Coronavirus: Isibaya, Muvhango, SABC, Newzroom Afrika and eNCA impacted by more Covid-19 cases.

by Thinus Ferreira

SABC2's Muvhango and Mzansi Magic's Isibaya have been impacted by more Covid-19 cases, with the eNCA reporter Dasen Thathiah who has now also tested positive, Newzroom Afrika that has more Covid-19 staffers, while the SABC's Durban office also shut for a deep-clean because of more coronavirus cases.

South Africa's film and TV industry - including the country's TV news channels - that has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 national lockdown and haltingly emerged to restart production, continues to battle with ongoing positive on-set Covid-19 cases that force studios and sets across the country to close.

The latest TV production that was forced to shut down is Isibaya, produced by The Bomb Shelter after Abdul Khoza and Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa tested positive for the Covid-19 virus.

On Instagram, Abdul Khoza wrote that he has "tested positive for Covid-19, but I'm already quarantining at home and taking all my medication. So far I feel fine and have only experienced mild symptoms".

On Instagram, Enhle wrote that "I also tested positive for Covid-19 as careful as I am" and that "I was pretty sure my chest would give in. I gave myself permission to heal and also to ask for help".

Nomsa Philiso, director of local entertainment channels at M-Net, in response to a media enquiry told TVwithThinus that "Mzansi Magic can confirm that the set of Isibaya was temporarily shut down last week after Abdul Khoza announced through his social media platform that he is currently in quarantine after testing positive for Covid-19".

"The channel has been in close contact with Bomb Shelter, the production company that produces the telenovela, and in-line with the stringent safety protocol in place, the set was decontaminated and those that came into contact with him have been referred for testing."

"What is important at this stage is the health and safety of all the members of the production and we would like to wish Abdul a speedy recovery and his colleagues well during this difficult time".

The SABC is deep-cleaning its Durban office after two more staffers on Sunday tested positive for Covid-19 with one working in TV editing and the other for the Ukhozi radio station in current affairs.

"The SABC can confirm that we have two new cases of Covid-19 in our Durban office. The SABC followed and adhered to the department of health and WHO directives," says Mmoni Seapolelo, SABC spokesperson in a statement.

"All affected employees are in self-isolation and the affected working areas have been decontaminated."

Newzroom Afrika (DStv 405) that has seen further positive Covid-19 cases at the Linden-based TV news channel in Johannesburg says in response to a media enquiry that "Our number one priority is the well-being of our employees".

"Every measure has been taken within our building to make sure that we are fully compliant with the regulations and safety precautions set out by the department of health as well as the NICD. Our affected colleagues are under quarantine and are healing".

The eNCA (DStv 403) reporter Dasen Thathiah based in Durban revealed that he is the latest journalist at the eMedia Investments' TV news channel who has also tested positive for Covid-19.

"I've tested positive for Covid-19. I have had most of the listed symptoms in the past few days but I'm resting and medicating at home as necessary. Take extra precautions, particularly as we approach the peak. I'll be back soon." eNCA didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment.

The musician Kabelo Mabelane revealed on social that he has tested Covid-19 positive along with his wife, Gail Mabalane, who was most recently seen in Netflix's Blood & Water series.

SABC2's Venda weekday primetime soap Muvhango, produced by Word of Mouth Productions, keeps registering more positive Covid-19 cast and crew cases, where another 10 people have tested positive for the virus. The production plans to resume filming on Thursday, 16 July, with the cast and crew who have not tested positive for Covid-19.

eNCA doing a 'Floods Special' with Dasen Thathiah on Saturday as part of a special report during Week in One looking back at the impact of the severe flooding in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal.

eNCA (DStv 403) is doing a 'Floods Special' with reporter Dasen Thathiah on Saturday as part of a special report during the TV news channel's Week in One programme that will be looking back at the impact of the severe flood damage in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces this past week.

e.tv and eNCA publicists didn't issue any media advisory about the special programming to the press with no notification or details that were released.

The special report will be repeated on Sunday at some time with eNCA that failed to provide to provide any programming details.

At least 67 people have so far been reported killed in KwaZulu-Natal due to the extensive flooding, and many displaced, while at least four people have so far been confirmed dead in the Eastern Cape as a result of the flooding.

Meanwhile Cyclone Kenneth is barrelling closer to Southern Africa and has made landfall in northern Mozambique, destroying houses, ripping up trees and knocking out electricity.

After its massive failure to properly prepare and dispatch TV reporters and camera crews ahead of Idai's landfall in Mozambique during March and subsequently lacking any real-time on-the-ground coverage of the impact and devastation in Mozambique similar to what was shown on other international TV news channels, it's not yet clear whether the SABC's SABC News (DStv 404) and eNCA have this time improved its logistics and newsroom management to dispatch crews quicker and better place journalists on the ground.

With Idai, eNCA and SABC News respectively sent one reporter at a time to Mozambique and Zimbabwe and had their journalists piggy-back on aid-givers, rescue workers and South African army efforts as embedded reporters.

BREAKING. TV coverage of testimonies in the Verulam rape case cut off for all broadcasters after trashy Afro Worldview shockingly goes against magistrate's specific orders and broadcast court proceedings live on DStv and YouTube.

The Afro Worldview (DStv 405) TV channel owned by Mzwanele Manyi on Tuesday caused all South African TV viewers to lose broadcast coverage of the Verulam rape court case after the dubious and trashy channel ignored the magistrate's warning and went ahead to broadcast sensitive court proceedings live on DStv and on YouTube.

In the shocking court case, a 43-year old man stands accused of alleged horrific sex crimes on his 10-year old stepdaughter for the past 5 years.

Because of Afro Worldview's trash broadcast conduct on Tuesday, no further testimonies will be broadcast on television since TV cameras were ordered to be turned off by the magistrate following Afro Worldview's serious transgression.

In June magistrate Irfaan Khalil allowed eNCA (DStv 403) and Afro Worldview, previously known as ANN7, to broadcast the proceedings from the Verulam Family Court, but with certain strict very conditions, including barring any broadcasters from showing or identifying the accused or broadcasting any information regarding the identity of the victim.

When the bail application of the accused continued on Tuesday, warrant officer Nevarge Lutchminarain was halfway through his testimony when magistrate Irfaan Khalil stopped the proceedings and wanted to know why the court case is being broadcast live on Afro Worldview on MultiChoice's DStv and streamed on Afro Worldview on YouTube, saying he has just been given notice that the case is being broadcast live.

Magistrate Irfaan Khalil then revoked all broadcast permission, meaning that the inept Afro Worldview caused TV viewers to lose broadcast access to the court case.

Earlier the eNCA reporter in Durban, Dasen Thathiah told magistrate Irfaan Khalil that eNCA is recording the court case footage and editing it later to ensure that nobody is identified.

Magistrate Irfaan Khalil said "This is a sensitive case in which the identities and rights of the alleged victim, the accused and their legal representatives must be protected."

Magistrate Irfaan Khalil called on the Afro Worldview reporter in court and wanted to know from her why Afro Worldview is broadcasting the court proceedings live after he expressly told TV channels to be careful not to identify people.

TV channels will now only be allowed to broadcast arguments from legal representatives and no longer from anybody testifying in the case due to Afro Worldview's serious transgression.