SABC Head of Content Lala Tuku and Other Execs Suspended as Bakwena Productions' Pimville Non-payment and Exploitation Scandal Grows

by Thinus Ferreira

The South African public broadcaster has suspended the SABC's head of content Lala Tuku as well as other executives over the growing Pimville non-payment and exploitation scandal of Bakwena Productions' failure to pay the cast and crew.

Sources told TVwithThinus on Wednesday that the SABC had suspended Lala Tuku. The names of the other executives also suspended are not known yet.

On Wednesday, TVwithThinus asked the SABC for comment about the suspension of Lala Tuku. 

The SABC said "Regarding your separate inquiry on alleged suspensions of employees, the SABC is not at liberty to discuss employer-employee issues in the public domain".

Previously, the SABC issued public statements as South Africa's public broadcaster and confirmed to the media when executives were suspended, like when former SABC COO Ian Plaatjes, former SABC COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng, former SABC CEO Frans Matlala, former SABC CEO Solly Mokoetle, former group exec for video entertainment, Merlin Naicker, and former head of sales Reggie Nxumalo were all suspended.

The SABC is reportedly trying to find out what happened with, and trying to recover R19 million that the broadcaster paid to Bakwena Productions to produce episodes of Pimville and which SABC2 is struggling to get out of the company.

Bakwena Productions, mired in a string of defaulting payments for casts and crews, is owned by actor Kagiso Modupe and the married couple Rashaka "Rush" Muofhe and Brenda Muofe.

Bakwena Productions and these producers are notorious within the industry for their serial non-payment of casts, crews and service providers and damaged the reputation of Paramount Global's BET (DStv 129) channel when it failed to pay the cast and crew of Pound for Pound.

Bakwena Productions is also embroiled in a nasty legal battle with Black Brain Pictures after its founder Mandla Ngcongwane, known as Mandla N., borrowed Bakwena Productions R4.2 million in order for Bakwena to allegedly pay casts and crews. 

The SABC, although aware that Bakwena Productions failed to pay and honour financial commitments as it should and promised, still went ahead and commissioned the production company to do Pimville for SABC2 to replace the cancelled Muvhango.

Nomsa Chabeli, SABC CEO, told parliament a year ago in May 2025 that Pimville will bring audiences back to SABC2.

Nomsa Chabeli knew that Bakwena Productions had a problem paying people and companies. 

In April 2025, Nomsa Chabeli wrote to Tsholofelo Katlego Bodlani, the DA member who is part of the portfolio committee on communications, confirming that the SABC had contracted Bakwena Productions to make Pimville.

Nomsa Chabeli acknowledged awareness of the payment allegations against Bakwena Productions and gave her assurance that the SABC has appointed a supervising producer to ensure payment compliance to the Pimville cast and crew.

Nomsa Chabeli admitted that the SABC decided to appoint Bakwena Productions, knowing there were problems.

"The SABC contracted Bakwena Productions in 2024 for the delivery of a new production, Pimville, which is set to be broadcast on SABC2," Nomsa Chabeli wrote.

"While the SABC is not directly responsible for the payment of cast and crew — as this is the responsibility of the appointed production house — it is important to state that the SABC does not condone the exploitation of creatives and holds itself accountable for ensuring that all contractual obligations are met."

"As a public institution, the SABC has an interest in ensuring that funds allocated for productions are properly utilised."

"It is therefore crucial for the corporation to engage with production houses when issues of this nature arise in order to foster healthy working relationships across the production ecosystem."

Lala Tuku, the SABC's head of local content, told City Press in November 2025, "When we heard about the [non-payment] rumours, we were open and transparent about it. We intensified our discussions. We want to see them win. We want to see young black producers win. It was about how do we handhold."

Lala Tuku further promised in November that the SABC "had put processes in place to ensure Bakwena Productions would not fall behind on payments to cast and crew".

That obviously didn't work at all.

Rashaka Muofhe told City Press in November 2025 that Bakwena Productions would not repeat past mistakes with Pimville and that "This project will not be marked by any negative impact".

The SABC told TVwithThinus that the broadcaster "is actively managing the matter through legal, operational, and stakeholder engagement processes".

The SABC says it is busy with "formal contractual processes currently underway with Bakwena Productions, ongoing engagement with the production company regarding remedial actions, contingency planning relating to continuity of production and broadcast, and direct engagement with affected cast and crew".

