by Thinus Ferreira
The SABC has no choice but to finally end the derailed Pimville, causing massive SABC2 schedule disruption after the implosion of Bakwena Productions and its months-long failure to pay the crew and cast working on the show.
On Monday, the South African public broadcaster said that it "regrets to announce that Pimville will be discontinued from tonight, due to unresolved obligations and breaches identified and communicated formally to Bakwena Productions".
Pimville is abruptly gone from SABC after just 75 episodes that aired by 22 May, with millions sunk into the production by the SABC and with 124 people who worked on it who are out of jobs and waiting to get paid.
Yet again, many people lured to a failed local South African TV production with fake promises have been left unemployed, unpaid, unable to pay for living expenses for months, forced out of rental accommodation and forced to sell belongings to survive.
TVwithThinus can also report that earlier today the Democratic Alliance (DA) political party requested that SABC executives be summoned to appear before parliament's portfolio committee on communications, to explain what is going on with the Pimville scandal.
The local biz was shocked when TVwithThinus reported earlier this month that Pimville will be going off the air, after insiders said no further episodes are available and have been produced to air.
The SABC says Pimville going off air due to a lack of available episodes "is deeply regrettable, particularly considering the dedication and hard work demonstrated by the cast, crew, as well as the unwavering support received from audiences, partners, and all stakeholders who contributed to the programme's success".
The SABC will now fill the Pimville timeslot at 21:00 with repeats of the telenovela Amalanga Awafani - not the content that advertisers were promised in the timeslot with the broadcaster that will have to do make-goods.
The SABC has no idea when, or if, Pimville might return and be shown again. Since it's an SABC-commissioned show, meaning that it belongs to the SABC, Pimville could possibly be handed to a new production company.
It's a disastrous implosion for a show, from a disreputable production company, that the SABC knew beforehand was a problem, but that SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli told parliament would bring ratings and viewers back to SABC2 as the Muvhango replacement.
The SABC will now once again be forced to do makegoods to advertisers which is bad for the finances of the broadcaster.
Advertisers book ad slots months and weeks in advance against content deliverables and future ratings promises and audience demo guarantees around that content.
Advertisers booked and paid for Pimville audiences to see their ads. Now not only is SABC2 not showing Pimville and not luring those viewership demographics, but the timeslot is padded by repeats.
Bakwena Productions is owned by actor Kagiso Modupe and the married couple Rashaka "Rush" Muofhe and Brenda Muofe - notorious for not paying casts, crew and other service providers.
Bakwena Productions is also embroiled in a nasty legal battle with Black Brain Pictures after its founder Mandla Ngcongwane, known as Mandla N., borrowed Bakwena Productions R4.2 million in order for Bakwena to allegedly pay casts and crews.
Bakwena has allegedly failed to pay back this loan.
One affected worker on Pimville says "Over 100 families have been affected by what has happened on this production. People are going to bed anxious, ashamed, overwhelmed and hungry".
"Some are facing eviction. Some can't provide for their children. Some have exhausted every cent trying to remain patient and professional while waiting for dignity to be restored."
Another Pimville worker notes "As someone who has worked in different productions, I must say this is the worst I've ever engaged myself in - no toilets, no proper water and sanitation, food poisoning, and salaries always late".
Yet another production crew member said "I'm unable to pay rent, my credit score is affected because debit orders are bouncing. It is shaming and embarrassing."
Another writes to Brenda "once a symbol of possibility", noting "you were one of the few black women in the insutry who showed us that dreams could stretch far beyond the camera lens" and asking why she failed to do anything in ensuring "suppliers were paid? To ensure background artists received what they earned? To remember how difficult this industry is for struggling actors trying to survive one call sheet at a time?"
"You of all people should understand the weight of being unseen."
"Not only were people exploited, but their dignity was stripped away in the process. Human beings were expected to pour themselves into a vision while being denied basic necessities - functioning toilets, accessible drinking water, decent meals, timely payments."
Another notes: "The food provided has caused widespread, violent illness. To expect a crew to show up, give their best performance and maintain safety standards while battling severe physical sickness from the meals provided on-site is both unsustainable and unsafe."
