Academy Spearhead
Dr. Duma Ndlovu
Dr. Duma Ndlovu is a South African poet, filmmaker, producer, journalist and playwright. He is well known in the South African television industry, having created award-winning shows such as Muvhango, Imbewu: The Seed and Uzalo, Sibongile and the Dlamini’s, Umkhokha, and My Brother’s keeper just to mention a few.
After finishing high school he started writing for The World newspaper. He then founded the Medupe Writers Association, a group that encouraged young black people to take interest in being writers. He served as the organization’s president until 1977 when the apartheid government banned the group due to its participation in black consciousness and anti-apartheid movements.
After Ndlovu and many members of the Medupe Writers Association were banned by the apartheid government, he left South Africa for the United States to avoid being persecuted by the apartheid government. In the United States, he was able to study and complete his master’s degree at Hunter College in New York. In 1985, Ndlovu founded the Woza Afrika Foundation in order to give young black aspiring actors and actresses the opportunity to pursue their dreams and also raise funds to support the overall Arts in South Africa. He also taught African-American literature and music at the State University of New York at Stony Brook.
In 1992 Duma Ndlovu returned to South Africa, and he founded the Word Of Mouth Productions to mount music, theatre and television productions. The company was successful and a few years later it was chosen as the official casting company in South Africa for the Musical Broadway Disney’s The Lion King Duma Ndlovu was conferred with a Ph.D. (honoris causa) faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences by the University of Zululand in 2022.
Head Of Administration
Mapula Setlhako
Mapula Setlhako is an academic, a thespian, an applied theatre practitioner, a director, drama coach and a lecturer, a storyteller and a businesswoman. She started her journey in the arts when she was still a teenager at Mmabana Arts, culture and Sports foundation in the Northwest Province, Mahikeng. She then furthered her studies at Tshwane University of Technology and graduated with a National Diploma in Performing Arts. She worked as a drama teacher/field worker/facilitator for different arts institutions including the South African State theatre, Tlokwe youth arts Centre, and Mmabana Mahikeng Arts culture sports foundation. In 2012 she
then joined TV production houses like Word of mouth Pictures (Muvhango) and Quizzical pictures (Rhythm city) working behind the scenes as a script supervisor.
In 2016 she obtained her honours degree from Wits University, Drama for Life. Drama for life influenced Mapula differently on how she views art and how she creates her work. DFL introduced her to drama therapy and using it as a tool to heal herself and others through
performance. She started grappling with the notion of auto-ethnography, “A research method and methodology that uses the researcher’s personal experiences as data to describe and analyze cultural experience. It is a form of self-narrative that places the self within social context”. Her honors auto-ethnography thesis then titled “the runner” was the birth of “Mosadi Poo”, which won the best research in 2016 under humanities studies at Wits University.
In 2016 also she joined the Market theatre laboratory as a part-time drama tutor, and in 2017 she joined the critically acclaimed film school, AFDA as a 2nd year Live Performance lecturer specializing in screen and stage acting until December 2022. In 2021 she produced and directed Mosadi Poo for the South African State theatre, in 2022 she produced and directed Tsogo, The Rise of Charlotte Mmakgomo Mannya Maxeke.
Logistics & Operations Manager
Morné Abrahams
Morné Abrahams graduated from the Market Theatre Laboratory in 2010 with a certificate in performing arts. Has worked as an usher at the Market Theatre for the duration of his studies. Thereafter worked in film industry, as art department assistant and supporting actor on some set.
His true skill sets come to life as a stage manager and has stage managed numerous cooperate theatre events. His has a strong administrative background and has worked for AFDA in the Live Performance department as admin assistant to head of live performance and theatre manager.
His role at AFDA oversaw training theatre assist, technical competencies for staff and students. Risk Assessment officer, theatre tech support and production manager/ consultant (producer) for student productions.
Editing Facilitator
Lawrence Nkgapele
With his role straddling the entire value chain of film and video production and post-production to final delivery, Lawrence Nkgapele is rooted in shared value, trackable processes, and creative storytelling as three key pillars of his drive and discipline. His experience and expertise have been in the making since the year 2003 after completing his studies in a broadcasting course at the University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg, South Africa).
Having been handpicked by StudioNow in 2020 for a paid audition to edit Netflix trailers and put through the processes and workflows, again in 2022 Amazon reached out to provide him with an opportunity for a 3-month lengthy interview process which benefited him with more defined leadership principles.
Directing Facilitator
Uvelile Bangani
Highly professional and talented television director with a strong experience in directing television shows. With over 19 years’ experience, he has expertise in handling all creative and technical aspects of television production as well as possess exceptional organizational, multi-tasking, team-working, creative thinking, and communication skills.
He has grown into a well-season director having started off his careers as a sound engineer, floor manager and assistant director over the years. Some of the productions Uvelile has worked on include Spirit Sundae, Agape, Gospel Gold, Big Up, Dijo Le Bophelo, Gospel Classics, The Chatroom, Isidingo, Joyous Celebration Shows & many more.
Post Production Facilitator
Itumeleng Nkabinde
Itumeleng is an award winning professional film/TV editor with over 10 years of experience in the industry. He has touched every department from cinematography, directing and editing. He is a strong creative who is always pushing the boundary to explore and bring life themes within story. He has a good understanding of workflows as well as the ability to communicate both practically and creatively to all departments within production.
Directing Facilitator
Tamie Madlakana
Tamie’s career objectives is to become an internationally recognized female Television and Filmaker and further her knowledge in the industry. Her work experience includes:
Director – Production company- Word of Mouth Pictures – Muvhango 19- 23 2019-2022
Continuity – Word of Mouth Pictures 2012-2017
Art- coordinator- Mojo Productions- 19- 23 2019-2022
Continuity- Word of Mouth Pictures – Ingozi 2016
Cinematography Facilitator
Earl Osborne
His objective is to get started right away, to provide his service as a camera operator and Visual Technical expertise is to fill a gap or stand by when needed in production and in live. To be a reliable and a credible camera operator and technical assistance. Earl started working as a Camera operator in 2000 at WECODEC TV. A community Television Station, then SABC. Henley facility. Worked from studio 1- studio 7. This includes Sports shows, Soapies like (Muvhango, Generations, Isidingo, 7de Laan, etc) Drama, Reality shows, Education shows, Kiddies shows, Magazine shows, Life. Shows News. Various Productions – DVD recordings, Documentaries. Quizzical productions.
Rhythm city was one of South Africa’s best soapies. Technically superior because of the high-quality experience that was ensemble. Earl was one of the senior Camera operators and a senior crew member.
Stage and Screen Acting facilitator
Gugulethu Mzobe
Gugulethu Mzobe is a theatrically trained actress from KwaMashu, KZN. This talented individual was raised in theatre. From the tender age of 12, she was training as an actress, contemporary dancer and a well-rounded performer who sings, acts and dances. Born and raised in the dusty township of KwaMashu, she went on to perform in international theatre houses of Nantes in France, Italy and New York in the United States.
Her growth and skills accumulated on her travels as a performer inspired her to give back to the same Academy that gave her a platform to express her art. Despite her demanding schedule on Muvhango, she still makes time to tutor and facilitate Acting for Camera Workshops at KCap. She helps the school with their Community Outreach Programmes in various remote villages around KZN.