The Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has opened probes into funding for several of South Africa’s largest festivals after it withdrew long-standing support and redirected grants under new Mzansi Golden Economy rules.
Events affected include:
- Cape Town International Jazz Festival
- National Arts Festival
- Klein Karoo Nasionale Kunstefees (KKNK)
Among others, these Afrikaans cultural festivals have drawn national audiences and tens of thousands of visitors over many years. (Newsday)
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DA spokesperson Leah Potgieter urged urgency on the human toll.
‘These festivals are the backbone of our cultural economy. They sustain thousands of jobs and bring billions of rands to local economies, and showcase the very best of South African talent to the world,’ she said.
Newsday reports that Minister Gayton McKenzie said ‘The department must support other language festivals too.’
🚨 Gayton McKenzie’s defunding of iconic cultural festivals is a disaster and kills jobs!
These include events like the Cape Town International Jazz Festival, the National Arts Festival, the Suidoosterfees, the KKNK, the Woordfees, Innibos, Aardklop and the Vrystaat Kunstefees. pic.twitter.com/8vxsEDnzFK
— Democratic Alliance (@Our_DA) September 16, 2025
The Mzansi Golden Economy programme has significant funding with the GCIS records stating that R1.4 billion over the medium term is allocated to the subprogramme.
National Treasury budget papers also note an additional R440 million funds intended to protect jobs and stimulate the cultural economy.
Organisers and civil society groups say the sudden shifts leave festivals and the towns that rely on them exposed. They have since called for clear, published adjudication criteria and consultation with the sector to avoid job losses and cancelled seasons.
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