South Africa's Communications and Digital Technologies Minister Solly Malatsi has announced the appointment of a new Council for the Film and Publications Board (FPB). The new council will serve a five-year term and has been approved by Cabinet. Malatsi made the announcement on Tuesday, 29 September 2026, emphasizing the need for the entity to sharpen its oversight and strengthen its fight against online harms.
The new FPB Council consists of nine members, including Professor Siyasanga Tyali, who has been appointed chairperson, and Lungelo Dhladhla Nxele, who will serve as deputy chairperson. Other members include Mariann Maartens, Ditaba Lucy Maraka, Dr Phosa, Jan Mashangoane, Zandile Gail Mpungose, Dr Seithati Maria Motebang, Advocate Lindelwa Ndziba, and Melanie Roy. Malatsi expressed confidence in the council's expertise, stating they will enhance governance and strategic oversight at the FPB.
The FPB is responsible for classifying films, games, and publications, protecting children from harmful content, and punishing those who distribute child sexual abuse material. The entity recently reported a second consecutive clean audit and achieved all its 2025-26 performance targets. Malatsi urged the new Council to strengthen processes and capacity to tackle online harms, emphasizing the FPB's key role in protecting the digital dignity of children and raising awareness about online safety.
The appointment of the new council comes as the FPB is making major moves to aggressively enforce its digital mandate and modernize its internal systems. Earlier this month, the FPB's Enforcement Committee announced it had issued fines totaling R16.1 million to entities that failed to comply with regulations. The fines range from R150,000 for distributing films and games without registering as a distributor to R750,000 for distributing unclassified adult films.
Malatsi thanked outgoing chairperson Zama Mkosi and the previous Council for their extended service, noting that the new leadership must now steer the FPB towards proactive awareness programs and effective interventions to protect vulnerable groups. The minister emphasized the urgency of tackling digital risks, which have become a pressing concern as South Africa confronts rapid technological change.
The new FPB Council brings "ethical and capable leadership" at a critical moment, according to Malatsi. He expressed confidence that their experience will ensure stability of leadership, effective oversight, and support to build a well-governed and sustainable state enterprise. The council's expertise will be crucial in addressing the challenges posed by online harms and ensuring the FPB's continued effectiveness.
The FPB's role in protecting children from harmful content and working with law enforcement agencies to fight cybercrimes has become increasingly important. The new council will be expected to build on the entity's recent successes, including its clean audits and achievement of performance targets. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, the FPB's work in promoting online safety and dignity will remain a key priority.
Key points
- The new FPB Council has been tasked with strengthening oversight and combating online harms in South Africa.
- The council's appointment comes as the FPB is making efforts to aggressively enforce its digital mandate and modernize its internal systems.
- The FPB recently issued fines totaling R16.1 million to entities that failed to comply with regulations.
