Parliament intervenes in the funding row between South African Roadies Association and National Lotteries Commission

In this latest dispute, Parliament has requested a formal report from the National Lotteries Commission about the delay in resolving the dispute.

By Edward Tsumele, CITYLIFE/ARTS Editor

The dispute, long standing, between the National Lotteries’ Distribution Agency for Arts, Culture and Heritage, and the Non-Profit Organisation, South African Roadies Association (SARA), over funding allocation, has now taken a new turn, drawing in Parliament.

The Parliamentary Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition, has written to the National Lotteries Commission (NLC), under which the Distribution Agency for Arts and Culture operates, requesting a formal report on the debacle. The agency was set up to disburse funding to qualifying organisations in the arts and cultural sector through a national call for applications, by the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition.

A letter seen by CITYLIFE/ARTS, addressed to SARA, signed by the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee of Trade, Industry and Competition, Mzwandile Masina, reads partly as follows:

“With reference to your letter dated June 17, 2026, in which the South African Roadies Association, raised a formal complaint regarding the National Lotteries Commission’s (NLC) delay in resolving its funding application, and requested intervention of this Committee. The Committee has noted the concerns raised, in particular the assertion that the delays are prejudicial to youth empowerment and skills development.

“Please be advised that the Committee has formally requested a written report from the NLC on the current status of SARA’s funding application, and the reasons for the delay.”

The intervention by the Committee, CITYLIFE/ARTS understands, followed a complaint laid by the Newtown based organisation, which trains youth in technical production skills, such as stage management, lighting, sound and rigging for live events, such as concerts, theatre and conferences.

At the heart of this latest dispute, one of several SARA has had with NLC over the years, emanating from the last cohort of NLC management and spilling over into the new administration headed by Commissioner Jodi Scholtz, is the allocation of less funds than applied for. That shortfall, SARA, maintains, will result in the organisation not fulfilling its mandate, as per the budget that accompanied its application, which the NLC Distribution Agency has successfully adjudicated on this year, and allocated slightly more than a third less than what SARA had applied for.

SARA had applied for R15, 743, 609.07, and instead, the NLC through its Distribution Agency for Arts, Culture and Heritage approved R9 784 536.00, more than a third  less than its requested funding.

SARA says no reason has been given, and therefore, SARA has requested information related to the adjudication process and other information related to funding by the NLC.

The organisation confirmed to CITYLIFE/ARTS that it has requested this information through a Personal Access Information Act (PAIA) application through it lawyers.

The PAIA application seen by this publication, requests the following information from NLC:

.The date of adjudication. Confirmation of the exact date on which SARA’s application was formally evaluated by the adjudication Committee/Panel

.The Minutes of the meeting. The relevant excerpts of the official minutes from the specific Adjudication /Panel.

.Formal reasons for the partial award. A clear statement of reasons detailing why the committee elected not to grant the full R15, 743, 609.07 requested, specifically highlighting if any line items were explicitly rejected or downscaled.

.How much was allocated to the Arts, Culture and Heritage National Distribution Agency in the 2024/25 and 2025/26 financial years, and how much was distributed, especially for arts development and youth empowerment.

.Copy of the report of the site visit inspection conducted by an NLC grant officer at SARA House on 10 March, 2026.

Freddie Nyathela the President of the South African Roadies Association, confirmed to this publication that the association has received a letter from the Portfolio Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition, confirming its intervention in the dispute through a formal request for a report on the row from the NLC.

“SARA appreciates the intervention of the Portfolio Committee, and it would be even greater if, the Portfolio Committee had given the NLC a timeframe within which to provide the requested report, regarding this long-dragging unfortunate matter,” said Nyathela.

CITYIFE/ARTS contacted the NLC Commissioner Scholtz on the latest development surrounding Parliament’s intervention and SARA’s outstanding PAIA request.

After sending her our request for questions through the email, we made a follow up by WhatsAPP message.

Scholtz responded by WhatsAPP message, saying that she was going to attend to the matter right away, and would come back to us with the response. But at the time of publishing, she had not done so. If, and when we receive her response, we will publish it.

Our questions sent to the Commissioner are as follows:

.It has come to our attention that the Parliamentary Committee on Trade, Industry and Competition, has requested a formal report from the NLC over the delay on resolving the dispute. Has the NLC received such a request from the Committee and has the report been finalised and sent to Parliament?

.Is the NLC acceding to the PAIA request from SARA, and if so, when is that request going to be attended to? This is for the story we will publish tomorrow.