Ntokozo Mbuli

What does your company do?

A television and film production company that focusses on impact storytelling - content that builds, heals, grows or teaches. Our documentary films are set to put the spotlight on larger conversations that speak to social change, climate justice and the missing pieces of African history. We dig out the untold stories that matter and package them in engaging and entertaining storylines and narratives. We have produced a political history documentary film on the lesser-known heroes of the 1956 women’s march, and we are currently producing a documentary strand for National Geographic Society on the meeting point between the origins of African Indigenous languages and nature conservation The television shows we create are rooted in the African experience and inspired by our history, cultures, social issues and environment. Our broadcast portfolio includes two commissioned non-scripted programmes for the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC): The hybrid nature/culture series, IMVELOGY, which aired in prime time on SABC 2 with a second season in production. It is a series on the value of indigenous knowledge in the conservation and climate conversation. We have also produced as a docu-reality faith series, ICHIBI LENDUMISO, for SABC 2 - about the origins of the traditional churches in South Africa and how they inculturated into the South African Landscape. We also have scripted and non-scripted content in development for other local and international broadcast platforms. Our work goes beyond pushing the production over the finish line. We build comprehensive impact strategies that include industry development in South Africa, and distribution plans that will allow accessibility of our films in previously and currently disadvantaged communities.

What is your biggest success?

Expanding beyond content production solely for the SABC to include international platforms has been a significant milestone for us. For a long time, our reach was limited, as other local broadcasters often viewed our work as "too wholesome" - focused on substance rather than entertainment, or as some put it, "too much medicine in the popcorn". In contrast, the global broadcasting landscape has embraced the concept of purposeful entertainment - recognizing that social and environmental challenges can be compellingly addressed through storytelling that not only engages but also influences public perception and social norms across a variety of genres.

What has been your biggest hurdle?

Staffing has presented a significant challenge in our operations, primarily due to difficulties in sourcing adequately qualified, skilled and experienced professionals who are affordable within the constraints of our production budgets. The majority of our work is commissioned by the SABC, whose budget allocations for productions are very limited. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding timely payment of SABC invoices adds further instability to our operations. This financial unpredictability hinders our ability to employ staff on a long-term basis, which in turn limits our capacity to invest in structured training, skills development, and empowerment initiatives - key elements that are essential for the sustainable growth and professionalisation of our business.