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.
Hosted by the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and attended by Deputy President Paul Mashatile and Minister Gayton McKenzie, the evening brought 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.
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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 said the arts preserve traditions, open doors for innovation, and remind us of who we are while showing the world the depth of South Africa's creativity.
The winners at the awards were:
· Heritage Category
Outstanding Cultural Landscape Award: Freedom Park Heritage Site Museum
Outstanding Museum Award: William Humphreys Art Gallery
· Literature Category
Outstanding Book, Fiction Award: The Comrade's Wife (by Barbara Boswell)
Outstanding Book, Non-Fiction Award: 100 Years of Dispossession (by Lebogang Seale)
Outstanding Children's Fiction Book: Sanda Makes Some Money (by Yamkela Tywakadi)
Outstanding Publisher Award: Vhakololo Press (Tshifhiwa Given Mukwevho)
· Design Category
Outstanding Architecture/Interior Designer: Asher Zachary Marcus
Outstanding Fashion/Textile Designer: Mzukisi Mbane
· Visual Arts Category
Outstanding Crafter Award: Majolandile Samuel Dyalvane
Outstanding Curator Award: Nontobeko Ntombela
Outstanding Visual Artist Award: Malebogo Naticia Molokoane
· Performance Art Category
Outstanding Musician Award: Mphumelelo Dlamini
Outstanding Actor in Theatre: Tshireletso Nkoane
Outstanding Theatre Production: A Street Taxi Named Desire (by Obett Motaung)
Outstanding Dance Production: INGOMA (by Moeketsi Koena)
Outstanding Poet Performance: Napo Masheane
· Audio Visual Category
Outstanding Documentary Film: London Recruits (by Jacintha de Nobrega)
Outstanding Documentary Series: Free At Last (by Xoliswa Sithole)
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Outstanding Film Fiction Award: Old Righteous Blues (by Catharina Weinek)
"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 said.
"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.
READ | SA's best to be celebrated at NACAs and SA Sport Awards
More than awards, NACA is dedicated to honouring legacy, uplifting today's trailblazers, and inspiring the next generation of South African artists.
