SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: On Thursday 6 February the Film and Publication Board (FPB) of South Africa announced the appointment of Themba Wakashe as its new Chief Executive Officer at a stakeholder’s lunch in Johannesburg.
Opening the programme, first name Mrs. NTF Mpumlwana, Chairperson of the FPB Council, reflected on a busy 2014 marking 20 years of democracy in South Africa, a reminder of the values of the South African Constitution which promotes freedom, responsibility and a non-racist, non-sexist society.
Mpumlwana assured stakeholders that the FPB would continue to work with vigilance with the aim of: “We inform, you choose’ and highlighted some of the challenges that Wakashe will have to face in his new role as CEO.
“The challenges we face include holding the legacy of being called the censor board. When we make correct decisions we are seen as the FPB, when people don’t agree with our decisions, we are the censor board,’ said Mpumlwana. She continued, stating the FPB was dealing with a number of issues including cyberbullying, gender-based online violence, woman and children trafficking and child pornography.
In introducing Wakashe, Mpumlwana stated that the FPB was confident they had found the correct person to tackle such issues and that Wakashe would bring a wealth of valuable experience in arts and culture.
As well as previously holding the title of Director General for the Department of Arts and Culture, Wakashe has 14 years of experience in the public sector. A long list of achievements and contributions include his participation in a number of democratic processes, drafting legislation for the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) and serving in various research capacities and academia.
Addressing the audience, Wakashe dispelled perceptions by the South African public, which view the FPB as a conservative and introspective organisation.
“We are not a censorship institution and we will never be. We live in a democratic state and we protect human rights,’ said Wakashe.
He pledged that he would build on and enhance the FPB’s existing framework and relationships, saying: “I want to ensure you, that the FPB will be internationally respected and a leader among classifiers of the world. I promise to do that. I’ve got a good network within the continent and we must leverage this.’
He also commented that the South African information and communication technology (ICT) sector was an industry that needed to be invested in and that within the next few weeks he would be meeting with the Director General of Home Affairs to work towards making this objective a reality.
“When people look at the FPB, they will find an organisation that is leading, analytical, knowledgeable and a trendsetter, not only in South Africa, but the world. They will appreciate that we are creative, innovative and receptive in the world of the arts. In order to achieve this, we must invest in the minds of the staff at FPB. Those are the people that can take this roadmap and implement it,’ said Wakashe.
He concluded: “With the leadership of the board and the relationships we are creating and maintaining, we will be able to do this. We will not be opportunists in this space. We will be humble, not arrogant, but you will feel our presence.’
Report by Carly Barnes
