Sports, Arts and Culture

Promoting social cohesion and facilitating nation-building

Creating job opportunities in the cultural and creative

Developing and promoting sport recreation

Role players

Major events

Major sporting activities

Services rendered by DSAC

Cultural Development

 

 

 

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.

The department's overarching objective is to develop, transform, preserve, protect and promote sport, arts and culture at all levels of participation to foster an active, winning, creative and socially cohesive nation. In support of this, the department will, over the period ahead, focus on: promoting social cohesion and facilitating nation-building; creating job opportunities to contribute to economic growth; developing and promoting sport and recreation; transforming and building capacity in the sport. arts and culture sector; and building and maintaining heritage assets.

Promoting social cohesion and facilitating nation-building

The department is responsible for coordinating the department's commitment to government's priority to foster social cohesion. This includes planned community dialogue platforms to encourage active citizen participation. Through eminent South Africans appointed as social cohesion advocates, the department implements annual advocacy platforms on social cohesion.

Creating job opportunities in the cultural and creative

The Mzansi Golden Economy (MGE) programme unlocks the potential for economic growth by exposing creative products to markets and audiences to promote artists and create access to opportunities. The programme funds a targeted I 5 projects per year to enable market access, nine provincial community arts development programmes, 25 national and provincial flagships, and 65 creative industry projects.

Over the medium term, the MGE has been allocated funds to create job opportunities in the cultural and creative sector, and through the creative industries stimulus. Over the next three years, artists will be placed in schools to develop and improve art practitioners' pedagogical capabilities and skills to collaborate with educators, and communicate and interact more effectively with learners.

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 DSAC supports programmes such as the Move for Health Day; the National Indigenous Games Festival; National Recreation Day, which will be integrated with the Big Walk; the Nelson Mandela Sport and Culture Day, and various outreach programmes, including the ministerial outreach programme.

The Mass Participation and Sport Development Grant enables provincial departments responsible for sport, arts and culture to offer development and support programmes for talented and high-performance athletes. A budget has been allocated to encourage the development of young people through supporting school sport leagues at the district level and to enable them to showcase their skills at events such as the National School Sport Championship.

Funds have been allocated to support organised community-based sport and recreation activities, and to provide sports equipment and attire to schools, hubs and clubs to enable participation in sport and recreation.The DSAC is committed to upskilling and transforming the sport, arts and culture sector.This mainly involves building capacity through bursaries, internships and incubator programmes.

Role players

Boxing South Africa

BSA was established in terms of the Boxing Act of 200 I, 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 (TNL).

The Premier Netball League is the top level netball league featuring South African teams. It was formed in 2014, organised by NSA. Between 2014 and 2018, the league was known as the Brutal Fruit Netball Cup, due to sponsorship and naming rights arrangements. Since 2019, the league has been sponsored by Telkom and is widely known as the TNL.The league features two divisions and uses a promotion and relegation format. The winners of the Division Two Shield can gain promotion to Division One by winning a play off.

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.

Gollf South Africa (GolfRSA)

GolfRSA is the unified body of the South African Golf Association and Womens Golf South Africa, administering, operating and providing service to amateur golf in South Africa. Its 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. Some of GolfRSA's responsibilities are:

• Working across the full spectrum of golf development in South Africa;
• Providing support services to member clubs and maintaining a uniform system of handicapping, administering and applying the rules;
• Providing championships and competitions for all ages and abilities at some of the most prestigious courses in the country; and
• Identifying and developing the country's most talented amateur golfers, with the very top players joining our elite National Squads for specialised training and playing opportunities.

South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS)

The SAIDS, which was established in terms of the SAIDS Act of 1997, is mandated to promote participation in sport free from the use of prohibited substances or methods intended to artificially enhance performance. It is the custodian of anti-doping and ethics in South African sport, and actively collaborates with colleagues in the rest of Africa to keep sport clean.

South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC)

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 that simplifies the daily activities of all stakeholders and athletes involved in the antidoping 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 well-being.

National Indegenous 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 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.

