by Thinus Ferreira
As cast and crew members are evicted over unpaid rent and fume over a lack of toilets and even water on set although an executive producer allegedly brandished his own liquor and bodyguards, the mudslinging between the SABC and Bakwena Productions over the implosion of Pimville continues to escalate and could soon end in court.
As more and more Pimville cast, crew and suppliers who have gone unpaid for months by Bakwena Productions come forward with harrowing stories - one detailing the miscarriage she suffered, while several claim food poisoning - the SABC is facing a staggering and growing TV scandal and a multi-million rand production loss that's been months in the making.
Amidst several suspended content executives at the public broadcaster, SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli - who was aware of Bakwena Productions' bad production record and previous non-payment problems but allowed the SABC's contract and filming for Pimville to proceed - will soon be hauled before parliament's portfolio committee on communications to account for the growing TV show non-payment scandal.
Ironically, Pimville - from actor Kagiso Modupe and the married couple Rashaka "Rush" Muofhe and Brenda Muofe's Bakwena Productions - was supposed to, and positioned by the SABC to be the new TV gem in the SABC2 crown to revitalise the moribund channel's ratings.
Nomsa Chabeli proudly told parliament last year that Pimville set to replace the cancelled Muvhango, is destined to turn around the flagging fortunes of the ratings-challenged SABC2.
Instead, Bakwena Productions, which has failed to pay the show's cast and crew, caused Pimville to implode - damaging the planned revival plan of SABC2 and also once again miring the SABC in a production scandal the broadcaster can ill afford.
The SABC ran out of completed episodes to air on SABC2.
After the telenovela's last available episode - number 75 in a commissioned order of hundreds - was shown this past Friday, it left the SABC to hurriedly slot in repeats of Amalani Awafani on SABC2 in a move that angered advertisers and viewers.
The SABC will now be forced to do so-called "makegoods" to advertisers - ad-buys who booked ad spots weeks and months ago but aren't getting their paid ads flighted during the content, audience and demos that tey were promised, in a timeslot now filled with reruns.
While the SABC, which was warned before cameras started to roll on Pimville to stay away and choose another production house, is now taking legal action against Bakwena Productions months later, the Muofhes are now likewise threatening legal action against the SABC.
Meanwhile, the SABC has suspended SABC head of content Lala Tuku, along with SABC executives like genre manager for drama, Nirvana Singh and commissioning editor Reatlegile "Ree" Mampa.
The SABC admits that certain approved oversight mechanisms were "not implemented consistently and to the required standard".
According to the SABC, "an internal consequence management process has been initiated in accordance with applicable policies, procedures, and labour law requirements".
The SABC notes that "In addition, a legal process is currently underway regarding the production company, including the issuing of a notice of breach in April 2026. Any further action will be guided by ongoing contractual, legal, and governance processes."
Bakwena Productions now claims that the show imploded after the SABC abruptly cut the production budget by 38%.
'Not Netflix'
Roughly 124 people and suppliers are out of work and haven't been paid.
Pimville drivers who were contracted by Bakwena Productions say they had to pay for petrol themselves, and were not paid for their work. Wardrobe and make-up staffers say they were forced to bring their own clothing items from home for the actors.
Some Pimville actors were also forced to bring and wear their own private clothes, from home, to film scenes.
An affected Pimville worker speaking out now, notes that "Over 100 families have been affected by what has happened on this production. People are going to bed anxious, ashamed, overwhelmed and hungry".
"Some are facing eviction. Some can't provide for their children. Some have exhausted every cent trying to remain patient and professional while waiting for dignity to be restored."
Another staffer who used to work on Pimville and has been left unpaid, says "As someone who has worked in different productions, I must say this is the worst I've ever engaged myself in - no toilets, no proper water and sanitation, food poisoning, and salaries always late".
A Pimville staff member adds: "For a long time, many of us remained silent because we truly believed things would get better".
"We believed that if we worked harder, sacrificed more, pushed through the discomfort and remained patient, eventually everything would come together. Instead, many people were left carrying exhaustion, uncertainty, delayed or outstanding payments, and emotional burdens that quietly followed them home every night".
Another worker notes: "We would raise concerns about working conditions, resources, pressure or operational challenges and be met with comments like: This is not Netflix. We are not shooting Lion King".
A young female crew member who started working on the production in October 2025 shares that she suffered a miscarriage while working on Pimville and is now being evicted due to her inability to pay rent. She alleges that she was "threatened physically by a colleague and watched formal complaints disappear into silence."
Bakwena Productions claims the SABC Does owe it money
Bakwena Productions in a new statement, says it notes "with serious concerns the public statement issued by the SABC on 25 May 2026 regarding the production status of Pimville that was airing on SABC2, notably the discontinuation of the series due to an alleged contractual breach".
The Muofhes say the implosion of Pimville isn't their fault or that of Bakwena Productions, nothing that "The documentary evidence submitted to the SABC executive committee, board structures and legal division presents a materially different account of events".
"On 12 May 2026, Bakwena’s legal representatives delivered a comprehensive legal notice to the SABC leadership detailing repeated contractual breaches, delayed approvals, operational challenges, governance inconsistencies, and payment defaults committed by the SABC that significantly impacted the sustainability of the production, resulting in funding shortfalls."
"This correspondence was supported by extensive documentary evidence, including approved budgets, payment schedules, production records, operational reports, financial reconciliations, invoices, correspondence and proof of continued delivery by Bakwena".
The Muofhes say "Substantial outstanding payments remain due to Bakwena, including unpaid milestone obligation, contrary to the SABC’s claims of up-to-date payments."
"These outstanding payments have created operational constraints and a severe strain on the broader production ecosystem, which the SABC statement fails to acknowledge and address."
"Despite these increasingly difficult circumstances, Bakwena diligently delivered episodes."
"A production of this magnitude, with a star-studded cast, becomes unsustainable when the commissioning broadcaster withholds agreed contractual funding necessary to sustain operations - particularly where the approved production budget was materially reduced by approximately 38% without due process, and in circumstances where Bakwena was informed that such reductions were being implemented to support new productions at the SABC."
Bakwena Productions further says it notes "with deep concern the negative impact the discontinuation of Pimville will have on the livelihoods of its cast and crew members who depend on Pimville."
"Equally concerning are threats from the SABC to remove Bakwena and appoint another producer while the existing production agreement remains in place and legal processes are still ongoing. In the interests of continuity and stability, Bakwena urges the SABC to reconsider any decision to remove Bakwena as producers of Pimville, for the sake of the cast, crew and the long-term integrity of the production."
It says Bakwena Productions "will pursue all legal remedies available to protect its contractual rights and the future of the production".
SABC CEO summoned to parliament
Meanwhile, SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli and other SABC officials and execs will have to appear before parliament's portfolio committee on communications to answer about what happened to Pimville, the show's implosion and the missing millions, before the end of June.
The chairperson of parliament's portfolio committee on communications Khusela Sangoni-Diko wrote to South Africa's minister of communications, Solly Malatse, asking for a comprehensive report from the department on the SABC and the production implosion of Pimville.
"Affected workers report ongoing non-payment and limited recourse, with some indicating that they have been redirected repeatedly without resolution," the letter notes.
"The Committee notes with concern that these allegations are consistent with earlier complaints concerning Bakwena Productions during the production of Pound 4 Pound, where workers were reportedly unpaid for extended periods, resulting in CCMA intervention and outstanding claims that remain unresolved."
The committee further notes that "Despite these concerns, the SABC proceeded with the appointment and, through its CEO Nomsa Chabeli, acknowledged awareness of the risks".
The committee now wants to know if the department of communications is considering "a formal inquiry into the disbursement and management of funds allocated to Pimville".
According to Sangoni-Diko, they want Nomsa Chabeli and SABC executives to appear before the committee in person "rather than send a letter back".