The Writers' Guild of South Africa (WGSA), which says that writers - including WGSA members - are among those affected and who have reported non-payment on Pimville.

"The WGSA stands in solidarity with all workers affected by the ongoing allegations of exploitation, labour abuses and non-payment surrounding the production of Pimville."

"Writers across South Africa continue to face delayed payment, non-payment, unfair contracts, lack of credit, IP abuses, excessive unpaid development work and exploitative work conditions within an industry that has normalised the devaluing of creative labour."

"The experiences reported by the affected writers on Pimville are not isolated incidents."

"They reflect broader systemic issues within the South African film and television industry, where exploitation, intimidation, labour violations and the erosion of workers' rights have become far too common."

"The WGSA calls for immediate restitution for all affected writers and urges the relevant parties to act swiftly, ethically and transparently in resolving these matters."

"We further call on writers across the country to continue documenting and reporting cases of exploitation, labour abuses and unethical practices. These stories matter. This evidence matters. Silence only protects those who continue to profit from broken systems while workers suffer." 

Tsholofelo Katlego Bodlani, the DA member who is part of the portfolio committee on communications and who raised the concerns around Bakwena Productions last year, told TVwithThinus on Thursday that "The DA notes the concerns raised about Bakwena Productions".

"The report on non-payment of actors and crew is unacceptable. Further, reports of content been paid for and not received are noted with equal concern."

"The entertainment industry is an important aspect of our society. We should do better in how we treat our artists. The DA notes that this is an operational matter, however we will submit follow-up questions to the SABC."

Jack Devnarain, chairman of the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) told TVwithThinus on Thursday that the non-payment of the Pimville cast and crew is "a disaster that was entirely foreseeable".

"At the very outset, industry bodies raised the alarm about Bakwena Productions and their failure to honour payments to cast, crew, and background actors on Pound for Pound."

"The SABC response was to appoint a supervising producer, and SAGA was justifiably outraged by this."

"We predicted this catastrophic failure, not because we have special industry insights, but because we can spot the glaringly obvious. Weak and incompetent management will collapse a production every time."

"I have no doubt all the SABC executives involved in the decision to commission Bakwena Productions are still earning generous salaries - whether they are suspended or not. In stark contrast, the cast, crew, and background actors of Pimville will have very slim prospects of being paid." 

"The commissioning process at the SABC is deeply compromised, and those executives need to account to the industry, and to the country."

ALSO READ: After SABC Was Warned It Would Happen Again, Bakwena Productions Failed to Pay Pimville Cast and Crew With Show Set to Abruptly Disappear from SABC2 on 7 May

Canal+ Signs Multi-year Renewal with South African Rugby Union for Domestic Rugby, Springbok Women and Junior Matches to Remain on SuperSport

by Thinus Ferreira

France's Canal+ has signed a new multi-year renewal deal with SA Rugby to keep all of the South African Rugby Union's (Saru) domestic competitions, Springbok women and junior age-group matches on MultiChoice's SuperSport in sub-Saharan Africa.

It is the first sports content contract Canal+ has signed with a South African sports federation body since it took over MultiChoice in September 2025.

Neither Canal+ Africa nor Saru disclosed the terms or value of the deal, nor how many years the "multi-year" contract extension is for.

Sport content, especially rugby, remains a crucial component for Canal+'s MultiChoice to try and limit DStv cord-cutting and churn, with Canal+ trying to win back millions of DStv subscribers who have abandoned the traditional pay-TV operator over the past three years.

"As promised we are doubling down on our investment in local content, including the sports content that matters the most to people on the continent," says David Mignot, Canal+ Africa CEO, in a statement.

"In the South African market, rugby has grown into becoming a part of the national psyche – as evidenced by the national euphoria that erupted each time the Springboks won the Rugby World Cup."

Mark Alexander, Saru president, says "We are very happy to have concluded our first agreement with the MultiChoice Group and Canal+ group after a thorough and extensive series of engagements."

"They have demonstrated a shared understanding of the importance of rugby to the South African public and we trust this is the first of many such agreements."

Rian Oberholzer, SA Rugby CEO, says "Broadcasting rights are fundamental to the health and sustainability of sport in South Africa and rugby is no different".