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);
• (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).
• North West: Lethabong (Hartbeesfontein); Mahikeng (2010) - Mafeking (Mafikeng in 1980, upon incorporation into then Bophuthatswana);Lokotsi (Nooitgedacht);Kgangkgang (Klipan); Mosinki (Austrey).
• Free State: Mamafubedu (Petrus Steyn), Hlohlolwane (Clocolan) and lntabazwe
  (Harrismith).
• Eastern Cape: Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth);James Calata Uamestown); Maletswai (Aliwal North); Cacadu (Lady Frere); Komani (Queenstown); Khowa (Elliot); KwaBhaca (Mount Frere); MaXesibeni (MountAyliff); Dikeni (Alice) and Makhanda (Grahamstown).
• KwaZulu-Natal: eMthonjaneni (Melmoth) and KwaDukuza (Stanger).
• Gauteng: Sophiatown (Triomf); Centurion (Verwoerdburg);
• Western Cape: Bo-Kaap (Schotchekloof); District Six (Zonnebloem) and Tesselaarsdal (Teslaarsdal).

New names of airports

• King Phalo Airport (East London Airport).
• Mthatha Airport (KD MatanzimaAirport).
• Chief Dawid Stuurman International Airport (Port Elizabeth International Airport).
• George Airport (PW Botha Airport).
• Cape Town International Airport (DF Malan Airport).
• Durban International Airport (Louis Botha Airport). In 20 IO the airport was closed down and was replaced by the newly built King Shaka International Airport.
• Upington Airport (Pierre van Ryneveld Airport).
• Kimberley Airport (B.J. Vorster Airport).
• O.R. Tambo International Airport Uan Smuts 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

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 12 official languages to cater for its diverse people and their cultures. These are English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu,Afrikaans, Sepedi, Sesotho, Setswana, Siswati, Tshivenda, Xitsonga and South African Sign Language.

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.

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; lziko Museums, Cape Town; KwaZulu-Natal Museum, Pietermaritzburg; National Museum, Bloemfontein; National English Literary Museum, Grahamstown; Robben Island Museum, Cape Town; Yoortrekker 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 datesvback to the mid-19th century. Minstrels in troupes parade throughout the cityvcentre in their colourful garb.
• The Mangaung African Cultural Festival in Bloemfontein is one of the biggestvcultural tourism events in southern Africa. This 10-day festival in Octobervshowcases 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: lnnibos 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 20 I I, 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 Uohannesburg); 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 kwela music of the 40s and S0s, 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 following winners of the 30th anniversary of the SAMAs were announced on 2 November 2024 at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand, Johannesburg:

• Best Adult Contemporary Album: Stimela - Drakensberg Boys Choir.
• lkwekwezi FM Best African Adult Contemporary Album: Sane - Brenda Mtambo.
• Best Afro Pop Album: lmizwa - Lwah Ndlunkulu.
• Best Alternative Album: I'm With The Singer - I'm With The Singer.
• Motsweding FM Best Amapiano Album: lsimo - Kabza De Small and Mthunzi.
• Best Classical/Instrumental Album: End of the Beginning- Fanie Dick.
• Best Collaboration: 'iP/an' - Dlala Thukzin, Sykes and Zaba.
• Best Engineered Album: Reimagined - The Soil.
• Best Gqom Album: We Don't Play The Same Gqom 2 - QueDj.
• Best Hip Hop Album: Dust - Priddy Ugly.
• Best Jazz Album: Enhlizweni: Song Stories From My Heartland - Steve Dyer.
• Best Kwaito Album: Most Wanted - Sykes.
• Best Maskandi Album: Uyihlo noNyoko - Ugatsheni.
• Best Pop Album: Tyla - Tyla.
• Best Produced Album: No Other Love - David Watkyns.
• Best Produced Music Video: 'Dali' by Kamo Mphela - Kudzi.
• Umhlobo Wenene FM Best R&B/Soul Album: Testament - Lordkez.
• Best Rock Album: Dans Deur Die Danker - Francois van Coke.
• Best Traditional Faith Music Album: Mororiseng - Omega Khunou.
• Beste Kontemporere Musiek Album: Estetika - Elandre.
• Beste Pop Album: Alma/ Gly - Die  Piesangskille.
• Remix of the Year: 'Weekend Special (Jnr SA remix)' - Jnr SA.
• Best African Indigenous Faith Music Album: Soothe My Soul: Songs from our South African Church - Ladysmith Black Mambazo.
• Best Contemporary Faith Music Album: Unusual - Xolly Mncwango.
• SANTAM Newcomer of the Year: Ty/a - Tyla.
• SAMPRA Album of the Year: /simo - Kabza De Small and Mthunzi.
• Radio 2000 Duo/Group of the Year: Kabza De Small and Mthunzi - /simo.
• Lesedi FM Male Artist of the Year: Ugatsheni - Uyih/o noNyoko.
• Ukhozi FM Female Artist of the Year: Tyla - Tyla.
• Rest of Africa Award: Son Of A Tribe (Royalty Edition) - Edgar Muzah.
• Motsepe Foundation Record of the Year: Paris - Mthandeni SK ft. Lwah Ndlunkulu.
• Best Reggae Album: Give Praises - Skeleton Blazer.
• Best Dance Album: Permanent Music 3 - Dlala Thukzin.
• Best Traditional Music Album: Hamba Naye - Soul Brothers.
• CAPASSO Most Streamed Song of the Year: Mnike - Tyler ICU andTumelo_za. featuring DJ Maphorisa, Nandipha 808, Ceeka RSA and Tyron Dee.
• RiSA Audio and Visual Music Video of the Year: Lemons (Lemonade) -AKA & Nasty C.
• Chairperson Award: Oskido.
• International Achievement: Tyla.
• Lifetime Achievement Awards: Sipho Makhabane and Ringo Madlingozi.

