The Independent Producers Organisation (IPO) has raised concern over numerous allegations of sexual harassment and rape against a well-known South African film producer.
No charges have been laid against the producer, but a number of women have taken to social media under the #ThatsNotOk movement to tell their story.
IPO says the #MeToo, #TimesUp and #ThatsNotOk movements have emerged to put pressure on industry and legal process to step up to the demand for safe and expeditious recourse.
In a statement, the IPO says this case has drawn attention to the scourge of sexual harassment in the industry, adding that this is a prevailing culture in the industry and society where those in power, especially males, feel they can get away with committing outrageous and often violent acts.
The organisation’s Co-Chairperson Lwazi Manzi says they trust that due process will prevail and that the rule of law will apply the highest sanction if he is found guilty.
“An increasing number of women have all come out. Two of the women have accused him of rape and none of these women have opened a case and we also accept and understand that because of the low confidence index that women have in the legal system. They have taken to social media to vent their frustrations and to seek some kind of recourse or some kind of justice.”
The organisation says it encourages discussion and dialogue about what it terms as a “disturbing phenomenon” of sexual harassment.
#ThatsNotOk pic.twitter.com/JSzbrfCBfC
— Mme a Masakona (@FloMasebe) May 21, 2018