"SuperSport has been a long-standing and trusted partner to South African rugby, and we are delighted to continue our partnership. The world of rugby and broadcasting has changed significantly since we signed our first agreement in the 1990s but it is a testimony to our mutual interests that the partnership continues to endure."

Rendani Ramovha, Canal+ Africa director for sports content in English and Portuguese-speaking Africa, says in the supplied quote, "The renewal of the domestic broadcast agreement is not just the strengthening of our long-standing partnership with SA Rugby but a victory for DStv viewers and subscribers, who have come to trust us to bring the best sports content to them in our world-class broadcast quality."

"To be able to continue this promise is a proud moment for us, and it reaffirms our commitment to the sports fan. We're grateful to our partners at SA Rugby for their collaborative spirit."

After SABC Was Warned It Would Happen Again, Bakwena Productions Failed to Pay Pimville Cast and Crew With Show Set to Abruptly Disappear from SABC2 on 7 May

by Thinus Ferreira

After the South African public broadcasters top executives were warned in advance and knew of the notorious non-payment issues of Bakwena Productions but still commissioned this production company to produce Pimville, the show will abruptly go off the air due to non-payment of its cast and crew after the last completed episode is broadcast on Thursday 7 May on SABC2.

Production of Pimville abruptly stopped after cast and crew were not paid at the end of April, similar to them not having been paid at the end of March by Bakwena Productions.

This is the latest chapter in Bakwena Productions' non-payment scandal that is once again damaging South Africa's local TV and film industry.

Bakwena Productions has been mired in a string of defaulting payments for casts and crews of several TV productions that cause schedule and programming disruption to TV channels, along with severe reputational damage to their brands.

Bakwena Productions is also embroiled in a nasty legal battle with Black Brain Pictures after its founder Mandla Ngcongwane, known as Mandla N., borrowed Bakwena Productions R4.2 million in order for Bakwena to allegedly pay casts and crews. 

Bakwena has allegedly failed to pay back this loan.

Crews and casts working for Bakwena Productions are now calling for the Special Investigating Unit (SIU) to launch a formal investigation into the notorious production company that time and again fails to pay people, while the owners live an extravagant lifestyle.

Bakwena Productions is owned by actor Kagiso Modupe and the married couple Rashaka "Rush" Muofhe and Brenda Muofe.

After doing shows like Pound4Pound for Paramount's BET channel where it failed to pay cast and crew what they were owed, it also got a contract from Netflix to produce the Losing Lerato series.

Around 500 background actors, represented by agencies like the Professional Background Artists (PBA) were allegedly left unpaid, leading to a CCMA ruling that ordered Bakwena Productions to pay and settle the outstanding money owed.

Service providers like a transport company, as well as photographers and a guest house operator who provided accommodation and changing areas for the cast and crew, also accused Bakwena Productions of not paying.

The SABC, aware that Bakwena Productions failed to pay and honour financial commitments as it should and promised, still went ahead and commissioned the production company to do Pimville for SABC2 to replace the cancelled Muvhango.

Nomsa Chabeli, SABC CEO, told parliament a year ago in May 2025 that Pimville will bring audiences back to SABC2. Now it won't because there are no further episodes for the SABC to broadcast.

Nomsa Chabeli knew that Bakwena Productions has a problem paying people and companies. In April 2025, Nomsa Chabeli wrote to Tsholofelo Katlego Bodlani, the DA member who is part of the portfolio committee on communications, confirming that the SABC had contracted Bakwena Productions to make Pimville.

Nomsa Chabeli acknowledged awareness of the payment allegations against Bakwena Productions and gave her assurance that the SABC has appointed a supervising producer to ensure payment compliance to the Pimville cast and crew.

Nomsa Chabeli admitted that the SABC decided to appoint Bakwena Productions, knowing there are problems.

"The SABC contracted Bakwena Productions in 2024 for the delivery of a new production, Pimville, which is set to be broadcast on SABC2," Nomsa Chabeli wrote.

"While the SABC is not directly responsible for the payment of cast and crew — as this is the responsibility of the appointed production house — it is important to state that the SABC does not condone the exploitation of creatives and holds itself accountable for ensuring that all contractual obligations are met."

"As a public institution, the SABC has an interest in ensuring that funds allocated for productions are properly utilised."

"It is therefore crucial for the corporation to engage with production houses when issues of this nature arise in order to foster healthy working relationships across the production ecosystem."

Last year, even the South African Background Actors Guild (SABAG) officially wrote to Nomsa Chabeli and the SABC, demanding clarity, with Louise Setabole who wrote that SABAG is "writing to formally express our deep disappointment regarding the SABC’s decision to collaborate with Bakwena Productions".

"Our concerns arise from Bakwena Productions’ history of questionable business practices, particularly their failure to fulfil financial obligations to cast, crew, and background actors. In 2024, Bakwena Productions produced Pound 4 Pound but failed to make timely payments."

"Payments were only processed three months after the project concluded, and even then, some individuals received only partial compensation. To this day, background actors remain unpaid, despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue."

Now, after just a few months on the air, the Pimville cast and crew refused to work further after they were again not paid at the end of April.

Lala Tuku, the SABC's head of local content, told City Press in November 2025, "When we heard about the [non-payment] rumours, we were open and transparent about it. We intensified our discussions. We want to see them win. We want to see young black producers win. It was about how do we handhold."

Lala Tuku further promised in November that the SABC "had put processes in place to ensure Bakwena Productions would not fall behind on payments to cast and crew".

That obviously didn't work at all and the SABC in fact did fail to prevent a recurrence.

Rashaka Muofhe told City Press in November 2025 that Bakwena Productions would not repeat past mistakes with Pimville and that "This project will not be marked by any negative impact".

Several Pimville cast and crew say they were recently held hostage in Soweto for several hours after Bakwena Productions had failed to pay homeowners the rent due for on-location shoots.

The Bakwena Productions owners couldn't be reached for comment.

On Monday 4 May, Rashaka Muofhe sent the cast and crew a Whatsapp blaming the SABC for not paying them.

"Please note production shoot has been temporarily suspended until matters of payment has been resolved with SABC."

"Please note we do apologise for any inconvenience caused and matters are being handled with the necessary urgency required and we are confident that production will soon resume."

"Further communication in terms of payment dates will be communicated once we have confirmation."

The SABC however says it has paid everything it was supposed to, to Bakwena Productions. 

In a media query, TVwithThinus asked the SABC for comment specifically about what the broadcaster makes of Bakwena Productions now doing exactly what it did in the past, by starting a production and then ending it due to non-payment.

The SABC was aware before awarding a contract to Bakwena Productions that Bakwena did the same to other TV channels, and yet the SABC chose this production company - so why did the broadcaster choose this producer knowing that it is mired in non-payment issues to casts and crews?

Responding to the media query on Wednesday, the SABC says it "became aware of concerns regarding the production company following the commissioning of Pimville and the contracting of Bakwena Productions."

"Following this, a set of risk mitigation measures were put in place. While these interventions were intended to safeguard the production and protect the SABC, recent developments indicate that further action is required."

"We remain committed to ensuring that all productions adhere to the highest standards of governance, accountability, and fair treatment of all industry professionals."

About the Pimville cast and crew battling to just get paid by Bakwena Productions, the SABC notes that the latest non-payment is Bakwena Productions' fault and not the SABC.

"The broadcaster has duly fulfilled its contractual obligations to Bakwena Productions" says the SABC and adds that the public broadcaster "is therefore up to date with payments, underscoring its commitment to the smooth running of productions".

The SABC blames Bakwena Productions for the non-payment of the cast and crew who are now suffering.

"It must be noted, that in this case, the production company concerned is in breach of the contract with the SABC," the broadcaster says.

"In response to the current situation, the SABC is actively engaging the production company to remedy the situation." The broadcaster says it is "implementing contingency plans to ensure continuity of content on SABC2" for when the final Pimville episode it has left is broadcast on 7 May.

The SABC is "Exploring alternative production solutions, should this become necessary", noting that "We have engaged the cast of Pimville today" - meaning on Wednesday 6 May.

The SABC adds that "The SABC will not be providing further detailed comment at this stage as the matter is subject to contractual and legal processes."

While the SABC, as a public broadcaster, won't be giving further detailed comment, it is once again the workers within South Africa's TV and film industry, as well as viewers losing a TV show, who are left to suffer.

CNN Founder Ted Turner Dead at 87

by Thinus Ferreira

CNN announced that Ted Turner, the creator and founder of the American TV news channel, has died. He was 87.

Ted Turner lost his battle against Lewy body dementia, which he revealed in 2018 and that is a progressive brain disorder. He died on Wednesday at home.

Ted Turner was instrumental in launching CNN on 1 June, 1980 as the world's first 24-hour TV news channel, followed by CNN International (DStv 401) in 1985.

Turner Enterprises issued a statement from the Turner family announcing and confirming Ted Turner's death.

"Ted was an intensely involved and committed leader, intrepid, fearless and always willing to back a hunch and trust his own judgement," says Mark Thompson, chairman and CEO of CNN Worldwide, in a statement.

"He was and always will be the presiding spirit of CNN. Ted is the giant on whose shoulders we stand, and we will all take a moment today to recognise him and his impact on our lives and the world."

Kenya's Appeal Court Denies Canal+'s MultiChoice Kenya from Moving Drawn-out 'Sagging Beams' Construction Case to Supreme Court

by Thinus Ferreira

Kenya's Court of Appeal has denied the application of Canal+'s MultiChoice Kenya to move the drawn-out legal case with a contractor to the country's Supreme Court.

The court case centres around the alleged structural defects by the contractor, followed by the alleged fraud committed by MultiChoice and its hired experts to doctor a report around its ordered but then dumped office block in Kileleshwa.

MultiChoice Kenya is embroiled in a long-standing row with its contractor, Cementers Limited, over the office block that was found to have serious structural flaws. 

MultiChoice contracted Cementers Ltd in 2015 but in June 2017 ended the contract after the building was declared unfit for occupation due to structural issues, leading MultiChoice to refuse full payment and eventually seek to demolish the structure.

The drama deepened when two experts involved in the project - principal architect Stanley Kebathi and Kariuki Muchemi of Interconcult Engineers Ltd - were accused of doctoring a report to help MultiChoice avoid paying the contractor. 

In March 2022 they, together with Wilson Karaba, IEL, Conapex Consulting Engineers and SK Archplans were all charged with conspiring to falsify a structural integrity report in order to defraud, after Cementers went to court alleging MultiChoice's report was prejudiciously altered so that MultiChoice could skip payment.

These experts lost a court bid in early 2025 to stop their own criminal prosecution.

In January 2026 MultiChoice was granted leave to take its case to Kenya's Supreme Court after the Court of Appeal had previously blocked certain moves.

On 30 April, the three-judge Court of Appeal however, declined MultiChoice Kenya's request to further escalate specific parts of this KSh 895 million (R115 million) dispute to the Supreme Court, ruling that the company had not identified a unique point of law or public interest to justify the highest court's intervention at this stage.

A parallel attempt by the contractor to use the Environment and Land Court was dismissed because the court ruled it lacked jurisdiction; the dispute is legally classified as a commercial contract matter rather than a land ownership issue.

ALSO READ: In a bitter court battle, the sagging beams building case drags on as MultiChoice Kenya wants to get rid of (but can't) the defective Nairobi building from its fired concrete contractor that was supposed to be the pay-TV operator's new Kenya headquarters.

Filmmakers Can Apply for Cape Town's Film Support Fund for 2026 Productions in the City

by Thinus Ferreira

The City of Cape Town's Film Office has again opened applications for its Film Support Fund, for 2026, to provide financial support for various film projects done in Cape Town.

This is the third year that Film Cape Town will fund various productions in and around the city of Cape Town since the fund started in 2024.

Filmmakers have until 31 May 2026 to apply for funding with submissions that must be for productions that will be completed in the 2026/2027 financial year, meaning between 1 July 2026 and 30 June 2027.

The aim of Cape Town's Film Support Fund is to support productions that help to drive local economic development and create job opportunities within the film and media sector and that will build and strengthen Cape Town’s emerging talent base through upskilling and training.

"This is the third call of the film fund and marks a significant step in the city’s continued commitment to strengthening Cape Town’s film and media industry," says Alderman JP Smith, the mayoral committee member for safety and security.

"Building on the success of previous rounds, we are proud to further support a sector that continues to play a vital role in attracting investment and strengthening Cape Town's position as a leading global production hub."

"The strong performance of last year's funded projects is a testament to the impact of this initiative, with productions gaining both local and international traction. This includes Wild Waterfront – a finalist at the 2026 International Tourism Film Festival Africa taking place in June."

"We look forward to supporting a new wave of projects that will continue to elevate Cape Town's presence."

The film fund is able to evaluate applications that can show how it will stimulate local economic growth and create jobs within Cape Town and that will highlight and promote the unique aspects of the city.

Projects must support and upskill emerging talent in the film and media sector within Cape Town, drive sustainability, diversity, and inclusion within the local film and media landscape, and also portray Cape Town's rich history and cultural heritage authentically.

Furthermore, projects must have a capacity to attract direct investment into Cape Town.

According to the fund, film projects that can be considered for funding include production, post-production funding for short films, feature films such as animation, interactive gaming, live-action music videos, commercials, and reality TV series.

Ineligible projects and exclusions are adult content, training videos or corporate videos, current affairs or news shows, as well as buying of equipment/assets. 

The Film Support application form, Project Plan form and the documents checklist is on the City of Cape Town's website and completed applications must be emailed to Film.Fund@capetown.gov.za before 31 May 2026.

NFVF Asks Andani Africa to Do Impact Assessment Survey About Economic Contribution of South Africa's Film and TV Industry

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) has commissioned Andani Africa to do an impact assessment survey to determine the economic contribution that South Africa's film and TV industry is making to the country.

The survey is open to production companies, broadcasters, distributors, film facilities, freelancers, animators, and service providers, for instance make-up artists, across all nine provinces of South Africa who can complete the online survey.

Although struggling immensely, South Africa's film and TV sector currently generates between R2.50 to R5.65 as a return on the investment for every R1 spend within the sector which remains an engine for employment.

South Africa's TV and film industry remains furious and animated and organised with collective action over the collapse of the South African government's film rebate system.

The department of trade, industry and competition (DTIC) remains mired in incentive scheme paralysis for over three years and counting and has not held any adjudication meetings to approve rebates since late 2023.

This has created a massive backlog of unapproved projects and unpaid dues to producers, exceeding R660 million that was promised but not paid.

The DTIC's collapse and the government's silence to the industry has directly led to a loss of investor confidence in South Africa's film sector and because of these delays, international productions have moved to competing countries, causing the sector to shrink by an estimated 50% since its 2022 peak.

Unilateral changes by the DTIC now require producers to cover all costs upfront, creating a major financial barrier for smaller or emerging filmmakers.

The NFVF's Andani Africa survey can be found and completed here online.

Revived Top Billing Once Again Doing a 2026 Presenter Search This Time Using Social Media - How to Enter and Maximise Your Chance for an In-Person Audition

by Thinus Ferreira

The revived Top Billing on SABC3 is doing a new presenter search through social media to find a brand new presenter to join the existing presenters' corps of the weekly South African lifestyle magazine show.

At the end of the first episode of the new Top Billing on Thursday night on SABC3, Cardova, that is producing the show, announced that South Africans can now send in videos of themselves to audition for the show.

Previous Top Billing presenter searches through the years have been hugely successful. They were physical auditions over various dates in several South African cities, and people stood in line in long queues. 

These Top Billing presenter searches were filmed as TV reality shows, and underscored the desire of South Africans wanting to be a part of "the good life" put on display week after week by the show that has become an institution on South African television.

Simba Mhere was the winner of the first Top Billing Presenter Search in 2010, with Jonathan Boynton-Lee who won My Top Billing Dream in 2012 and is once again back as a presenter on the show.

Jade Hubner, Zoe Brown and Danilo Acquisto won the Presenter Search on 3 on 2015 and joined various SABC3 shows.

Ryle de Morny and Fezile Mkhize were two of the four winners of the Presenter Search on 3 in 2018 who joined Top Billing and are also both back as presenters of the revived Top Billing.

For the 2026 Top Billing Presenter Search, the search is moving to utilise social media.

People who want to enter must be 18 years old, must be legally entitled to work in South Africa and should exude Top Billing presenter qualities like the "it" factor with a lot of charisma, a sense of style and personality, and have a passion and knowledge of people and lifestyle content.

People who want to enter must record an audition video and explain and showcase briefly why they think they're the perfect Top Billing presenter, highlighting their personality, presenter style and what they would bring to the role in terms of perspectives, travel, culture and trends.

The video must be uploaded and posted on Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), Facebook or TikTok with the hashtags #TopBillingPresenterSearch and #TopBillingAudition, along with tagging @TopBillingTV and @SABC3, by 30 June.

