Staff

Dr. Liani Maasdorp

 Academic Director

Dr Liani Maasdorp is a senior lecturer in the Centre for Film and Media Studies at the University of Cape Town. She convenes the Master of Documentary Arts degree programme and is the academic director of the UCT TV Studio and the Stepping Stone community engagement video training programme and co-founder of the ScreenCubator film and media talent developer.

She works as co-producer, story consultant and creative consultant on long and short form documentary films. Recent work includes producer of Strike a Rock (Audience award: Encounters International Documentary Film Festival 2017; official selection: Sheffield International Documentary Film Festival 2017; Best South African Documentary: Durban International Film Festival 2017; official selection: International Documentary Festival Amsterdam 2017).

Liani previously worked as a documentary editor and television director. She has lectured on fiction and nonfiction film at various film schools in South Africa. She was the vice-chair of the South African Guild of Editors for several years and has served as judge for the South African Film and Television Awards and the International Emmy Awards.

Her research interest areas include documentary film, self-reflexivity and editing. She is passionate about studying and teaching South African film. Her work has been published in the books World Cinema Directory: Africa and Defining the Documentary: Case Studies in the Post-1990 Context, academic journals like Film Philosophy Journal, The South African Theatre Journal, popular publications including The Call Sheet Newspaper, National Geographic Traveller, De Kat Magazine, The Mail and Guardian and her short pieces on the online platform The Conversation have collectively reached over 170 000 readers.

Email Liani: liani.maasdorp@uct.ac.za / Call Liani on: 021 650 5727/4211

 Clement Nchabeleng

Chief Technical Officer 

Clement is responsible for strategic planning, design, implementation, maintenance, development and the operations of technology to facilitate smooth production, distribution and preservation of multimedia products and the training of students thereof within the realm of the UCT television and film facilities.

Clement's career in electronics and digital media technology started during his early ages when he used to explore radio, television, telephone and computer electronics. He was also trained in light current when he was at his senior secondary school phase, earning skills in wiring houses and three phases structures.

He earned a Bachelor's degree in Media and a Diploma in Information Science where he accrued lots of theoretical knowledge about the production, laws, ethics and management of media and information. His speciality was in telecommunications, broadcast technologies and television production.

Before he joined the UCT, Clement worked on various levels in multimedia technology at the University of the Free State (UFS) where he started as a junior specialist and grown in to a senior position where he was leading a team of video editors, broadcast technicians, vision mixers, graphic designers, animators and administrators. He also did a one year internship with the Technology Innovation Agency before his role at the UFS.

Call Clement on: 021 650 3985/5736

Wandile Tonqa

Junior Technical Assistant

Wandile is a self-taught photographer and videographer. His passion for cameras started when he was doing standard 6 (grade 8), when he took pictures at school and filmed events such as funerals and birthdays over the weekends. In 2009 he started working with a number of production companies as technical support and also in a live television set up, where he was responsible for linking the local studio and other west African studios via satellite. He has experience in different media set ups doing sound, vision mixing and operating studio & ENG cameras.

He is also a Stepping Stone programme graduate. At the studio, Wandile is responsible for assisting in UCT TV studio productions, preparing and checking equipment for film production students, assisting the Chief Technical Officer with gear maintenance and any other duties assigned to him.

Email Wandile: wandile.tonqa@uct.ac.za / Call Wandile on: 021 650 3985/5736

Molly Maunganidze

 Senior Secretary

Molly studied journalism and public relations, and worked as a communications officer in the Gender, Media and Development non-governmental sector in Zimbabwe. She also doubled up as an administrative assistant in many cases. Molly is driven, and passionate about people. At UCT TV, she handles administration portfolios,studio & post-production facilities bookings and manages the CFMS 's production equipment pool.

Email Molly : molly.maunganidze@uct.ac.za  / Call Molly on: 021 650 3985 (between 08h30 -13h30)

Thaakirah Behardien

Studio Producer

Thaakirah Behardien graduated from the University of Cape Town with a BA in film production in 2013. During her undergraduate studies, two of the student films that she produced was screened at major South African film festivals – including The Durban International Film Festival.

The following year, she graduated with an Honours degree in the first class. After leaving university, she worked first as a production assistant then as a production coordinator specialising in feature films and photographic still shoots. She has freelanced for major networks and notable film production companies in Cape Town. In 2019, she returned to UCT to obtain her MA in Documentary Arts. Her research focuses on the representation of Muslim women in cinema and popular culture.

A self-proclaimed cinephile, she continues to work in the film industry part time.

Email Thaakirah producer.ucttv@gmail.com / Call Thaakirah on on: 021 650 3985/5727 Office Hours: Mon: 12h30 -16h30 Wed: 08h30 -16h30 Fri: 08h30 - 16h30

Thabo Bopape

Stepping Stone Learning Co-ordinator

Thabo  manages and coordinates UCT TV’s learning programmes, seminars and workshops. He is a multi-disciplinary television and events producer, actor and voice-artist currently studying towards an MA in Documentary Arts at UCT.

Thabo brings with him more than 35 years’ experience in the management, production and implementation of television programmes, indoor and outdoor mass public events, as well as small and intimate functions. He is wholeheartedly committed to social transformation through the arts.

 Email Thabo at: steppingstone.uct@gmail.com / Call Thabo on: 021 650 5727

Rati Muyambo

Social Media Intern

Rati is Masters student at UCT studying Media, Theory and Practice. With an undergraduate degree in Film & Television Studies, Media & and Writing and Gender Studies, she is passionate about writing.  

She is a social media marketing intern at UCT TV,  where she assists in coordinating and executing UCT TV's social media strategy, working across the key social media channels, including LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram and  UCT TV Studio website.

Email at Rati: ucttv.marketing@gmail.com / Call Rati on: 021 650 3985/5727