by Thinus Ferreira
While MultiChoice Africa and M-Net claim to adhere to "strict" Covid-19 safety measures on-set during the filming of their TV shows to keep casts and crews safe, shocking images are surfacing from just one TV show currently being filmed on the continent, showing a lack of wearing masks and a complete disregard for even the most basic of protocols like social distancing to be followed.
Last week, Yolisa Phahle, MultiChoice Group CEO of general entertainment, praised the talent, casts and crews of various MultiChoice and M-Net productions and their resilience "as our industry navigated the complexities brought on by the global Covid-19 pandemic which were characterised by production stoppages and a period of uncertainty for many creatives".
Now very serious questions are being raised about the degree to which the African continent's largest pay-TV operator is really respecting the resilience of productions if there appears to be little to no real oversight on keeping industry workers safe and protected from Covid-19 and to really ensure that Covid-19 safety rules are adhered to.
MultiChoice Uganda last week took journalists and influencers on a set visit to Sanyu, one of M-Net's brand-new telenovelas for MultiChoice new Pearl Magic Prime channel that was launched on DStv in February.
At the time Hassan Saleh, MultiChoice Uganda managing director, said that MultiChoice is "proud of the role we are playing in the entertainment sector in Uganda and look forward to connecting with our audiences".
Now it looks like MultiChoice Uganda is raising the on-set risk of cast, crew and media to connect with Covid.
During the Sanyu set visit, media took photos that DStv Uganda and M-Net oddly wanted the journalists to take at the production that is done by Nabwiso Films and that is also streamed on Showmax.
The shocking photos show crew members from various divisions working behind-the-scenes with none wearing masks, actors who are not in front of the cameras also not wearing masks, and even insouciant media hanging onto each other without masks on and posing for selfies.
Make-up artists and stylists work on talent with no masks or social distancing adhered to at all.
The photos also show how the Sanyu crew and cast - including the MultiChoice Uganda PR and media liaison officers and the visiting media completely disregard the most basic of Covid-19 safety protocols during the set visit.
A DStv Uganda PR person is photographed literally rubbing shoulders with others - with no social distancing and no masks visible anywhere - smiling and posing for social photos, alongside Matthew Nabwiso in a green T-shirt who is the Sanyu series director.
TVwithThinus asked MultiChoice how the lack of creating and adhering to
Covid-19 safe on-set protocols on shows produced for DStv align with
MultiChoice's publicly-stated comments that it is adhering to Covid-19 safety
regulations.
"We continue to adhere to strict
protocols when it comes to on-set safety as the safety of our cast, crew and
staff remain our number one priority," said Thandeka Mqaba, a MultiChoice PR and marketing manager.
"In the specific case of the Sanyu cast
members, these members kept their masks off only when shooting scenes, all cast
members are tested for Covid-19 ahead of filming and they currently stay at one
location to limit the Covid-19 risk. It is in our interest to keep cast, crew
and the media safe from Covid-19."
Photos taken on set however clearly show that crew members don't wear masks and don't social distance, and that cast members are clearly also not wearing masks when they're not shooting scenes.
"MultiChoice is very conversant of the
risk of Covid-19 in all the markets in which we operate, many of our shows are
shot in a Covid bubble, with all productions adhering to strict protocols. We
continue to take all precautionary measures in the interest of the safety of
our staff, cast and crew. Only a few members of the tour removed their masks as
pictured," said Thandeka Mqaba.
MultiChoice was asked why DStv Uganda is fine with the cast and crew of a TV show like Sanyu not wearing protective Covid-safe gear on set, and why media are taken to
such a show and showcased such a production.
"We continue to adhere to strict
protocols when it comes to on-set safety as the safety of our cast, crew and
staff remain our number one priority," said Thandeka Mqaba.
"In the specific case of the Sanyu cast
members, these members kept their masks off only when shooting scenes, all cast
members are tested for Covid-19 ahead of filming and they currently stay at one
location to limit the Covid-19 risk. It is in our interest to keep cast, crew
and the media safe from Covid-19."
The pay-TV company was also asked when MultiChoice changed its position regarding practising Covid safety measures during filming either for Africa overall, or for specific African countries, and for Uganda, and how this work and why this changed.
"MultiChoice has not changed its position regarding practising Covid-19 safety measures in any of our operations, we continue to adhere to strict safety regulations in line with government protocols across our operations," said Thandeka Mqaba.