South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs)

The 18th annual SAFTAs took place on 25 and 26 October 2024 at the at the Gallagher Convention Centre in Midrand,Johannesburg and the following winners were announced:

• Best Competition Reality Show: Kokkedoor: Vuur & Vlam | Homebrew Films,
  kykNET.
• Best Structured Soapie Reality Show: Young, Famous and African S2 | Urban Brew Studios & A Pop Media, Netflix.
• Best Online Content: The Adventures of Noko Mashaba - Struggles of SA Youth | Rams Comics, YouTube/Facebook.
• Best Current Affairs Programme: Checkpoint | eNCA.
• Best International Format: The Masked Singer SA | Rose and Oaks Media, SABC3.
• Best Entertainment Programme: Koppestamp | Just Ad Production, kykNET.
• Best Variety Show: Sport@/10 | SABC Sport, SABC.
• Best Achievement In Scriptwriting - Feature Film: The Fragile King | Tristan Holmes, The Ergo Company, Amazon Prime Video.
• Best Supporting Actress in a TV Soap: Marlee van der Merwe (Binnelanders) |
  Stark Films, kykNET.
• Best Supporting Actor in a TV Soap: Kabelo Thai (Scandal!) | Ochre Media, e.tv.
• Best Supporting Actress in a Telenovela: Mmarona Motsegoa (Redemption) |
  Burnt Onion Productions & Seriti Films, BET Africa.
• Best Supporting Actor in a Telenovela: Mpho Sebeng (The Estate) | Clive Morris Productions, SABC3.
• Best Actress in a TV Soap: Elizabeth Serunye (Skeem Saam) | Peu, SABC 1.
• Best Actor in a TV Soap: Germandt Geldenhuys (Binnelanders) | Stark Films, kykNET.
• Best Actress in a Telenovela: Zikhona Sodlaka (Gqeberha - The Empire) | Tshedza Pictures, Mzansi Magic.
• Best Actor in a Telenovela: Presley Chweneyagae (The River) | Tshedza Pictures,
  IMagic.
• Best TV Soap: Skeem Saam | Peu, SABC.
• Best Telenovela: Outlaws | Tshedza Pictures, Showmax.
• Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama: Natasha Sutherland (Lioness S2) | Ochre Media ADO Arena Holdings, M-Net.
• Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama: Nat Ramabulana (Fatal Seduction) | Ochre Media ADO Arena Holdings, Netflix.
• Best Actress in a TV Drama: Shannon Esra (Lioness S2) | Ochre Media ADO Arena Holdings, M-Net.
• Best Actor in a TV Drama: Thembinkosi Mthembu (Shaka iLembe) | Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic.
• Best TV Drama: Shaka iLembe | Bomb Shelter, Mzansi Magic.
• Best Supporting Actress in a TV Comedy: Dorothy Anne Gould (Yoh! Christmas) | BBZEE Films, Netflix.
• Best Supporting Actor in a TV Comedy: Kagiso Modupe (Yoh! Christmas) | BBZEE Films, Netflix.
• Best Actress in a TV Comedy: Marion Holm (Taktiek) | Nagvlug Films, kykNET
• Best Actor in a TV Comedy: Prev Reddy (Miseducation) | Burnt Onion Productions, Netflix.
• Best TV Comedy: Yoh! Christmas | BBZEE Films, Netflix.
• Best Short Film: Father's Day | Bunzi Bear Pictures, The Film Festival Doctor.
• Best Supporting Actress In A Feature Film: Jennifer Steyn (The Fragile King) | The Ergo Company, Amazon Prime Video.
• Best Supporting Actor in a Feature Film: Adrian Alper (Seconds) | Free Women Films, Amazon Prime Video.
• Best Actress in a Feature Film: Antoinette Louw (The Fragile King) | The Ergo Company, Amazon Prime Video.
• Best Actor in a Feature Film: Vusi Kunene (Seconds) | Free Women Films, Amazon Prime Video.
• Best Achievement In Directing - Feature Film: The Fragile King | Tristan Holmes,The Ergo Company, Amazon Prime Video.
• Best Feature Film: The Fragile King | The Ergo Company, Amazon Prime Video.
• Best TV Presenter (public vote): Laconco (Forever Thina) | Urban Brew Studios, Mzansi Magic.
• Most Popular TV Soap or Telenovela (public vote): Scandal! | Ochre Media, e.tv.
• Lifetime Achiever Award: Arthur Molepo and Mfundi Vundla.

