The 7th Saftas caused huge embarrassment - both for Born Free Media's writing team and SABC2 and 90 Plein Street, as well as e.tv and Quizzical Pictures which produce 4Play Sex Tips for Girls - by completely messing up the best writing for a TV drama category and spoiling prematurely the winner for the next category of best supporting actress in a TV drama series.
When it was time for the 7th South African Film and Television Awards to make the award for best writing for a TV drama, the recorded nominees introduction for the category for best TV writing in a drama series played.
"And the award goes to: Nazli George as Shireen in 90 Plein Street," read co-host Nik Rabinowitz.from the golden envelope he opened. Then he turned to his side as if helplessly looking for support after he read a wrong envelope. "It seems ..." and then a dumbfounded, perplexed and visibly embarrassed Nik Rabonowitz simply stopped talking as he looked sheepishly in front of him.
Music blared. The voice-over announcer announced: "The 4Play Sex Tips for Girls writing team wins their first Safta. It's also their first nomination."
Then, super cringeworthingly and super awkwardly, Teddy Mattera, a writer from 90 Plein Street walked up and stood behind the Saftas stage microphone.
He was oblivious that he shouldn't be there, that 90 Plein Street's writing team didn't really win - and nobody from the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) or Saftas production team or Vertical Limit Productions producing the show was seen on the Saftas stage trying to intervene and stop him.
Teddy Mattera then launched into an acceptance speech, making the live on-air 7th Saftas gaffe even worse.
"It's miraculous. Khalo Matabane, our head writer couldn't be here today, but respect to Sue de Groot, Ndumiso Khovano, and myself Teddy Mattera, it's been a beautiful ride. Finally we predicted the fall and the rise of somebody in our story. You know who. Thank you."
The live and embarrassing mistake being played out on stage and on TV screens in South Africa was surreal, shocking and highly embarrassing.
The next category of best supporting actress in a TV drama series was also spoilt because of the mistake. An introduction of the nominees played, but viewers and the Gallagher Estate audience already knew it was going to be Nazli George who wins.
After the embarrassing spectacle the 7th Saftas continued by handing out five further awards without getting the real winners - the real writing team of 4Play Sex Tips for Girls - on the stage.
Then 4Play Sex Tips for Girls won in the category for Best TV drama series. The e.tv show's production team blatantly made mention of the mess-up when Harriet Gavshon, accepting the award, said: "For the wonderful writing team who I hope will still be acknowledged ..."
Then after a musical performance by Chris Chameleon the 7th Saftas couldn't ignore the embarrassing mistake any longer.
"Earlier we didn't give the writing team for 4Play Sex Tips for Girls an opportunity to make their acceptance speech," said 7th Saftas co-host Nik Rabinowitz, "so please welcome the 4Play Sex Tips for Girls writing team."
"So I leave you alone now?" viewers then suddenly heard 7th Saftas co-host Connie Ferguson say off camera - an open mic mistake which should have been muted on the sound desk and which was once again part of the many sound problems the Saftas broadcast had on Saturday night as usual with this award broadcast.
The 4Play Sex Tips for Girls writing team of Minky Schlesinger, Gillian Breslin and Busisiwe Ntintili then made their way to the stage to make their acceptance speech.
It's not clear whether Teddy Mattera and the 90 Plein Street writing team now have to give their golden horn trophy back - or whether he already did so.
The NFVF also didn't issue any statement during or after the conclusion of the live broadcast about the embarrassing on-air mishap and what exactly happened with the best writing award. The NFVF didn't immediately respond to a media enquiry made about it on Saturday night after the awards.
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