You're reading it here first. So this really badly researched story appeared in The Times yesterday about Tswelopele Productions who produces Top Billing and Pasella. Another case in my judgement of lazy journalism for a quick buck.Only one anonymous source quoted (you really shouldn't have or use anonymous sources unless in highly exceptional cases they teach you in journalism school) which then suddenly turns into plurar with the use of ''employees''.
There's also no second or third sources on the record with names noted, pertaining to specifically Tswelopele Productions in the story. It was written by Gabisile Ndebele (who's made mistakes in TV stories before and spell names incorrectly) and Lauren Cohen (who has moved over from The Sunday Times to the Times and is usually better with these things - my guess is she had to help Gabisile out with this one, being based in Cape Town where Tswelopele is located).
The story also seemlessly links cost cutting and one late payment by Tswelopele Productions to the SABC's ongoing problems, giving the false impression that the SABC's local production cut woes are to blame. Not so.
Patience Stevens who is producing Pasella and Top Billing (the show with the record as longest running ongoing TV series in South Africa) and soon the second season of Top Travel wants to set the record straight on the late payment and also the reduction of salaries they hope they can reinstate in the future.
Here is what you should have, but wouldn't have read in the story, for the full context of what actually happened and is going on. I went and got and answer straight from Patience:
NUMBER ONE
''The late payment of salaries for August 2009 was occasioned by a technical glitch which, as we understand, occurred as a result of the SABC changing accounting and pay roll systems. Payment to Tswelopele from the SABC was accordingly received a few days late which impacted on the company's ability to pay its staff. We are assured by the SABC that the problem was a once off occurrence and has since been resolved.
Tswelopele apologizes to its employees for any inconvenience or hardship which may have been caused as a result of the late payment of salaries.''
NUMBER TWO
''Tswelopele having lost a number of programme slots during 2009, due mainly to the live broadcasts of the 20/20 World Cup cricket, and the FIFA Confederations Cup soccer (for which slots Tswelopele does not receive any remuneration in terms of its contract with the SABC,) forced the company to implement a number of cost-cutting measures including the reduction of its wage bill.''
''Rather than implementing a formal retrenchment process, and motivated by the desire to retain all of its employees, Tswelopele proposed to its staff towards the end of August 2009 that they agree to a 10% reduction of their monthly salaries, effective 1 September 2009 until 1 April 2010 when the SABC contract comes up for renewal.''
''Should the contract with the SABC be renewed, Tswelopele shall re-pay to its employees over the following 7 months the 10% remuneration it deducted during the previous 7 months.''
