One of South Africa’s biggest advertising agencies, Avatar, has confirmed that its co-Chief Creative Officer, Veli Ngubane, has stepped down with immediate effect after allegations of inappropriate behaviour at a work-related event surfaced on social media.
The agency announced the leadership change in a media statement issued on 22 July, saying: “Avatar today confirmed that Veli Ngubane has stepped down from his role as co-Chief Creative Officer, effective immediately.”
While Avatar did not disclose the specific allegations against Ngubane, it strongly suggested that his departure followed a breach of the company’s code of conduct.
“Avatar holds all of its people to the highest standards of professional conduct. We do not tolerate behaviour that falls short of those standards, and we act when it does,” the agency said.
The agency added that founder and Group CEO Zibusiso Mkhwanazi would continue leading the business, while Phil Ireland has been appointed interim sole Chief Creative Officer to ensure continuity for clients and staff.
Ngubane’s departure follows allegations made by two women on social media, who claimed he behaved in an inappropriate and disturbing manner following a work function in France.
According to the women, they had stepped outside during the event when Ngubane allegedly approached them repeatedly and said, “rape me” three separate times while walking back and forth. They said they did not know who he was at the time and were unsure whether he was attempting to make a joke.
The women further alleged that Ngubane later offered to drive them back to their hotel. One of the women described the encounter as deeply uncomfortable, saying: “Nobody wants to be objectified at work, especially in such a disrespectful manner. Yes, we are in a beautiful environment, but we are here for work. I have never had that level of inappropriate behaviour, even at a bar.”
The women shared a video online in which Ngubane allegedly appears interacting with them.
Following the video’s circulation, Ngubane reportedly acknowledged that he had been highly intoxicated during the incident. He is also reported to have commented on and rated the women’s physical appearance, remarks that drew widespread criticism online.
Avatar’s statement does not explicitly state that Ngubane was dismissed. Instead, it says he “stepped down” with immediate effect. However, the timing of the announcement, coupled with the company’s emphasis on professional standards and acting against unacceptable behaviour, indicates that the leadership change followed the misconduct allegations.
Ngubane is regarded as one of South Africa’s leading creative advertising executives. He co-founded Avatar alongside Zibusiso Mkhwanazi and helped build the Johannesburg-based agency into one of Africa’s most respected independent advertising groups, producing award-winning campaigns for major local and international brands.
Outside of the advertising industry, Ngubane was also known for his relationship with television presenter and media personality Palesa Tembe. The pair were engaged and frequently appeared together at public events before eventually ending their relationship. Their high-profile romance attracted considerable media attention at the time.
Avatar concluded its statement by thanking its stakeholders for their continued support, saying: “We thank our clients, partners and colleagues for their continued confidence in Avatar and the wider Avatar Agency Group.”
