High drama at National Lotteries Commission offices as artists occupy offices and call for audience with management

“Today we are going to sleep here. We want them to deploy a delegation to come and speak to us. We need decision makers, and not people who will come and talk useless stuff. Asa young person I am here and I am going to sleep here, and we are inviting other young people who have applied and followed the processes of the National Lotteries Commission, to also come here and also articulate their issues.”- Gondongwane Mthethwa.

By Edward Tsumele, Winner of NHC Heritage Journalism award, 2026
Main Pic: Filmmaker Godongwane Mthethwa and Grey Lionlion Mafumba

It is a Monday afternoon, November 2, 2026. A young man is suddenly on screen on on a Youtube channel and as the camera focused wider it showed surroundings that appeared like a corporate environment. The young man with a hand-held camera, shooting his environment, did not waste time. He went straight to the point. Without warning. Without wasting time. He was like an actor on a film. Without of course the glamour that comes with a curated wardrobe, and the camera angle was clearly amateurish, but themessage was poignant and powerful. Having a huge impact to those watching the start of a movie, which was not a move. But life imitating art. He ws calm and systematically articulating their grievances.

“Ngiyanibingelela South Africa. I am Gondongwane Mthethwa. I am a Joburg based film maker. Today we are visiting at the National lotteries Commission. I came here with my blanket and there pillow there. Today we are sleeping at the National Lotteries Commission.

As young people we are sick and tired. As young people who are always come last in the food value chain.

The problem we have is that these people opened the call for applications two years ago, but till this day, they have not released the outcome of the call.

Today we are going to sleep here.We want them to deploya delegation to come and speak to us. We need decision makers, and not people who will come and talk useless stuff. AS a young person I am here and I am going to sleep here, and we are inviting other young people who have applied and followed the processes of the National Lotteries Commission to also come here and also articulate their issues. The This institution has a budget of R1,2 billion, 42 percent portion of it must go to charity, 23 percent must go to arts and culture, 28 percent must go to Sports.

We are at an institution where  people are excited about getting their salaries at the end of the month, but not prioritisecommunities. Clean audits are good but you cannot prioritise clean audits over developing and transforming communities.

Today, myself and my colleague Grey are here, and we are going to sleep here. Somewhere in Thembisa, Limpopo and somewhere in Mpumalanga, there is a gogo who has a soup kitchen. Somewhere in Soweto, there is an uncle who has a soccer team that he would like to develop.

IN the last two years they have been getting salaries and what do they think about the communities. When we ask them what they have been doing in the past two nyears, they say they have apologised to communities. We are not taking that nonsense,” Mthethwa explained why he and another artist Grey Zionlion Mafumbu took that drastic action.

Then following this drama, CITYLIFE/ARTS, understands, an urgent hybrid meeting was convened by the commission, attended by its top leadership, including  Chief Executive Officer  Jodi Scholtz (via Zoom), Provincial Manager Katiso Molefe (in person), a head of security (in in person) and Monica Newton Executive manager, grant funding (in person) in a bid to defuse the situation.

The meeting that CITYLIFE/ARTS sources said was heated, is said to have taken place from 8pm till shortly before midnight. However, no agreement seems to have been reached, and those protesting are understood to have thereafter suspended their action till after local government elections taking place on Wednesday, 4 November, 2026.

CITYLIFE/ARTS was unable to contact the National Lotteries Commission last night for comment, But as soon as we reach them for a comment, we will update the story.

However the South African Roadies’ Association, (SARA) a Non-Profit organisation based in Newtown, which trains young people in live events technical skills, according to our sources, is said to have sent an email to Chairperson of the Portfolio Committee of Trade, Industry and Competition Mzwandile Masina, in support of the protesting artists.

CITYLIFE/ARTS last night saw the leaked email signed by SARA President Freddie Nyathela.

“Unfortunately, what is happening at the National Lotteries Commission, appears to be worse than what was happening with the previous Management and Board, according to SARA’s view based on previous and current experience. For example, to illustrate the current chaotic state, there has never been another call for applications since the last one of 2024, leaving the arts and creative sector in limbo, with a R9.59 billion investment mystery.

The National Lotteries Commission has been turned into a personal fiefdom and slush fund for friends, families, cliques, and cabals at the expense of youth empowerment, arts development, and transformation,” the email partly reads.

SARA is currently embroiled in a dispute of its own  with the National Lotteries Commission  over funding allocation.

This is a developing story and as more details emerge about the latest row between the National Lotteries Commission and the protesting artists, we will update the story.