Ochestras

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 mache 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 Africa Library Awards

The SALAs seek to pay tribute to South African writers who have distinguished themselves as groundbreaking producers and creators of literature, while celebrating literary excellence in the depiction and sharing of South Africa's histories, value systems, philosophies and art as inscribed and preserved in all the official languages of South Africa.

The 19th edition of the SALA was held at the Ditsong Museum of Cultural History in Pretoria on 7 November 2024.The winners were:

Children's Literature Award

1. Kwazi Ndlangisa - Vukani Kusile.
2. Deidre Jantjies - Stories in die wind.

Youth Literature Award

1. Kobate John Sekele - Ba Kwa Ka Letla/o.
2. Nellie Alberts - Reg in die middel van nerens.

First Time Published Author Award

1. Mafika Jetro Mahlangu - Umrhayili.
2. Bonga Matu - Thu/a Mama Thu/a: Big Girls don't Cry.
3. Sinethemba Simlindile Bhila - Hawu Mfundisi.
4. Lwando Dlephu - Amava Ahlabahlosile.
5. Beauty Maretsane Madihlabe - Ke tlo mo paledisa.

K. Sello Duiker Memorial Literary Award

1. Sihle Qwabe - The Resurrection.

Poetry Award

1. Fhulufhelo Ntsieni - Rudzani.
2. Sithembele Isaac Xhegwana - Dark Lines of History.

Nadine Gordimer Short Story Award

1. Dawn Garisch - What Remains.

Creative Non-Fiction Literary Award

1. Sihle Khumalo - Milk the Beloved Country.

Novel Award

1. Barry Gilder - At Fire Hour
2. Jabulane Johan Ncongwane - Ufa Letilima.
3. Sithembile Mputa - Unyana Wolahleko.
4. SJ Naude - Van vaders en vlugtelinge.
5. Kabelo Duncan Kgatea - Tsamaya sent/e 'tata' Mandela.

Literary Translators Award

1. Misokuhle Nyathikazi - Ntofo-Ntofo.
2. Michiel Heyns - The Dao of Daniel.
3. Vonani Bila - Khanimamba N'want/hadyana no Mbila.
4. Eben Venter - Decima.

Chairperson's Literary Award

1. Barbara Masekela.

Lifetime Achievement Literary Award (for body of work)

1. Kanakana Yvonne Ladzani.

Literary Journalism Award

1. Gugulethu Mhlungu - Literary promotional work.
2. SAFM: SABC English Radio Station - The Book Reading Programme.

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 subprogram me of the South African Film and Television Production and Co-production Incentive, aims to assist local emerging black filmmakers to nurture and grow them to take up big productions and thus contribute towards employment creation.

The top film distributors in South Africa include Ster-Kinekor, Empire Entertainment; United International Pictures; Multichoice Studios;AAA Entertainment, Filmfinity and Nu-Metro.

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 200 I and is acknowledged as the preeminent 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 socio­ economic, 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 I I official languages of South Africa.

Source: Official Guide to South Africa