Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has revealed more reasons why he fired the council of the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF).
In a media statement issued on Monday, 28 September 2026, the Minister said the illegal appointment of an Acting CEO was not the only problem.
He pointed to the recent resignation of the Council Chairperson. He also pointed to the council’s handling of the former Acting CEO’s suspension.
The statement says this was “another matter where guidance from the Ministry was ignored.”
Neither reason appeared in the Minister’s dissolution letter to the council last week.
McKenzie dissolved the council on 23 September 2026. He used section 6(10) of the National Film and Video Foundation Act 73 of 1997.
On Monday, he did not hold back. “A Council that knows what the law requires and proceeds anyway has not made a technical error, but a choice,” said Minister McKenzie.
The trouble began when the council appointed one of its own members, Nondumiso Madlala, as Acting CEO. The law does not allow this.
Section 13(4) of the Act does not permit an Acting CEO to be appointed from outside the Foundation.
McKenzie first wrote to the then chairperson on 7 July 2026. The statement now reveals that he did more than raise the alarm.
He gave the council two lawful ways to fix the problem.
The statement does not say what those two options were.
The council took neither. “I gave this Council written notice of the problem in July and offered it two lawful ways out. It took neither. The arrangement ended only once dissolution was on the table, which eroded the last of my confidence in this Council,” McKenzie said.
On 14 September, the Minister issued a Notice of Intention to dissolve the council. The council replied on 18 September.
In that reply, the council admitted it knew the law did not allow the appointment. It said it does not maintain that the appointment was lawful.
It also admitted that Madlala’s resignation from the council was defective, because it did not comply with section 7(3)(e) of the Act. This meant she held executive office while still sitting on the council. That is against section 6(8)(a) of the Act.
The council meant to oversee the CEO. Instead, the CEO sat on the council.
The Minister stressed that his decision is about institutional accountability. It is not a finding of dishonesty against any council member.
“I thank every member for the time they gave to the Foundation and to South African film. But accountability at entity level cannot be optional, and it cannot wait until somebody is caught,” the Minister said.
The statement also sets out, for the first time, who is running the NFVF now.
The Chief Executive Officer becomes the accounting authority under the Public Finance Management Act until a new council is appointed.
The Department says approved and committed funding will continue to be processed, including the current PESP6 Blockbuster cycle.
It says it is working directly with NFVF management to make sure no approved payment to filmmakers, production houses, cast or crew is interrupted.
The statement also confirms that the Department’s Internal Audit unit, not the council, is running the independent investigation into whistleblower allegations at the Foundation. That investigation will continue.
McKenzie also admitted how badly the industry was hurt the last time.
“I am acutely aware of what happened the last time this Council was dissolved, when funding approvals stalled for three months,” he said.
“That is exactly why we shall move quickly to appoint a new Council, and to ensure that processing continues in the legal manner. The people who depend on this Foundation did nothing wrong, and they will not be made to carry the cost of governance issues that were not of their making,” he continued.
This is the second NFVF council McKenzie has dissolved.
In 2024, he dissolved the council led by Tholoana Rose Ncheke-Mahlaela. He then appointed the council he has now fired.
The NFVF’s top office has changed hands again and again this year.
The council suspended Acting CEO Onke Dumeko on 25 June 2026 pending an independent administrative review.
Madlala then took over. She was later replaced by Neliswa Bam as Acting CEO.
He said that the process to appoint a new council has started.
