The Department’s strategic mandate to foster national cohesion through sport, heritage, and creative expression is vital; yet its execution remains uneven. Persistent audit irregularities, unresolved forensic reports, and a 24-month vacancy in the Director-General post undermine DSAC’s governance and accountability structures. The variance of R67.6 million in programme expenditure and the cancellation of school arts championships reflect a troubling disconnect between planning and execution. The ACDP calls for a recalibration of DSAC’s priorities, placing grassroots development, youth engagement, and cultural preservation at the centre. We urge the Department to strengthen its monitoring and evaluation frameworks; performance must be measured, not only by targets met, but by lives changed.