Graphic stating South Africa dissolves the NFVF Governing Council, with the South African Department of Sports, Arts and Culture and NFVF logos.

Film

South Africa Dissolves NFVF Governing Council

African Film Press — September 28, 2026

South Africa’s Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, dissolved the governing council of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) with immediate effect on 23 September 2026, citing governance failures that included the council’s appointment of one of its own members as Acting CEO in circumstances the minister says breached the NFVF Act. The NFVF itself has not been dissolved. South Africa’s national film agency continues to operate, with staff and executive management in place while a replacement council is appointed. McKenzie said on 28 September 2026 that the CEO will temporarily assume the council’s accounting-authority responsibilities and that approved and committed funding, including the current PESP6 Blockbuster cycle, will continue to be processed. The dispute centered on the July appointment of council member Nondumiso Madlala as Acting CEO. McKenzie said he first raised the legal problem with the council chairperson on 7 July, issued a formal notice of intention to dissolve the council on 14 September, received the council’s representations on 18 September, and dissolved it five days later. According to the ministry, the council acknowledged in those representations that it did not maintain that Madlala’s appointment was lawful and that her attempted resignation from the council had not complied with the Act. Madlala was subsequently replaced by Neliswa Bam as Acting CEO. South African television journalist Thinus Ferreira has reported that Bam is the eighth person to occupy the NFVF’s chief executive position since 2023. The timing is especially relevant for producers and companies with active NFVF funding. On 28 September 2026, the agency announced five projects approved under the sixth Presidential Employment Stimulus Programme’s “Blockbusters” production stream, with combined funding of R49,997,491 and 936 projected jobs. Contracting and implementation are still to follow. McKenzie has acknowledged that funding approvals stalled for about three months after the previous NFVF council was dissolved in 2024. The immediate test now is whether the current approvals move into contracting and payment without a similar delay.