Sun city: The stage was alive with celebration as the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) hosted the 2025 National Arts and Culture Awards (NACA) at the Sun City Super Bowl in the North West. Friday's ceremony shone a national spotlight on the extraordinary storytellers, performers, and visionaries who continue to shape South Africa's cultural identity.
According to South African Government News Agency, the event was attended by Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Minister Gayton McKenzie, bringing together icons, innovators, and emerging voices across the creative industries. From theatre and dance to literature, film, design, and heritage, the awards reaffirmed that South Africa's greatest resource is the imagination and resilience of its people.
The awards recognised excellence across South Africa's creative industries, from performance and visual arts to literature, design, film, and cultural heritage. 'The arts remain one of the most powerful forces in our society, they carry our history, express our present, and inspire our future. As a nation, the arts are not only a source of pride but also a driver of unity, healing and progress,' said the department in a statement on Sunday.
The department highlighted the role of the arts in preserving traditions, opening doors for innovation, and showcasing the depth of South Africa's creativity. The winners at the awards included Freedom Park Heritage Site Museum for Outstanding Cultural Landscape Award and William Humphreys Art Gallery for Outstanding Museum Award in the Heritage category. In the Literature category, Barbara Boswell's "The Comrade's Wife" received the Outstanding Book, Fiction Award, and Lebogang Seale's "100 Years of Dispossession" won the Outstanding Book, Non-Fiction Award.
In the Design category, Asher Zachary Marcus was honoured as Outstanding Architecture/Interior Designer, while Mzukisi Mbane received the Outstanding Fashion/Textile Designer award. The Visual Arts category saw Majolandile Samuel Dyalvane and Malebogo Naticia Molokoane winning the Outstanding Crafter Award and Outstanding Visual Artist Award, respectively.
In the Performance Art category, Mphumelelo Dlamini was awarded Outstanding Musician, and Tshireletso Nkoane was named Outstanding Actor in Theatre. The Outstanding Theatre Production award went to "A Street Taxi Named Desire" by Obett Motaung, and Moeketsi Koena's "INGOMA" won Outstanding Dance Production.
The Audio Visual category celebrated Jacintha de Nobrega's "London Recruits" as the Outstanding Documentary Film, while Xoliswa Sithole's "Free At Last" received the Outstanding Documentary Series award. Catharina Weinek's "Old Righteous Blues" was honoured with the Outstanding Film Fiction Award.
'The winners of NACA 2025 embody the richness of South Africa's creative spirit. Their work pushes boundaries, honours traditions, and gives voice to the stories that define us,' the department stated. 'Together, they stand as proof that art is not a luxury, but a national necessity - shaping how we see ourselves and how the world sees us.'
The ceremony also featured unforgettable performances and tributes, weaving together music, dance, and storytelling in a way that reflected the vibrancy and resilience of South Africa's cultural heartbeat. More than awards, NACA is dedicated to honouring legacy, uplifting today's trailblazers, and inspiring the next generation of South African artists.