WoS continues to put itself in a position to lobby to affect policy by also being an active member of major industry organisations where WoS members are also board members;
- WoS major breakthrough in the advocacy programme has been the leading role WoS played in 2003 with its participation in the United Producers’ Initiative (UPI), formed by some industry organisations to lobby for their constituency’s needs to the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC). WoS contribution in the UPI was to lobby the SABC in three major issues that are critical for the advancement women filmmakers;
1. to commission programmes to be specifically produced by women
2. ensure that it is mandatory for all commissioned production companies to employ women in different levels of the productions; and
3. increase content about and relevant to women
WoS effort paid off as all the above is now standard practice at the SABC through “The Content Hub”, which is now headed by WoS representative in the UPI, former WoS chairperson Kamscilla Naidoo. Other WoS board members who held significant decision-making position in the SABC included; Judy Nwokedi (former general manager of Public broadcasting Services (PBS), Vanessa Jansen (currently commissioning editor drama), Rene Williams.Their presence at the SABC ensures that women’s views are represented and their continuously catered for.
- WoS members are represented by WoS board members sits on the board of South African Screen Federation (SASFED) an industry wide lobby actions on policy and broadcaster related issues. Direct issues may be raised via WoS and brought to SASFED's attention.
- Advisory board of the Mappp-seta
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MESSAGE OF SUPPORT to "WOMEN IN THE SUN" from MINISTER OF ARTS & CULTURE, DR. Z. PALLO JORDAN.
 2006 marks the fifth year of the existence of "Women in the Sun". Though a small beginning it is a giant leap towards women becoming the agents of the changes they want to see in the film and television industry.
The Ministry of Arts and Culture (MAC) holds the view that there can be no significant transformation and empowerment in the industry while women are excluded from meaningful participation. We therefore support any initiatives by women to carve out a niche for themselves in the arts and culture sector, especially in the film and television industry.
For the successes South Africa has scored in the global television and film industry to become truly national achievements, we have to be seen to opening up opportunities for women to use film and television to freely express themselves. The economic empowerment that can be its spin-off will help entrench the rights South African women have attained with the dawn of democracy.
Of course, African creative talent in the television and film sector has achieved tremendous success over the last few years, including Tsotsi winning an Oscar. But to consolidate our gains, we have to go out of our way to ensure that women are immediate beneficiaries of the transformation and empowerment that under girds our achievements.
WOS has established itself as a networking forum for women over the past five years. It is a non-profit organisation catering for women filmmakers across the continent and the Diaspora. Significantly, though its core leadership are based in South Africa, the organisation's reach stretches throughout the continent and to powerful Women in the global Film and Television International lobby. Through its lobbying efforts they will become a powerful and influential group in this sector, unlocking opportunities for women and creating meaningful employment opportunities for them in film and television.
Over the last few years, WOS has helped women to act collectively and contributed directly to the redefinition of our programme of action. Women are no longer content with the role of passive observers they want to make and are making things happen for themselves. An organization of this nature serves as a rallying point that can bring women specialists together around common challenges.
We expect WOS to take the lead in both the search for and the uncovering of solutions. The contribution that such a body can make to the speedy and profound transformation of the film and television industry will be demonstrated in action. Through its work WOS can be the instrument of change and transformation that can result in more and more women taking their rightful place in the sector.
We welcome and affirm the existence of WOS and exhort all working in film and television to discover ways of working closely with them.
WOS has yet to capture the imagination of the world through the work that it does. Its impact will be greatly enhanced by emerging from behind the scenes in the back-rooms and coming out into the light. Significantly, many of the women who have become formidable players in the sector are members of WOS. WOS thus already serves as the nucleus of creativity amongst women in the sector. While it cannot claim every achievement by women, many of them are to its credit.
WOS has given us a number of reasons to be optimistic. As it celebrates its fifth anniversary at a time we are observing the 50th Anniversary of the Women's Anti-Pass March to Pretoria in 1956, WOS is both a testament to the struggle of women for emancipation and self-determination as well as a chellenge about what still needs to be done.
The Ministry of Arts & Culture pledges our unstinting support for WOS so that it can become the unstoppable powerhouse that it ought to be. As it marches towards its first decade, we wish it all the best in its endeavours to empower women in the television and film sector.
Malibongwe!
Z. Pallo Jordan
Minister of Arts & Culture
South Africa
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