I can exclusively reveal that SABC3 is absolutely livid at South Africa's Top Model Search for asking potential contestants for money without the broadcaster's knowledge - and I can break the news that the production has not only been ordered to stop asking contestants for money immediately, but that SABC3 has demanded all contestants who have already paid be refunded, that this has put a spoke in the nationwide audition process which has been halted, and that a high-level meeting will be taking place today at SABC3 to decide the way forward.
I broke the news RIGHT HERE that SABC3's new reality show South Africa's Top Model Search is demanding R250 per contestant ''to register'', which SABC3 didn't know about and made the channel go balistic. No reality show should ever demand potential contestants to pay to be on TV, and the entire modeling world and industry abides by the golden rule that agents, talent scouts and managers will never ask, solicit or accept any money to see potential models. Yet South Africa's Top Model Search immediately preyed on the poor and uninformed and exploited young hopeful wannabee models' dreams to make it in the modeling world by asking and taking their money to ''register''. This shocking exploitation has now been stopped.
SABC3 has no official response, but insiders I've talked to tells me in no uncertain terms that SABC3 upper management are outraged and adamant to correct this travesty before South Africa's Top Model Search airs even one minute in 2011. The channel is set to have an urgent meeting about the show later today. ''They are not supposed to charge contestants and have been directed to stop with immediate effect,'' says a high ranking SABC3 executive. ''They have to repay those that have been charged and communicate it on their website.''
Another insider with knowledge of the matter confirms to me ''the production company had to drop the fee and get back to them with more details about how people can get their money back before they resume auditions. The production company has also been asked to come up with a quote.''
ALSO READ: SABC3 unaware of the shameful exploitation of South Africa's Top Model Search demanding money from contestants.
ALSO READ: Be a contestant on SABC3's new reality show South Africa's Top Model Search . . . if you pay R250.
