by Thinus Ferreira
South Africa's most-watched TV show, Uzalo on SABC1 produced by Stained Glass TV, has been told to remain shut down after it tried to resume production during the ongoing Covid-19 national lockdown period when it applied and was approved as an "essential service".
All South African local TV and film productions were shuttered following president Cyril Ramaphosa announcement of a national lockdown period to try and curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country - including Uzalo.
The local prime time soap however applied for exempt status as an essential service and was approved with a permit issued by the Company and Intellectual Property Commission (CIPC).
The hugely popular, local weekday soaps seen on the South African public broadcaster's channels, the free-to-air commercial broadcaster e.tv, and those produced by M-Net for its 1Magic (DStv 103), Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) channels on MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV service attract a combined evening audience of millions of viewers but like restaurants are not an essential service.
Last week insiders raised concerns about the eye-popping approval of Uzalo to continue production, wondering if permission were perhaps granted because Uzalo co-producer Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube is the daughter of Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma, South Africa's current minister of cooperative governance and traditional affairs, and former president Jacob Zuma.
Uzalo's last new, stockpiled episode will be broadcast on 8 May on SABC1, after which the show, filmed in Durban and set in KwaMashu, will have to go into repeats. It is SABC1 and South Africa's most-watched TV show and in March saw a ratings surge, climbing almost a million viewers from 9.31 million viewers to 10.29 million viewers
The SABC has now said that under no circumstances is Stained Glass TV, owned by Gugu Zuma-Ncube and Pepsi Pokane, or any other local production company to resume production on entertainment shows before the national lockdown period is over.
Uzalo was told to keep the cameras switched off and work on the public broadcaster's local TV productions will remain suspended.
Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC spokesperson, told TVwithThinus on Monday that "The SABC maintains that all its productions remain closed until a collective decision regarding production houses resuming work is made, in line with government regulations".
"We would also like to reiterate that we have put measures in place including crucial engagements with relevant stakeholders concerning the organisation’s delivery on the set local content quotas."
"Based on the president’s announcement to move to alert Level 4 of the lockdown from 1 May 2020, the department of communications and digital technologies, and the department of sport, arts and culture, are developing a proposal on mechanisms to ease the lockdown on productions."
"Once the guidelines and framework for easing restrictions on productions are finalised, the SABC will apply its mind to make informed decisions regarding resuming work on impacted productions. For now, work on productions will remain suspended."
Mmoni Seapolelo says that "the SABC continues to ensure full compliance with all regulations set by the government during this period as well as strictly prioritising adherence to health and safety measures, for the benefit of our employees and production houses alike".
Stained Glass TV was asked why it applied to film Uzalo and saw it as an essential service, what the SABC said when Uzalo wanted to resume production, and how the show films when make-up, hair, wardrobe and other technical production aspects make social distancing extremely difficult or impossible.
Stained Glass TV didn't answer any of the specific questions but told TVwithThinus on Monday that the show remains shut down.
"Uzalo will only resume production post the extended lockdown. It is important to us to do our part in this effort to combat the Covid-19 global pandemic and safeguard our cast, production crew and the greater community."
Meanwhile, it looks like the Uzalo cast and crew might have to remain at home for even longer.
With an ongoing increase in cases Durban might very likely remain at Level 5 lockdown from 1 May and beyond. Sihle Zikalala, KwaZulu-Natal premier, on Sunday said at a press conference that parts of the eThekwini municipality that includes Durban will very likely remain under Level 5 conditions from May.
"As things stand it looks like eThekwini will still remain under stricter lockdown regulations compared to other districts, unless there is a drastic change in the coming days," Sihle Zikalala said.
