Nongelo Chiume, a former government spokesperson and son of the late legendary thespian Connie Chiume, is accused of swindling a film project from filmmaker Siyabonga Ndlozi.
In an exclusive Sunday World interview, Ndlozi said he met the veteran actress Connie Chiume in May 2024 at a state-owned National Film and Video Foundation’s (roadshow held in Durban).
“I told her about the Umkhanyakude Student Film Festival, a project I’ve been running with community members and local creatives since 2022. I also mentioned that I’d like to work with her on it, and she agreed.
Named in star’s honour
“Since she was a veteran in the film industry, I felt we should honour her by renaming the project from Umkhanyakude Student Film Festival to the Connie Chiume Student Film Festival. She was excited about this, as it would help keep her legacy alive,” explained Siyabonga.
Initially, the next edition of the Umkhanyakude Student Film Festival was scheduled for 15–17 November 2024 in Umkhanyakude, north of Durban.
After these discussions, Siyabonga drafted a proposal requesting R900,000 in funding from the NFVF (National Film & Video Foundation).
“Months went by with no response from the NFVF. Until Connie sadly passed away in August 2024. I later discovered that our application for the Connie Chiume Student Film Festival had been successful.
Actress’ son kept the funds
“I then contacted Connie’s son, Nongelo Chiume, who confirmed that the NFVF had already disbursed the funds. However, he told me I would only be involved as a contractor, not the founder of the festival.
“He said I’d be paid R42,000 instead of the R900,000 I had applied for. He didn’t explain why I was excluded from my own project. I obviously rejected his offer,” said Siyabonga.
Sunday World has seen the contract from Nongelo as well as the original proposal to the NFVF. According to the contract, the festival venues have been changed. It is now set to take place at the BAT Centre and K-CAP in Durban. This is no longer in Umkhanyakude as originally proposed.
When approached for an interview, Nongelo confirmed that they received the R900,000. However, he denied that the idea originated with Ndlozi.
Nongelo insists it was his late mom’s funds
“Siyabonga did nothing except uploading the application for my mother. She had experience running film festivals overseas. And she wanted to implement a similar idea in the rural areas of South Africa. She told me she met Siyabonga and asked him to submit the NFVF application on her behalf.
“When we received the funding, Siyabonga reappeared and claimed the idea was his. We told him we were willing to work with him but on a freelance basis. We even asked him to coordinate everything in KZN since he knows the area, but he refused. Instead, he wanted all the money for himself. That’s when we decided to postpone the festival and cut ties with him. The initial plan was to go to Umkhanyakude, but we’ve changed the plan,” said Nongelo.
However, when asked to provide proof of his mother’s film festivals overseas, Nongelo could not produce any. He was also asked to submit an exemption certificate to host a film festival but replied.
“We were still going to apply for it,” he said. He also could not produce a screening schedule or festival programme.
He could not explain why his mother would need a stranger to upload the application if he was managing her affairs.
NFVF confirms funds’ recipient
“I was out of the country, and I’m not sure why my mother asked Siyabonga for assistance. What I do know is that my mother applied as the Connie Foundation, and she got the money. I’m listed as a contact person in that application. Unfortunately, Siyabonga doesn’t appear anywhere in the application,” he said.
But Lerato Mokopanele from NFVF said: “Nongelo is listed as the applicant, and the funding was solely for the Connie Foundation.”
“We only communicate directly with the applicant and not with any external individuals or agents associated with the projects. In this case, Nongelo Gabisile Chiume is listed as the applicant on the application system. The funding for the project was solely approved for Connie Chiume foundations only.”
