamkela.
3. Kobate John Sekele  – Makgoma a Dihlong.
4. Annelie Ferreira – Dit het alles begin met ‘n hond.

First Time Pulished Author Award
1. Shevlyn Mottai – Across the Kala Pani.
2. Ntloro Charlotte Pebane – Lerato La Lepheko.
3. Ayanda Chris Mntwapi – Bohlulwe Kukusa.

K. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award
1. Dimakatso David Mokwena – Here Comes the Gay King.

Poetry Award
1. Michèle Betty – Dark Horse.
2. Anelisa Thengimfene – Amajingiqhiw’ entlalo.
3. Kaka  Mokakale  – Tswina ya poko.

Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award
1. Terry-Ann Adams – White Chalk.

Creative Non-Fiction Literary Award
1. Mandla  J. Radebe  – The Lost Prince of the ANC: The Life and Times of Jabulani Nobleman ‘Mzala’ Nxumalo.
2. Siphiwo Mahala – Can Themba: The Making and Breaking of the Intellectual Tsotsi, a Biography.

Novel Award
1. Thivhusiwi Tshindane Tshivhula – Hone Hu Tshi Tea U Maliwa Nga vhugai.
2. Kobate John Sekele  – Re Hwile La Pitsana.
3. Sue Nyathi – An Angel’s Demise.

Posthumous Literary Award
1. Seetsele  Modiri Molema – Solomon Tshekisho Plaatje – Morata Baabo.

Chairperson’s Literary Award
1. Elinor Sisulu – Body of Work.

Lifetime Achievement Literary Award
1. Pitika Ntuli – Body of Work.
2. Diana Ferrus – Body of Work.

Film

The  South  African  Government recognises  the significant  role  played  by  the film  sector  in  nation-building,  promoting social   cohesion,  reconciliation  and supporting economic growth and job creation. Government offers a package of incentives to promote its film production industry.

The Foreign Film and Television  Production incentive aims to attract foreign-based film productions to shoot on location in South Africa, and the South African Film and Television Production and Co-production Incentive aims to assist  local film producers in producing local content.

The South African Emerging Black  Filmmakers  incentive, a subprogramme of the South African Film and Television Production and Co-production Incentive, which aims to assist  local emerging black filmmakers to nurture and grow them to take up big productions and thus contribute towards employment creation.

The  three  largest  film  distributors  in  South  Africa  are  Ster-Kinekor,  United International Pictures  and Nu-Metro.  Ster-Kinekor has  a specialised  art circuit, called Cinema Nouveau, with theatres in Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria.

Film festivals  include the Durban International Film Festival; the North West Film Festival;  the Apollo Film Festival in Victoria West; the Three Continents Film Festival (specialising in African, South American and Asian films); the Soweto Film Festival;  and the Encounters  Documentary Festival,  which alternates  between Cape Town and Johannesburg.

Museums

South Africa  has  more than 300 museums ranging from museums of geology, history, the biological sciences  and the arts,  to mining, agriculture, forestry and many other disciplines.  The Nelson Mandela Museum in Soweto, Johannesburg had signed a partnership with Google to launch the Google Expedition that would provide a virtual tour of the museum.

The  Apartheid Museum opened in 2001  and  is  acknowledged  as  the pre-eminent museum in the world dealing with 20th century South  Africa,  at  the heart of which is the apartheid story. The Apartheid Museum, the first of its kind, illustrates the rise and fall of apartheid.

An architectural  consortium,  comprising several  leading architectural  firms, conceptualised the design of the building on a seven-hectare stand. The museum is  a superb example of design,  space  and landscape  offering the international community a unique South African experience.

National Library of South Africa (NLSA)

The NLSA  was established in terms of the NLSA  Act of 1998, and contributes to socioeconomic,  cultural, educational, scientific  and innovation development by collecting, recording, preserving and making available the national documentary heritage,  and  promoting an  awareness   and  appreciation  for  it,  by  fostering information literacy and facilitating access to information resources. The NLSA provides services to community libraries in partnership with provincial library services. These services  include ICT support, training in preservation and resource  development, the promotion of  legal  deposit  by  book  publishers  in terms of the Legal Deposit Act of 1997, and marketing and exhibition services.

South African Library for the Blind (SALB)

The SALB was established in terms of the South African Library for the Blind Act of 1998, and is mandated to provide a national library and information service to  blind and  print‐handicapped  readers in South Africa. The  SALB receives an operational subsidy  from the DSAC. It is committed to providing a quality service to meet, as fully as practically possible, the information needs of all South Africans who are blind or print handicapped.

Blind SA

Blind SA, based in Johannesburg, provides  services for  blind  and  partially sighted individuals to uplift and empower them by publishing books,  magazines and other documents in Braille.  It equips blind people with the skills  they need to fully and independently participate in society.

This includes support in living without assistance, getting about, using technology, reading, working and socialising. Braille Services of Blind SA  is the only producer of Braille in all 11 official languages of South Africa.

Source: Official Guide to South Africa