South African reality TV reached a new low point when the long over due prizes promised to the proper winner of The Intern, Kuena Moshoeshoe and who had already waited more than 3 months, have now suddenly been given to runner-up Keletso Moraba by fashion designer David Tlale and the SABC.
Three weeks ago the SABC in an official statement still promised that "the SABC will ensure that the delivery of prizes to the winner will be honoured".
It came after the controversial fashion designer and the reality show failed to give Kuena Moshoeshoe her prizes as promised by SABC3's The Intern that ended in October 2017.
The 13-episode show that has since been marred by multiple shocking revelations and damaged the SABC, SABC3, David Tlale as well as sponsors' brands, yielded further cautionary tales that South African reality TV glitter is far from gold.
The fashion designer wannabe contestants who took part in the reality show previously spoke out about the allegedly horrific conditions during filming of The Intern, claiming that David Tlale failed to give them the R3 000 S&T they were meant to get while being a part of the show and saying "he didn’t give us a cent. We were suffering, we didn’t have food at the apartment and we had no toiletries”.
Contestants who said they felt betrayed, slammed David Tlale as "horrible" and "rude". Some of the interns who have been living in David Tlale's flat in Johannesburg have also been fired and evicted.
In yet another shock revelation never disclosed to SABC3 viewers, it also recently came to light that Kuena Moshoeshoe actually interned for David Tlale before the show, that they knew each other and that he asked her to enter. She worked for him for 4 months in 2015. David Tlale said he didn't see it as a conflict of interest.
The Intern on SABC3 that struggled with bad production values and a rushed production schedule promised the winner beforehand more than R1 million in prizes, including a new Mercedez Benz CLA, R200 000 in cash, studio equipment to the value of R250 000, and a chance to be an assistant designer for David Tlale for one year.
Kuena Moshoeshoe, originally from Lesotho, spoke up about not getting her prizes and over the excuse being given that she doesn't have a valid work permit, saying that she's always had a work permit and was "tired of being treated like shit" by David Tlale.
Now David Tlale has revoked Kuena Moshoeshoe's prizes and it's being given to runner-up Keletso Moraba of Burgersfort, Limpopo, who has been "crowned" as the new The Intern winner.
'Proceeding with the alternative process'
The SABC, after it promised the winner would get her prizes, responded on Friday when asked what is going in the matter and why a new person is suddenly being announced as the winner by the designer.
Zandile Nkonyeni, SABC TV head publicist, says SABC3 met with David Tlale and thereafter reached out to Kuena Moshoeshoe for her side of the story.
"The conclusion was that Kuena needed to sign the winner's contract that stipulate the terms and conditions of her one year employment with David Tlale in order for the prizes to be handed over to her."
"A part of the prize package is for her to work with David for a year. She also needed to apply for a working permit as she is based in Lesotho. Subsequent to the back and forth telephone and written communication between SABC3 and Kuena, she agreed that she will respond to us with her final decision to inform us whether she will sign the contract or nor. However she decided not to communicate further with us nor respond to our emails."
"The communication took place between the months of December 2017 and the end of January 2018. Since then, both David Tlale and SABC3 made numerous attempts to reach out to Kuena in an attempt to complete the prize contractual process and for her to submit the signed copy. Kuena did not reply nor contact David or SABC3's emails," says Zandile Nkonyeni.
"SABC3 took the decision to allow David Tlale to proceed with the alternative process as prescribed in The Intern's contract signed by all the contestants. The contract stipulated and legally allowed David to evoke the win and hand over the prizes to the runner-up of the competition should the winner not honour the contractual agreements."
TVwithThinus asked has The Intern damaged the SABC's image regarding reality shows and the trust that viewers can or should have in terms of entering, that they will get what is being promised as prizes. The SABC didn't want to answer the question.
Kuena Moshoeshoe, originally from Lesotho, spoke up about not getting her prizes and over the excuse being given that she doesn't have a valid work permit, saying that she's always had a work permit and was "tired of being treated like shit" by David Tlale.
Now David Tlale has revoked Kuena Moshoeshoe's prizes and it's being given to runner-up Keletso Moraba of Burgersfort, Limpopo, who has been "crowned" as the new The Intern winner.
'Proceeding with the alternative process'
The SABC, after it promised the winner would get her prizes, responded on Friday when asked what is going in the matter and why a new person is suddenly being announced as the winner by the designer.
Zandile Nkonyeni, SABC TV head publicist, says SABC3 met with David Tlale and thereafter reached out to Kuena Moshoeshoe for her side of the story.
"The conclusion was that Kuena needed to sign the winner's contract that stipulate the terms and conditions of her one year employment with David Tlale in order for the prizes to be handed over to her."
"A part of the prize package is for her to work with David for a year. She also needed to apply for a working permit as she is based in Lesotho. Subsequent to the back and forth telephone and written communication between SABC3 and Kuena, she agreed that she will respond to us with her final decision to inform us whether she will sign the contract or nor. However she decided not to communicate further with us nor respond to our emails."
"The communication took place between the months of December 2017 and the end of January 2018. Since then, both David Tlale and SABC3 made numerous attempts to reach out to Kuena in an attempt to complete the prize contractual process and for her to submit the signed copy. Kuena did not reply nor contact David or SABC3's emails," says Zandile Nkonyeni.
"SABC3 took the decision to allow David Tlale to proceed with the alternative process as prescribed in The Intern's contract signed by all the contestants. The contract stipulated and legally allowed David to evoke the win and hand over the prizes to the runner-up of the competition should the winner not honour the contractual agreements."
TVwithThinus asked has The Intern damaged the SABC's image regarding reality shows and the trust that viewers can or should have in terms of entering, that they will get what is being promised as prizes. The SABC didn't want to answer the question.
