by Thinus Ferreira
The destabilised and struggling National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), has appointed its council member Nondumiso Madlala as the latest acting CEO of the beleaguered South African film agency.
The latest appointment of an acting NFVF CEO comes while NFVF whistleblowers have accused Nondumiso Madlala of allegedly "protecting" the previous acting NFVF CEO Onke Dumiso, who was recently suspended.
Nondumiso Madlala is the 7th person to be placed in the NFVF's CEO chair over the past three years since 2023.
The NFVF has appointed Nondumiso Madlala as acting NFVF CEO, although serious allegations have been raised against her as well by insiders.
The problem-filled film body's council has also once again simply filled the NFVF CEO void by moving a council member, tasked with oversight of the body, into what is an executive role and position.
Nondumiso Madlala replaces Onke Dumiso who was suspended last month pending an internal review. The NFVF has been without even an acting CEO for the past few weeks, with department heads left to run divisions.
In an internal letter on Tuesday 7 July that TVwithThinus has seen, NFVF council chairperson Leon van Nierop writes that Nondumiso Madlala "has officially assumed the role of acting CEO with immediate effect".
Once again, as with the suspension of Onke Dumeko - who is still listed on the NFVF website as acting CEO - neither South Africa's film and TV industry nor the broader public has been told about Nondumiso Madlala's appointment through any press release or NFVF statement.
According to Leon van Nierop, Nondumiso Madlala "joins the executive management team with a wealth of strategic leadership experience and a deep, historical understanding of our organisation's vision, values, and operational mandates through their previous years of being with the NFVF and her stellar service on the council."
"To ensure absolute governance integrity, transparency, and compliance with best corporate practices during this interim period, Nondumiso Madlala has stepped down from all council duties and oversight committees."
"The council requests that all staff members extend their characteristic professionalism, warmth, and full cooperation to Nondumiso Madlala during this transitional phase," the memo reads.
Whistleblowers, in a recent letter sent to the NFVF as well as the NFVF council, parliament's portfolio committee on arts, culture and sport, as well as to minister Gayton McKenzie, serious allegations have been made about alleged governance, procurement, as well as administrative irregularities at the NFVF.
Insiders detail numerous problems inside the NFVF and have asked for urgent parliamentary oversight and an independent investigation as they fear victimisation, alleging a workplace inside the NFVF "characterised by intimidation and bullying".
In another serious allegation, the whistleblowers have asked the parliamentary committee to urgently investigate whether any actual or perceived conflicts of interest may have "compromised governance processes relating to senior leadership oversight, particularly Onke Dumeko's protection by two particular council members: Mthokozisi Radebe and Nondumiso Madlala".
NFVF employees are also concerned about what they claim to be "significant expenditure on legal services over the past two financial years" as well as the NFVF's CEO recruitment process.
Whistleblowers have asked for an "independent
forensic investigation into the allegations", for parliament to "ensure that neither the
current NFVF council nor officials who may be implicated participate in
directing or influencing the investigation" and that the investigation "review all procurement
processes for compliance with applicable legislation".
The investigation should also "examine legal expenditure
incurred over the past two financial years, investigate governance
concerns relating to PESP funding and the implementation of internal audit
recommendations", and "recommend appropriate
disciplinary, civil or criminal action where evidence supports such
action".
