The SABC's response follows a media enquiry seeking comment from the public broadcaster following the broadcast on Wednesday evening on the SABC's SABC2 TV channel of an episode of 7de Laan which clearly contains scripted content which the exact same names, set-up and plot scene as an episode of the American sitcom Friends.
So far Danie Odendaal Productions have remained silent.
7de Laan and Danie Odendaal Productions have not publicly responded to media enquiries made on Thursday and again on Friday seeking comment and clarification after the episode aired on why the similar scene, words and names of Sandrine and Rain appeared in Wednesday's episode.
SABC2 as a TV channel has also remained silent on Thursday.
After again seeking comment on Friday from the channel, its public relations executives and SABC2's acting channel head Gerhard Pretorius, the public relations executive Zandile Nkonyeni responded, saying, "we are internally investigating this and we will revert back as soon as we have all the findings".
SABC2 declined to offer answers for specific questions seeking clarity from the TV channel on its position regarding a programme on the channel apparently lifting content from another programme, what SABC2's stance is on the issue, and when the channel became aware of the issue.
The SABC's corporate spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago responded on Friday morning for the broadcaster overall, after being asked the SABC's view on plagiarism and how the public broadcaster sees intellectual property and creative content.
Kaizer Kganyago tells TV with Thinus that "as a general principle we as a broadcaster do not condone the plagiarism of our work, same as we would not condone the organisation or production houses contracted to the SABC, plagiarising the work of another broadcaster".
"In this particular case, the SABC reserves its comment until it has all the facts in this regard," says Kaizer Kganyago.
In an episode of the 8th season of Friends Ross and Rachel sit and suggest baby names and come up with the possible names of Sandrine and Rain in one scene.
In 7de Laan Vanessa and Xander sit and suggest baby names and in turn come up with exactly the possible names of Sandrine and Rain in one scene, similar to the Friends' scene, in which they discuss baby names.
In Friends Phoebe is the third party who suggest each of them suggest five names and that everybody then gets the chance to veto possible suggestions. "How about you each get five veto's?" suggests Phoebe.
In 7de Laan's of Wednesday the same thing happens when the character of Bernard suggests they make a list of five names and then veto names.
Here is the original scene from Friends:
Here is Wednesday evening's scene on SABC2 from 7de Laan:
