As he dissolves the Market Theatre board Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie cites ‘toxicity, dysfunction and sexual harassment’ as reasons

No board and no Chief Executive Officer, it will take several months to fill these key strategic positions at the Newtown based internationally reputed Theatre institution.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

Since last week when news broke out that the Market Theatre Board has been dissolved by Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, many in the creative sector have been scratching their heads, wondering what is happening at this institution that has so much history behind it. McKenzie appointed the board in February 2025.

This is an institution that history has positioned on its right side, having been started in 1976, the year that the Soweto Student protests changed the game in the struggle against Apartheid. This is when the youth in Soweto and elsewhere took to the streets fighting the Apartheid Government of then that time tried to forcibly introduce Afrikaans as a language of instruction at black schools. But of course as it turned out, the protests were more than about the introduction of Afrikaans at black schools, but the broader issue of freedom for the majority of black people.

But then that same year that is when the idea of a theatre that would cater for the all colours was hashed and implemented by two visionaries, both white men with of course a good taste for fine art, Barney Simon and Mannie Manim. Of course the theatre positioned itself on the side of those who were oppressed, putting up shows that gave the Apartheid rulers sleepless nights. Iconic protest theatre plays such as Woza Albert, Asinamali, Master Harold and the Boys, among others found a home at the Market Theatre. During that time, it was not unheard of to have people wearing dark glasses watching plays along audiences. The Security Police were regular theatre goers during those years. What became known as Protest Theatre took root on the stages of the Market Theatre and it became the darling of the progressives in society at large and theatre lovers.

It is against this background that many are in pain to see such an institution with a proud history facing the situation that it is in, that certainly has the potential to distabilise it.

The issues at play are complex and the current dynamics at play there have led to an ironic situation where instead of theatre patrons enjoying watching drama on The Market Theatre Foundation’s various stages, they are now watching drama of another kind off its stages. The agony is debilitating. The situation is serious. For example the theatre right now has no board. The Theatre right now has no Chief executive Officer. The board was dissolved by the Minister last week, who is reportedly unhappy with the board. Chief Executive Officer Tshiamo Mokgadi has resigned, leaving the ship sailing on auto pilot. Employing a new board will take time as first there is a need for an advertisement to be published by the Department of Sport Arts and Culture (DSAC) calling for public nominations, after which a panel must sit down, sift through the nominations and come up with a short list that must be published for public comment. Then the Minister must appoint those he wishes to from the short list. That process can take several months. Theatre after when the board has been appointed, the process of appointing a new CEO by the board must start.

In other words, it is not inconceivable for the Market Theatre to go for several months without a board, without a CEO. It certainly will not happen this year. It will take even longer to have a substantive CEO.

But yes, DSAC can appoint an Acting CEO or Interim CEO to fill the gap just for the meantime. But again, to whom will that CEO report in the absence of a board?

Currently people’s lips are moving constantly as they try to figure out what may have happened for the Minister to invoke his powers rested in the Cultural Institution Act to dissolve the board of the Market Theatre Foundation that also oversees the running of the Windybrow Centre of the Arts, Market Photo Workshop and Market Theatre laboratory.

Right now, the waters are muddy and no clear answers have been given. Some former board members, at least two have publicly come out suggesting that there was no need for the Minister to dissolve the board.

However on Wednesday, October 22, 2025, McKenzie released a statement revealing more shocking information surrounding the circumstances in which he had to dissolve the board including allegations of toxicity within the ranks of the board, as well as an allegation of sexual harassment by one board member against another.

Below is the statement by McKenzie shedding more light about the drama that is currently playing behind the scenes at the beloved Market Theatre.

“Minister McKenzie sets record straight on dissolution of the The Market Theatre Foundation Council

Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has noted mischaracterisations driven by, in particular, one disgruntled former Council member of the Market Theatre Foundation (MTF) regarding his decision this month to disband the Council of the MTF.

The Minister said: “I do not appreciate some of the comments now circulating, and it has become necessary to set the record straight, including with details that would otherwise not have needed airing in public.

“Unlike what is being said by the former Council member, I was in fact provided with overwhelming reasons to dissolve the Council and approve a process for a new Council to be constituted as soon as possible.”

As a starting point for alarm, the Council was characterised by interactions – both among Council members and towards Management – that led the CEO, among other things, to tender her resignation.

This was concerning, particularly because the CEO had led the entity to achieving a clean audit in the previous audit cycle. The Department and the Minister instituted an investigation into the conduct of the Council and found numerous further instances of great concern, some of which will be detailed below.

Acting with due caution, however, prior to the decision to dissolve, each Council member was asked to provide their written inputs on the concerns related to the functioning of the board. Highly conflicting reports were received, pointing to a Council at cross-purposes with itself and confirming many of the reports and complaints DSAC received.

Among these complaints was a written submission to the Department from one female Council member against a male Council member, accusing him of sexual, verbal and even physical harassment. She was made to feel extremely unsafe and was near the point of resigning as a Council member, simply to put distance between herself and this member.

Other Council members were also questioning whether continuing as members was worth their time and effort given the emerging toxic culture that was beginning to affect their mental wellbeing.

A meeting between the Minister and the Council members was held where the Minister asked each member why he should not consider dissolving the Council. Alarmingly, at least three Council members voted for the dissolution of the Council, which is highly unusual, while the Chairperson herself suggested that the board should be reconstituted with some members removed.

These documents and meetings are on record.

This led the Minister to conclude that it would not be in the best interests of the Market Theatre Foundation to simply ignore such deep divisions and hope that governance at the entity would improve. A decision to reconstitute the Council was therefore taken. This is legal and fully allowed. The Minister established good cause and acted accordingly. Previous boards have been dissolved in similar fashion.”