The Co-Chairpersons and Treasurer are elected annually from the Council in terms of the SASFED Constitution, which guides that individuals may not join SASFED directly, but only via bona fide industry bodies.
The member organisations make decisions via their representative SASFED Council member. The Council meets regularly to discuss industry issues between various industry organisations.
Election of Office Bearers
Council members are appointed to serve a single term at a time, but may be successively appointed for an unlimited number of terms, except for Co-Chairpersons who may not serve more than three years in succession.
Mandated representatives of member affiliates of SASFED may be changed at any time at the prerogative of the affiliated member and so actual council members may change at any time during the year. The Co-Chairpersons and Treasurer, who shall not be connected in relation to each other, will accept the fiduciary responsibility for the organisation.
The Council elect from among their number at least the following office-bearers on an annual basis at the AGM:
- Co-Chairpersons
- Treasurer
Whitemore Ngwira
Co-Chairperson
Whitemore Ngwira, SASFED Co-Chairperson
Whitemore Ngwira, “N.White,” is a certified DI Colourist, Post-Production Professional, and Multimedia Content Creative with over 15 years of experience.
He holds a Bachelor of Arts Honours degree in Journalism & Media Studies. His work includes projects for major broadcasters, governments, production & post-prouduction houses, corporates, and advertising agencies across Southern African countries.
Throughout his career, White has worked on high-profile projects that demand precision, creativity, and an in-depth understanding of visual storytelling. His unique ability to merge technical expertise with artistic vision has consistently set his work apart. He blends his artistic vision with advocacy for the film/TV industry, ensuring each project he undertakes epitomises the pinnacle of artistic excellence and professional standards.
This dedication extends to his lobbying efforts, where he strives to champion the needs and growth of the Film and TV sector, with a focus on Post-Production. Additionally, White serves as a jury member for various local and international film and TV awards.
He is Co-Chairperson of the SAFTAs (The South African Film and Television Awards) Craft Awards Jury for the Technical Panel 3A and is an ExCo member for several local and international professional organisations. Guided by the belief that “collaboration is the new creativity,” his servant leadership style defines his role as SAFAITS’ Chairperson & Head of the Advocacy Portfolio.
The South African Finishing Artists and Imaging Technicians Society (SAFAITS) represents Digital Intermediate Colourists, Digital Imaging Technicians (DITs), Online Editors, VFX Artists, Compositors, QC (Quality Control) & Delivery Editors who play a crucial role in ensuring the visual quality of South African film, TV, and digital media.
Tshepiso Chikapa-Phiri
Co-Chairperson
Tshepiso Chikapa-Phiri, SASFED Co-Chairperson
Tshepiso Chikapa-Phiri is the CEO and founder of the Known Associates Group of Companies, which include a below the line agency; a design studio; a film production development and finance company; and a state- of-the-Art Film & Television Studio in Gauteng which is under development at the Cradle of Humankind.
She is a University of Cape Town Alumni, with 20 years’ experience in Communications, Events, Media & Marketing, TV and Film Producing.Her career spans from working in international events including the North Sea Jazz Festival and Sithengi Film Festival.
In 2014, she formed Known Associates Pty Ltd (KA) which is a below the line agency that has its own dedicated creative design studio.
In 2018 Tshepiso founded Known Associates Entertainment with Dan Jawitz. She has recently reacquired 100% of KAE and has also purchased 100% of Moonlighting Films PTY Ltd, a leading television and film servicing company in South Africa. KAE has produced, ‘uBettina Wethu’ a multi season series based on the Columbian smash hit telenovela YO SOY BETTY LA FEY (adapted as ‘Ugly Betty’ in the US).
Tshepiso was the South African Production Executive on Universal Studios’ feature film production Beast, which was filmed in South Africa Starring Idris Elba, South African actor Sharlto Copley, Iyana Halley and Leah Sava Jeffries and the Sony Pictures epic feature film The Woman King starring Oscar Award-winning Viola Davis and South Africa’s very own Thuso Mbedu. She has also produced ETV’s first EVOD feature film Atlantis (2021), John Barker’s The Umbrella Man which had its successful premier at the Toronto International Film Festival, (TIFF, 2022) and Fabian Medea’s directorial début feature film Wild Is The Wind which premièred on Netflix.
Tshepiso sits on the board of Media Heads 360 and is a shareholder in the business. She is a trustee of The Smile Artist Foundation and chairperson of the Independent Producers’ Organisation (IPO). Tshepiso is the Managing Trustee of the Gerald Sekoto Trust. She is also on the board of the Cradle Nature Reserve, which controls over 10 000 hectares of land in the Cradle Precinct in Mogale City.
