SABC1 botches its local drama series, Diamond City, from Quizzical Pictures by mistakenly airing the final episode instead of the penultimate one; apologises for mislabeling error.

SABC1 botched the playout of its latest local drama series, Diamond City, on Sunday night, mistakenly showing the final 13th episode instead of the penultimate episode, and is apologising to viewers for the error due to a mislabeling mistake.

Viewers were confused and angry after the South African public broadcaster spoilt the local drama series produced by Quizzical Pictures on Sunday by suddenly showing and giving away the ending with a gap that made no sense.

"It's grossly disappointing to realise SABC1 skipped a whole entire episode - 1 hour of critical storytelling and hard work - and aired the final episode instead," said actress Nambitha Ben-Mazwi. "I apologise on behalf of them to our loyal audience. It's more disheartening for us, believe me."

Production company Quizzical Pictures called the SABC's mistake "really disappointing".

The SABC told TVwithThinus it won't show the "missing" episode of Diamond City because SABC1 doesn't want to make the schedule disruption worse.

It took the SABC 5 days to respond to a media enquiry about what happened with the broadcast mistake of Diamond City.

"SABC1 offers an unreserved apology to its viewers for the inconvenience caused due to the non-screening of episode 12 of the local drama series Diamond City on Sunday 6 January at 20:00," SABC1 said on Friday in response to a media enquiry.

"The unfortunate situation occured as a result of a mislabeling error which saw episode 13 - which is the final episode for the current season - airing instead."

"The channel's scheduling department has in the meantime taken a decision not to screen the skipped episode (episode 12) to avoid a further negative impact on the schedule."

SABC1 has adjusted its schedule for the next 3 weeks with Shakespeare in Mzansi: Death of a Queen, Shakespeare in Mzansi: Izingane Zobaba and Shakespeare in Mzansi: Ugugu No Andile that will be shown on 13, 20 and 27 January on Sunday nights.      

Public prosecutor goes to prison in intriguing new local drama series, Diamond City, on SABC1.

With no help, no hope and no resources, a public prosecutor has to try and prove her innocence in the intriguing new local SABC1 prison drama series Diamond City starring Noxee Maqashalala and starting on Sunday at 20:00.

Produced by Quizzical Pictures with director Rea Rangaka, Zandile (Noxee Maqashalala) is South Africa's most prolific public prosecutor - until she gets deceived and framed by the very person she trusted most and must prepare for the criminal trial of her life.

After getting closer and closer to unraveling a big conspiracy, Zandile is framed and finds herself in jail where she must now try to survive while gathering evidence from inside the very same jail she has sent other women to.

The 13-episode Diamond City - the title a play on the Johannesburg Correctional Centre jail, ironically also known as "Sun City" - will depict the brutal world in which the main character of Zandile now finds herself in as she tries to prove her innocence.

Besides starring in the lead role, Noxee Maqashalala is also an executive producer of Diamond City, along with Harriet Gavshon and JP Potgieter, with the series written by Nonzi Bogatsu.

Zandile's reality is worse than she could have ever imagined: Not only are the conditions appalling, the guards abusive and the hopelessness crushing but she is also about to face a number of women whom she last saw when she was the one who got them sent to jail.

Besides Noxee Mawashalala, the Diamond City cast includes Thabang Molaba (Mak), Lehlohonolo Makoko (Skhosana), Angela Sithole (Pearl), Ilse Klink (Abida), Makgano Mamabolo in the role of Rosina, alongside acting veterans Fiona Ramsay and Seputla Sebogodi.