Leadership Update at the National Arts Council of South Africa 

NEW INTERIM CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER 

Today marks another leadership shift at the National Arts Council of South Africa (NAC) as the Council officially announced the appointment of Mr Lebogang Mogoera as Interim Chief Executive Officer, effective 1 July 2025. This follows the conclusion of Ms Julie Diphofa’s tenure in the interim role, with the NAC expressing appreciation for her leadership in advancing the organisation’s mandate during a challenging period for the sector.

Mr Mogoera, seconded by the Honourable Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Mr Gayton McKenzie, steps into the position while the Council continues its process of appointing a permanent CEO and CFO. Coming from his role as Chief Director: Infrastructure Support at the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC), he brings significant experience in institutional management and infrastructure development. While the NAC and the Department have expressed confidence in Mr Mogoera’s leadership, the big question remains: will this new appointment finally turn the NAC into a more artist-focused, responsive, and transparent institution?

For years, many in South Africa’s arts community have voiced concerns about the NAC’s ability to adequately support, fund, and develop grassroots and professional creative projects. Funding delays, administrative hurdles, and sector discontent have cast a long shadow over the Council’s public image. Artists and cultural organisations across the country are now watching closely to see whether Mr Mogoera’s leadership will bring the much, needed accountability and sector engagement they have long called for. Will this new chapter deliver meaningful change, ensuring that the NAC truly works for the artists it was created to serve?

As South Africa’s creative sector continues to navigate economic challenges, shrinking public funding, and infrastructure crises, decisive and artist-centred leadership at the NAC is not just expected — it’s essential. We invite our readers and the country’s creative community to share their thoughts: What should the new CEO prioritise to make the NAC work better for artists?