A national embarrassment: Vusi Leeuw’s petty score settling attempt ends in total embarrassment

The ambush that failed

In a jaw dropping display of opportunism and disrespect, the Portfolio Committee on Sport, Arts and Culture meeting descended into chaos today, (Friday 27 March) as National Arts Council (NAC) representative Vusi Leeuw hijacked proceedings to launch a personal attack.

The sitting was nearing its conclusion when Leeuw signaled to speak. Chairperson Joe McGluwa, maintaining the decorum of the house and granted him the floor.

Leeuw immediately veered off-topic, blindsiding the committee with allegations against Eugene Mthethwa, a Member of Economic Freedom Front (EFF) and Member of Paliarment.

“Chair, I just wanted you to note that Eugene Mthethwa owes money to the NAC," he said.

Members of Parliarment were stunned by this behaviour. Not only was it procedurally misplaced, but it also bore all the hallmarks of a personal grievance masquerading as institutional concern

"It becomes very unfair when Mthethwa says that we’re incompetent when he, himself has not done correct with the NAC. That money can be used for other cultural professionals who need NAC support. Can we have you follow this? In fact, I sent you an email last year and you never responded to it,” he continued.

The Committee strikes back

McGluwa, refused to dive into the mud with him, he firmly put Leeuw in his place with parliamentary procedure:

"No, I’m not dealing directly with emails. We do have secretaries of parliament who handle emails. You should direct your emails to the secretary. This is not a place to settle scores,” he told him.

Other MPs swiftly rallied to defend the integrity of the committee and parliamentary decorum. Former Minister and African National Congress (ANC) member, Faith Muthambi cut straight to the heart of the matter:

“If it’s a matter of Honourable Mthethwa owing, why is it coming to this Portfolio Committee? The agreement is between the NAC and Mthethwa as parties. Also, there’s a way to collect a debt, what should this committee do? I don’t understand. There are mechanisms to deal with Members of Parliament, and this is not one of them.”

But it was Matsholo Mmolotsane, another ANC member who added the final nail in the coffin, directly questioning Leeuw’s credibility and timing:

“It can’t be right that, just because the Portfolio Committee has called out the NAC, then they remember that someone owes them. Where was he all this time? Why doesn’t he raise those issues outside the Portfolio Committee? He must behave. He was supposed to raise those things a long time ago. He was sleeping on the job and he only remembers now that Honourable Mthethwa is owing them,” she said.

Defiance, not accountability

Instead of retreating with what little dignity he had left, Leeuw doubled down.

In a move that defies all logic for someone appearing before a government oversight body, he began hitting back at Members of Parliament via text message, petulantly writing:

"Correction: I never slept on the job."

This digital tantrum was the final straw. Muthambi, fumed at the blatant disrespect for the institution and demanded that the matter be addressed immediately:

"There's something very disturbing that's been written by Vusi Leeuw, and it must be addressed because it has an impact on the decorum of this house," Muthambi said.

At this point, the situation had escalated beyond a mere procedural lapse. It had become a direct challenge to parliamentary authority.

Chair draws the Line

McGluwa, now clearly incensed, issued a strong and unequivocal defence of his committee members:

“I’ll protect them with my life because they’re capable and they’re professionals. I’m not going to take kindly to that WhatsApp group this individual belongs to,” he said.

It was a rare moment of raw emotion in a parliamentary setting, a clear signal that the line had been crossed.

Vusi Leeuw’s history of controversies

Leeuw’s behaviour today fits a longer record of scrutiny in the arts sector. In May 2025, during parliamentary briefings on the NAC, MPs sharply questioned his appointment as Gauteng representative.

Concerns also centred on his role as president of the South African Music Industry Council (SAMIC), an entity deregistered by the Companies and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC) for non-compliance and blacklisted by both the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture (DSAC) and the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (DTIC).

Critics further highlighted unresolved issues from his time as CEO of the Downtown Music Hub, including allegations of failing to account for funds and reports of significant damages.

The Portfolio Commitee on Sport Arts and Culture has previoulsy warned against recycling people who have already failed in governance.

Additional red flags included allegations of double representation, with Leeuw allegedly linked to both Gauteng and KwaZulu-Natal sector clusters, raising questions about conflicts of interest and vetting processes.

These incidents amongst others painted a picture of a figure often embroiled in contention rather than consensus building.

These past controversies amplify today’s events. When an individual with such a background uses a public platform to settle scores during a strike affecting the entire sector, it undermines efforts to support struggling creatives and erodes public trust in arts governance.

A call for accountability in the Arts sector

The Portfolio Committee’s firm response today upheld essential parliamentary standards. McGluwa’s commitment to protecting professional members, Muthambi’s insistence on proper mechanisms, and Mmolotsane’s direct challenge to delayed accountability send a strong message: parliament is not a venue for personal vendettas or last-minute ambushes.