SABC denies rumours that scandal-damaged Real Talk on SABC3 is cancelled, says TV division is in a planning cycle and that no ideas around programming have been finalised.

The SABC on Saturday denied rumours that the scandal-riddled weekday talk show Real Talk on SABC3 is cancelled.

The SABC refuted the rumours that started on Friday on the same day that South Africa's broadcasting regulator held a public hearing in a case about the secret "paid-talk" controversy that earlier this year not just derailed and massively damaged the show but also inflicted reputational brand and credibility damage on the show and SABC3.

On Friday the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (Icasa) held its hearing in a case brought by the SOS Coalition and Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) after the SABC and Real Talk, produced by Cheeky Media, did secret and non-disclosed pay-for-play interviews earlier this year.

In December 2017 the SABC and Cheeky Media broadcast two episodes on SABC3 in which host Anele Mdoda interviewed and fawned over the caustic and controversial former minister of social development, Bathabile Dlamini as well as her publicist Lumka Oliphant for which the department paid and SABC took payment, without disclosing to viewers that they are watching paid for "talkomercials".

Taking payment from politicians for interviews, as well as taking payment for interviews without disclosing it to the public are against the SABC's own editorial policy. The SABC board got involved and met about the serious lapse that damaged the SABC's integrity.

Anele Mdoda abruptly quit Real Talk in June as viewership of the already low-rated show tanked further, with SABC3 and Cheeky Media that rebranded the show with the credible Azania Mosaka who took over in mid-June to see out the rest of the current season of Real Talk.

Neither Real Talk, Anele Mdoda or SABC3 ever directly addressed the controversial issue on air although a Real Talk producer said most brands pay to be on the show.

After the SABC admitted its mistake, the SOS Coalition and MMA lodged a complaint with the Complaints and Compliance Committee, in terms of section 17C of the Icasa Act of 2000, against the SABC as a violation of sponsorship regulations.

The public hearing on Friday gave rise to rumours later during the day on social media that Real Talk is cancelled.

Earlier in the week, in parliament Nomsa Philiso, the SABC's group executive for television, said that the struggling SABC3 channel will reposition itself yet again and will focus on "strengthening our talk".

Asked if Real Talk on SABC3 is cancelled, SABC spokesperson Neo Momodu in response to a media enquiry from TVwithThinus denied that Real Talk has been dumped and said that nothing about future programming on SABC3 or the SABC's other TV channels has been finalised.

"The SABC TV division is currently in its annual strategic review and planning cycle," said Neo Momodu.

"Whilst there may be a myriad of ideas and proposals on the table for all programming based on their current and future expected performance, to date nothing has been finalised. The strategies are currently undergoing internal approval processes".

Meanwhile SABC insiders and industry insiders - all with direct knowledge of how the SABC3 channel works - told TVwithThinus they have heard nothing and know nothing about a Real Talk cancellation.

Azania Mosaka taking over SABC3's weekday talk show, Real Talk, from Anele Mdoda; first guest will be Bonang Matheba.

Azania Mosaka is taking over as new presenter of SABC3's weekday talk show, Real Talk, replacing Anele Mdoda from Monday 18 June.

Anele Mdoda abruptly bailed on the talk show, produced by Cheeky Media, after her return to the show following a break earlier this year, during which Azania Mosaka was the sit-in replacement.

Cheeky Media has a contract until October with SABC3, with Anele Mdoda's exit that left producers scrambling to find a replacement.

Monday's first guest with Azania Mosaka as the new talk show host will be Bonang Matheba.

There's no explanation yet for why Anele Mdoda abruptly decided to jump ship after less than two years as SABC3 talk show host. Following a sudden break in April with Azania Mosaka who filled in, Anele Mdoda says Real Talk is no longer part of her "career ambitions".

The show's ratings however tanked following huge damage to both Real Talk and Anele Mdoda's credibility, trust and brands after January's scandal in which it was revealed that payment was made for people to appear on the show, essentially turning it into an infomercial - something that was never disclosed to viewers.

