In early June, a very short time after the swearing in of the new Minister of Arts
and Culture, Mr Nathi Mthethwa, the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF)
announced the appointment of its new council, which will serve until 30 April
2017.
Just as the new government commenced its term, so the new NFVF Council
began its work in promoting and developing a sector that is receiving increasing
recognition as a vital contributor to both the culture and economy of the country.
NFVF CEO Zama Mkosi said of the new council: “We are very thrilled with the
announcement of our new administration. The previous three years, under the
leadership of Mmabatho Ramagoshi, were very fruitful; their focus among
others, being transformation, particularly in the development of youth and
female filmmakers, people from disadvantaged background and the disabled. I’m
proud to say that we have seen positive results out of their strategy and look
forward to the next three years of local film growth and development.’
Ramagoshi returns to serve a second term as chair of the council and has
considerable experience in leadership positions of government organisations.
She has served as acting CEO of the South African Heritage Resource Agency
(SAHRA), as a provincial general manager at the SABC, and also worked for the
United Nations Development Programme and Office for Drug Control and Crime
Prevention.
Also returning for a second term as deputy chairperson is George Leolo, a CA
and auditor by profession, who worked in the CFO’s office at the Department of
Trade and Industry. He is the former CFO of Sifikile Investment Holdings and the
former CEO of Bambiri Technologies. Advocate Roshan Dehal also retains his
position.
Among the new appointments are Pamela Mashiane, founder and manager of
Segakweng Enterprise and Strategy Consulting, a former marketing manager at
ABSA Bank and a board member of the Johannesburg Development Agency
(JDA); Brendyn Meyer, currently a non-executive director of the Mpumalanga
Gaming Board, who worked extensively for the Independent Development Trust
(IDT); Leslie Mkhabela, a lawyer by trade, who holds several board positions in
various organisations in Limpopo; and Sandile Swana, director and CFO of
SABLE Data Works.
While these council members come from political, legal or accounting
backgrounds, bringing the necessary management and administrative expertise
to the council, the remaining six members are drawn directly from the film and
television industry.
Thabiso Lawrence Masudubele is a senior manager in the Industry Support and
Development Unit at the Gauteng Film Commission, and has previously held
several other positions there. He has also worked for Metro FM as a film
coordinator and as a special project coordinator at the Film Resource Unit.
Experienced television producer Desiree Markgraaf is one of the driving forces
behind the popular soap opera Isibaya and also produced Zone 14, Jacob’s
Cross and Yizo Yizo. She has 30 years’ experience in the local and
international entertainment industry.
Phillip Molefe is an independent media consultant and a journalist by trade, who
served as acting CEO at the SABC, worked as editor-in-chief for SABC News, and
general executive for Current Affairs at the SABC.
Aboobaker Moosa is the managing director of independent cinema exhibition
and entertainment company, the Avalon Group, which runs cinema multiplexes
at Killarney Mall and Mall @ Reds in Gauteng, and at Midlands and Sun Coast in
KwaZulu-Natal.
Lorraine Jikijela Ramathesele is a co-executive producer on the perennially
popular soap 7de Laan and has also worked extensively for the SABC.
Finally, Mfundi Vundla, himself a former chairperson of the NFVF Council, is the
creator and executive producer of TV soaps Generations and
Backstage, and a respected figure in the television and film industry. He
is the executive chair for Morula Pictures and chairman of the Independent
Producers Organisation.