Important for the audition video is to dress impeccably (no branded clothing) and to come across as self-assured and with charisma like a Top Billing presenter. 

The video should be one minute in length or shorter, and be a concise, professional clip or link about who you are and why you're the perfect choice to join the show as a Top Billing presenter.

The shortlisted candidates will go through to the next round of in-person auditions, currently set to take place during July and August. 

This will lead to on-camera challenges - similar to what the previous Top Billing Presenter Search shows did. With it will go possible TV appearances, background checks, and contractual negotiations and agreements.

There Is (Still) a Way: How South Africans Can Still Try to Get Sold Out Burger King SA's Mandalorian and Grogu Mugs and a Mandalorian Helmet

by Thinus Ferreira

For angry and frustrated South African consumers who went to Burger King and left disappointed with none of The Mandalorian and Grogu collectable mugs for sale for R40 as add-ons, there is still a way for desperate nerf herders to try and get their paws on one - including a Mandalorian helmet.

The highly desirable black Mandalorian and white Grogu porcelain mugs sold out - no word from Burger King South Africa yet on how many it actually had and sent to franchises - in just two days across the country.

Now people don't want to buy Burger King's Galaxy Mandalorian meals (which you have to buy first, in order to buy a mug), since the mug is the reason people were willing to buy the Burger King adult meal. 

It's bad for Burger King SA, which apparently severely underestimated just how popular the Mandalorian merch would be, and while the 8 collectable plastic figures are cute and also a "worthy" collectable, it really is the two mugs that Star Wars fans - big and small - are after.

The lack of available tie-in merchandise at Burger King is also a bad reflection on The Walt Disney Company South Africa. 

Consumers are lured to Burger King with a promise about Disney and Lucasfilm merch - basically a marketing proposition, but when the consumer arrives, there is no make-good on the promise or proposition from Burger King and Disney's Star Wars: You can't buy or get what you're told is on offer.

Disney and Burger King SA seriously need to rectify the problem and stop marketing the mugs and whatever is sold out (keep in mind the promotion is still supposed to run for a month!) and explain that to potential customers, or find additional stock and get it to Burger Kings across South Africa as soon as possible.

There is still a way to try and win some of the Mandalorian and Grogu mugs through Burger King.

Burger King SA is running a competition tied to the movie and merch on the Burger King app in South Africa. 

Download the app and click on The Mandalorian and Grogu vertical. Scroll down and click on "Join the mission!"

Here, Burger King receipts can be uploaded after taking a photo of it. A new competition runs weekly, starting on a Monday, and with winners announced on the next Monday. The first draw will be on Monday 11 May and the final draw will take place on 8 June.

Every Monday, Burger King will give away (the first Monday's winners will be announced this upcoming Monday): Burger King vouchers, The Mandalorian and Grogu merchandise like Grogu animatronic dolls or Grogu figurines, and sets (one of each design) of the mugs.

There are 120 mug sets up for grabs in total - so 30 winners every Monday will get a mug.

Every week is a new chance to win but only Galaxy Mandalorian meal purchases from that preceding week are included in the draw for that week.

Then Burger King SA has an "ultimate grand prize". At the end of the campaign, one lucky winner will get a The Mandalorian and Grogu hamper, valued at R25 000.

This will include a Mandalorian helmet, a Grogu animatronic doll, and a "premium lightsaber".

For this grand prize, all entries received throughout the campaign period will be included in the grand prize draw, so every Galaxy burger meal bought and uploaded will count as a valid entry.

The Mandalorian and Grogu will debut in South African cinemas on 22 May.

On TV, The Disney Channel (DStv 303) is running two Lego Star Wars series.

From 4 to 7 May at 16:30 there is Lego Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy in which Sig Greebling unearths a powerful artefact from a hidden Jedi Temple.

From 11 to 14 at 16:30 there is Lego Star Wars: Rebuild The Galaxy Pieces of the Past in which Sig, Jedi Bob, Yesi, Servo and the villainous Dev return and must face off against a new enemy – the powerful and mysterious Solitus.

"Our heroes will make unlikely alliances as they traverse new and dangerous parts of the hilariously mixed-up galaxy in an effort to stop the growing threat Solitus poses to all they hold dear," reads a logline supplied by Disney Africa.

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ALSO READ: Disney and Burger King in South Africa bring limited-edition The Mandalorian and Grogu figurines to meals and 2 mugs