The secret pay-for-play happening on Real Talk breached the SABC's editorial policies and the South African public broadcaster apologised and said it will implement changes to make sure that it doesn't happen again.

The damage to the show's credibility under viewers was however done and also reflected negatively on Anele Mdoda, who said she wasn't aware of payments being made and was just an employee. Viewers immediately started to tune out.

Despite a later timeslot move since February to 18:00 on weekdays when a larger potential viewing audience is available, Real Talk's viewership tanked.

While Real Talk still pulled a low 441 795 viewers for its most watched episode in January to claim the 13th place on SABC3's Top 20 most watched list for that month, the sinking show completely dropped out of the Top 20 list in the months since.

Speaking about Azania Mosaka stepping in to replace Anele Mdoda, SABC3 channel head Aisha Mohamed says "we trust that her contribution and enthusiasm will add value to the SABC3 brand as well as take Real Talk to new heights".

Azania Mosaka says "programme managers have believed in me and I dared to do it and this challenge will be no different".

"By taking on this unexpected opportunity of hosting Real Talk, I aim to engage in conversations that encourage people to dream, motivating young girls and young women as we reinvigorating the audience while reminding them of their hopes and aspirations."

Yusuf Stevens, Cheeky Media managing director, says "Azania is joining an award-winning team and we are very excited about what she will be bringing. Having worked with her briefly before, we know that her humility, passion, empathy and grace will be well-received by our audience and we look forward to putting the 'real' back into Real Talk. Azania was born to be in front of the camera."

IN PHOTOS. The first press event of NBCUniversal International Networks' rebranded Universal TV channel in South Africa: A press screening of new drama, The Detail, with Wendy Crewson.

On Monday evening, NBCUniversal International Networks held the first press event in South Africa of the newly rebranded Universal TV (DStv 117) channel available on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform in South Africa and throughout Africa.

First the Hallmark Channel, then renamed the Universal Channel and now Universal TV, Tuesday night marked the the first event where Universal TV displayed its brand to the media at a special press screening of the first episode of the new Canadian drama series, The Detail, with one of the stars, Wendy Crewson, who jetted in from Toronto, Canada for a Q&A with journalists and TV critics.

The Detail starts on Tuesday, 5 June at 20:00 on Universal TV.

The press screening took place at the private cinema of the Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg, with Azania Mosaka as the master of ceremonies, where media and invited guests snacked on sushi, chips, mini-burgers and mini-hotdogs and sipped on Colmant champagne.


ALSO READ: INTERVIEW. Wendy Crewson on Universal TV's new drama, The Detail: 'It's a detective series that has been done a million times with men and is now being done with women - and it puts a completely different spin on a police procedural drama'.

Azania Mosaka sitting in for Anele Mdoda on SABC3's Real Talk weekday talk show for the rest of April.

Azania Mosaka will be sitting in for Anele Mdoda on SABC3's talk show Real Talk with Anele from Tuesday next week for the rest of the month until 30 April as Anele goes on holiday.

The weekday talker produced by Cheeky Media will replace Anele with Azania, who will be doing 12 episodes of Real Talk on SABC3 starting on Tuesday 17 April at 18:00.

Azania will be on the couch at the Steyn City studio in Fourways, Johannesburg until Thursday 26 April, with a pre-recorded episode with Anele that will be played out on Friday 27 April.

Anele will be back in studio for a live show of Real Talk with Anele on Monday 30 April. 

SABC3 says Anele will be taking time out from all her television, radio and MC'ing commitments "to get some much needed rest and time away from the hustle and bustle of Johannesburg with her family".

Anele Mdoda and Real Talk became embroiled in controversy in January this year when the show was plunged into scandal after revelations that the then minister of social development Bathabile Dlamini, paid thousands of rands for a 2-hour softball interview that was actually an infomercial.

It wasn't disclosed to viewers with the SABC that admitted that the payment was against SABC policy with the resultant brouhaha that inflicted reputational damage on the show and damaged Anele Mdoda's credibility.