SOUTH AFRICAN LITERARY AWARDS, WRITE ASSOCIATES MOURN AMBASSADOR NATHI MTHETHWA’S PASSING
The South African Literary Awards (SALA) and the wRite associates join the nation and the peoples of the world in mourning the tragic and untimely passing last week of Mr. Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa’s Ambassador to France, former Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture and Minister of Safety and Security.
SALA and the wRite associates convey their heartfelt sympathies to Mrs. Philisiwe Mthethwa, the Mthethwa and Buthelezi families, the staff of the South African Embassy in France, colleagues, comrades and associates in his former ministerial positions in the police and sport, arts and culture, respectively, his political home the African National Congress, and all who held him dearly in their hearts.
Established in 2005, SALA bore witness to Ambassador Mthethwa’s sterling leadership when he served as Minister of Arts and Culture of the Republic of South Africa from 2014 to 2019, and as Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture from 2019 to 2023.
Founded by wRite associates and the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, SALA celebrates literary excellence in all of South Africa’s official languages and beyond. The Awards honour authors across diverse categories, including poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, children’s literature, literary journalism, translation and lifetime achievement.
Over the past two decades, SALA has grown into the country’s most authoritative platform for recognising literary excellence across genres, languages and generations. More than 300 authors have been honoured whose works embody the spirit, struggles, triumphs and aspirations of South Africa and Africa at large. For this journey, we remain deeply grateful to the Department and to Mr. Mthethwa’s patriotic leadership.
Distinguished torchbearers who have delivered this Lecture include then-Minister Nathi Mthethwa himself in 2014, former President Thabo Mbeki, who inaugurated it in 2012, followed in successive years by Ms. Samia Nkrumah, Professor Micere Mugo, Professors Mandla Makhanya, Zodwa Motsa, Kwesi Kwaa Prah, and Puleng LenkaBula, Vice Chancellor and Principal of the University of South Africa, and Dr. Gcina Mhlophe, South Africa’s world-renowned storyteller, author and actor.
As we honour Ambassador Mthethwa’s stewardship, we recall with pride that in 2022 government adopted the Cultural and Creative Industries Master Plan — a blueprint for the arts across all six UNESCO domains: Cultural and Natural Heritage, Performance and Celebration, Visual Arts and Crafts, Books and Press, Audio-Visual and Interactive Media, and Design and Creative Services. This framework enables the development of strategies and policies for literature, visual arts, design and crafts, while standardising funding policy.
Part of the colonial project was the denigration of African languages. SALA gratefully remembers that one of Ambassador Mthethwa’s enduring passions was the advancement of indigenous languages. Under his leadership, the Department deepened its support for language practitioners, with an average of 400 students funded annually across South African universities. Increasingly, Masters and PhD dissertations are now being completed in African languages — a victory that gained momentum during his tenure.
SALA, in partnership with the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture, remains committed to carrying forward this legacy — encouraging and celebrating multilingual excellence among writers, and honouring works in all 11 official languages. In doing so, we continue to give expression to the quest for freedom, inclusivity and diversity.
Ambassador Minister Mthethwa dedicated his life to the service of the nation and we are grateful for his selflessness.
May your soul rest in graceful and eternal peace, our dear Ambassador and Minister Mthethwa.
Hambakahle, Mkhonto!
Lalakahle, Dingiswayo, Nyambose.