‘Abuse of power’ at film organisation

COUNCIL members of the National Film and Video Foundation have splashed out more than R5 million on unauthorised international trips, while managers duped their employers to foot the bill for their families and friends at local film festivals.

This and other serious cases of abuse of power, nepotism and greed were contained in a damning report compiled by Comperio Forensic Services.

The report was commissioned by Nathi Mthethwa, Minister of Arts and Culture, in June last year..

The report showed that former chief executive Zama Mkosi aided in the overspending of a R782 297 trip to the Toronto International Film Festival with three members of the foundation council – advocate Roshan Dehai, Thandi Ramathesela, and George Leolo in September 2016. About R414 000 was budgeted for the trip, which resulted in a R367 339 overspend.

A further R2.2m was incurred when another delegation, which included Mkosi, Phillip Molefe and Thabiso Masudubele (council members), went on two trips last year.

Council member Pamela Mashiane is said to have flown first class from Dubai to Johannesburg, costing the Foundation R8 230.

Mkosi was again fingered for taking her husband, children and her friends and their partners to the SA Film and Television Awards last year.

Leolo and another council member Leslie Mkhabela took their wives to the Durban International Film Festival, which cost the Foundation R15 251 and R7 200 respectively.

The report also reflected cases of undeserving staff members who were allowed to attend paid workshops.

Acting chief executive Shadrack Bokaba said that when he replaced Mkosi, most of the executive had resigned and he had to go the legal route to recover some of the money from implicated individuals.

Lebone Maema of the Independent Black Filmmakers Collective said the foundation required a bigger investigation because, due to mismanagement, it had not met some of its mandates, such as setting up the Film Fund.