Unathi Lutshaba
SACO Executive Director
Ms. Unathi Lutshaba
Ms. Unathi Lutshaba has directed the South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) since 2018. Under her leadership the research project of the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture has grown from strength to strength producing a significant body of work on the cultural and creative industries and arts, culture, and heritage sectors. Under ger guidance, South African policymakers, government and the private and civil sectors have a tangible grasp on the value of the creative economy and its impact on the economy. This makes Ms. Lutshaba one of South Africa’s most recognised creative economy experts.
Ms. Lutshaba has an MA in Development Studies from the Nelson Mandela University and spent year tenure as a lecturer in the university’s Economics and Sociology departments. She is an Erasmus Mundus Scholarship recipient and an Alumni of the University of Antwerp.
Ms. Lutshaba’s research interests are multi-disciplinary and they include economics, business management, sociology, strategy, development policy, theory and project management. She has also leveraged her academic and entrepreneurial skills to secure and run a range of small, medium-scale and large projects.
She is passionate about the creative economy, the promotion and development of young people in the workplace, women in leadership and social solidarity.
5th SACO International Conference 2025
The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) is proud to announce that preparations are well underway for the highly anticipated 5th SACO International Conference, set to take place on the 5th and 6th of November 2025 in the beautiful town of Stellenbosch, and the registration and abstract submissions for the upcoming conference are now officially open!
Call for Applications: SACO Scholarship 2026–2027
The South African Cultural Observatory (SACO) has announced a new opportunity for aspiring scholars in the cultural and creative sectors through its 2025–2027 Postgraduate Scholarship Programme.
While Athletes Break Records, South African Artists Break Barriers
As South African athletes lit up stadiums and arenas across the globe with history-making victories, the nation’s creative and cultural practitioners were making just as powerful an impact on the world’s stages, galleries, and award ceremonies.
Youth Day 2025: Honouring the Past, Empowering the Present and Shaping the Future
On June 16, 2025, South Africa commemorates the 49th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising, a significant moment in the nation's history where thousands of black students protested the imposition of Afrikaans as the medium of instruction in schools.
My Sector, My Africa.
Africa Month, celebrated annually in May, holds signifificant importance for the cultural and creative industries (CCIs) in South Africa and across the continent. This month serves as a platform to promote unity and cooperation among African nations and reflflects South Africa's rich cultural heritage and artistic expression.
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