Yet another crew member explains that "For a long time, many of us remained silent because we truly believed things would get better".
"We believed that if we worked harder, sacrificed more, pushed through the discomfort and remained patient, eventually everything would come together. Instead, many people were left carrying exhaustion, uncertainty, delayed or outstanding payments, and emotional burdens that quietly followed them home every night".
Another Pimville worker wants to know from Rashaka "Rush" Muofhe that "while crew members could not access basic necessities like proper water and sanitation, yet alcohol could somehow stil appear. Do you understand how painful and degrading that felt to witness?"
When you step into your flashy car surrounded by bodyguards, do you ever think about the crew member wondering how they will get home? The parent staring at an empty fridge? The small business owner drowning in debt because they trusted your production? The supplier now unable to pay their own employees because Bakwena Productions never honoured its commitments?"
Another says "We would raise concerns about working conditions, resources, pressure or operational challenges and be met with comments like: This is not Netflix. We are not shooting Lion King".
A young female crew member who started working on the production in October 2025 suffered a miscarriage while working on Pimville and is now being evicted due to her inability to pay rent, says she was "threatened physically by a colleague and watched formal complaints disappear into silence."
The SABC meanwhile, notes that the "acquisition and commissioning of
Pimville followed the broadcaster's standard approval and
commissioning processes applicable to SABC productions. These processes
included the necessary editorial, operational, commercial, and
governance approval mechanisms".
Unfortunately, what the SABC did obviously didn't work and neither did the promises that Nomsa Chabeli and SABC head of content Lala Tuku made beforehand that a supervising producer would be appointed to make sure that the Pimville cast and crew get paid.
The SABC has suspended Lala Tuku, along with SABC executives like genre manager for drama, Nirvana Singh and commissioning editor Reatlegile "Ree" Mampa.
The SABC admits that certain approved
oversight mechanisms were not implemented consistently and to the
required standard".
"Consequently, an internal consequence management
process has been initiated in accordance with applicable policies,
procedures, and labour law requirements."
"In addition, a
legal process is currently underway regarding the production company,
including the issuing of a notice of breach in April 2026. Any further
action will be guided by ongoing contractual, legal, and governance
processes."
"The
SABC has also engaged with cast and crew representatives regarding
concerns raised. The SABC remains
committed to stabilising the production environment, ensuring
continuity of content, protecting the interests of affected
stakeholders, and exploring all appropriate operational options relating
to the future of the production."
The SABC says it "extends an apology for the inconvenience caused by the disruption in the schedule".
While the SABC has paid and is up to date with payments to Bakwena Productions, Rashaka Muofhe as late as last week claimed to the cast and crew in messages that the reason they haven't yet been paid is because the SABC allegedly isn't paying.
"Please note, SABC hasn't paid and hasn't communicated a way forward, with nobody answering calls," he told cast and crew in messages.
"We only have one option and that is for the SABC to pay so we can pay cast and crew. Unfortunately it is not in our hands ... If SABC doesn't pay, we unfortunately have to fold the show."
Neither Rashaka Muofe nor Kagiso Modupe has yet commented on Pimville's disappearance from SABC2.
Tsholofelo Katlego Bodlani, the DA member who is part of the portfolio committee on communications and who raised the concerns around Bakwena Productions last year, on Monday wrote to the chairperson of the committee, requesting that SABC executives be summoned to account for the shocking Pimville production implosion and to explain what is going on.
"The Democratic Alliance has noted the public concern around the dispute between the SABC and Bakwena Productions over the non-payment for the production of the television series Pimville."
"Various reports indicate that actors and crew have not been paid, while the SABC has allegedly paid over R19 million to Bakwena Productions. This has left artists with unpaid bills and no clarity on the future of this production."
"We also note reports that senior executives at the SABC have been suspended on matters relating to this production."
"We write to request that the SABC appear before the committee before the end of this term (29 June 2026), to provide clarity on this matter and avoid further reputational damage to the SABC," Tsholofelo Bodlani, writes.
"The DA has important questions for the SABC, including: The status of the relationship between the SABC and Bakwena; the facts and details about payments made to date; an update by the SABC on the suspended officials, allegedly linked to this matter."
