Blind Love and documentaries on Ernest Cole and Happy Sindane scoop top prizes at 7th Joburg Film Festival Awards

by Thinus Ferreira

Julian Chou's Blind Love won the award for Best Feature Film, while Raoul Peck was awarded with Best Documentary for his thought-provoking Ernest Cole: Lost and Found at Saturday night's 7th Joburg Film Festival.

Vusi Africa took home the prize for Best African Feature Film for his documentary Happy: The True Happy Sindane Story produced under his Trial by Media banner.

Film glitterati once again packed the Theatre on the Square in Sandton on Saturday night for this year's film awards ceremony sponsored by MultiChoice, capping a week of screenings, networking and its series of JBX Talks panel discussions that ran concurrently to the festival.

The Best Feature Film award on Saturday night went to Blind Love of Julian Chou - a touching coming-of-age story about a sensitive teenager who uncovers his mother's secret affair with a mysterious woman. 

As he grapples with his discovery, he begins to unravel the perfect facade of his seemingly happy family, with the searing film exploring themes of love, deception, and self-discovery.

Ariel Lin and Wu Ke-Xi star in this drama, which premiered in competition at Rotterdam's International Film Festival (IFFR), with Lin also executive producer.

The Best Documentary award went to this year's festival opener, Raoul Peck's searing Ernest Cole: Lost and Found, which had its African premiere at this year's festival.

The moving documentary honours the life and work of Ernest Cole, a renowned South African photographer who captured the harsh realities of Apartheid through his lens, with the feature offering an intimate look at his legacy and the enduring impact of his images.

Accepting his award, Raoul Peck said "We couldn't have a better welcome back to South Africa for Ernest Cole".

 

Happy: The True Happy Sindane Story from Vusi Africa snagged the Best African Feature Film award, with the film that explores the true story of Happy Sindane - shedding light on themes of identity, race, and the complexities of the human experience in post-apartheid South Africa.

Accepting his award, Visu Africa said "This belongs to Happy. At the time he was suffering the country kept quiet and nobody said anything to stop his despair until eventually he died a painful death".

"This is a restoration of his legacy. This is a restoration of his name. This is an affirmation that Happy lived and it's an affirmation that he walked among us." 

Vusi Africa said "we live in a crucial time where it's important to tell the South African story amidst all of these forced narratives. It's critically important that we are deliberate about funding the South African narrative".

The Best Short Film award went to the local African folklore tale Why the Cattle Wait from Phumi Morare. 

This poignant short feature delves into the complexities of unrequited love, set against the backdrop of a colourful African landscape, showcasing the emotional depth of the characters' struggles.

 

Sugar Land from Johanne Gomez Terrero, a Dominican Republic feature, won the Best Edit accolade.

This rich film follows the life of a Dominican-Haitian teenager growing up in a community surrounded by vast sugarcane fields, exploring themes of identity, belonging, and the challenges faced by those on the margins of society.

  

The Jury Special Mention prize was awarded to The Shadow Scholar of Eloise King - a bold and thought-provoking film that sheds light on the often-hidden world of shadow education and exploring how it affects both students and society.

 

The Young Voices Award was presented to CheckMate. This compelling and innovative film tells the story of a group of young people navigating the complexities of modern life, identity, and the pursuit of dreams.

Aspiring filmmakers from across South Africa were invited to submit short films for the Young Voices film competition. The talented Mahatanya Mahatanya received a range of prizes, including a bursary and an internship.

Generations creator and producer Mfundi Vundla of Morula Pictures was presented with a Special Recipient award.

"I'm moved. It's not every day that you're recognised by your peers," Mfundi Vundla told TVwithThinus after the awards show. 

"I'm just over the moon. I feel vindicated in the choice's I've made."

Nomsa Philiso, MultiChoice CEO of general entertainment, from the stage said "We all know that beyond this Joburg Film Festival the landscape is tough. Uncertainty lingers, yet if there's one thing this festival has shown us, it's that we are not alone. So never feel alone as a filmmaker, or an emerging filmmaker".

"The power of this community of creators, dreamers and doers remains unshaken. Over three decades MultiChoice has been deeply committed to this industry - to its storytellers, its creators and its future."

"We recognise the challenges that lay ahead but we also believe in the resilience of the talent and the innovation of the film community. Our commitment is not just to support but to collaborate, to adapt and to continue creating opportunities that help our industry."

SABC resets Muvhango amidst ratings and money woes, adds Leleti Khumalo.

by Thinus Ferreira

Like it did with Generations the SABC is giving Muvhango on SABC2 a reset after signing a new contract - with new faces including Leleti Khumalo as well as a younger cast, a new logo and intro theme and new storylines - saying it was forced to continue because of viewer reaction after news that the Venda soap was cancelled.

The long-running show that stopped filming new episodes on 15 June, is restarting amidst ratings and money woes for the SABC which realised that it had nothing else in development - and no money - to effectively serve as a placeholder for Muvhango.

After Muvhango's contract with Word of Mouth Pictures ended and filming stopped on 15 June, filming has now restarted for a 26th season, done cheaper, with new episodes that will again be broadcast from 5 August on SABC2.

"We had challenges. But we are here now and we are unveiling a new season," says Lala Tuku, acting group executive of SABC video entertainment, speaking at a hastily arranged media event in Fourways on Thursday night.

"We have no doubt that Muvhango will reach its targets for the slot, wink, wink. We've worked intensely with the team to bring you invigorated stories," she said.

She alluded that financial issues - the SABC is technically insolvent - and ratings - Muvhango has lost millions of viewers over the past decade - are the crux that caused "a tussle" in negotiations around signing Word of Mouth Pictures to bring Muvhango back for another season.

"The reality is that the SABC derives its revenue from advertising. We require audiences to choose to watch our content. The reality is we have brilliant content on our platform and we need our audiences to select it and come in."

Speaking about the decision to bring Muvhango back and to give it another contract after it was effectively cancelled, Tuku said "At the end of the day it was a tussle in the negotiating room around keeping a legacy property which we all believed in, including the SABC board".

"At the end of the day, it is the rands and the cents. The authenticity of the show, the boldness of the storytelling - we just could not do away with it."

Duma Ndlovu, Muvhango creator and executive producer, said "Muvhango has a new logo, we have a new title sequence, we've listened to the young people. We've come back with what we think is a stunning show."

"We decided to bring back some characters who were with Muvhango before and remake them."

Jacqui Hlongwane, acting SABC2 channel head, said "We respond to what viewers say" and noted that viewer response to Muvhango no longer being on the air pushed the SABC to decide to bring it back. "We are really changing things up in this new season."

Veteran actress Leleti Khumalo joins as a new character, playing Dr Nonhlanhla Ximba whose "enigmatic presence as a construction mogul set to disrupt the familiar landscape". 

Lebo Tisane and Wiseman Zitha are two former Muvhango actors who are rejoining the production. Other actors who have made appearances on Muvhango in the past, will return playing new characters.

While it lost several millions of viewers over the past years, Muvhango remained the most-watched show on SABC and the channel's only programme with more than a million viewers nightly. 

In June it drew 1.16 million viewers with the SABC that is adamant that the reset Muvhango should increase both its ratings and audience share.  

The hard reset of Muvhango, whilst keeping "the original DNA" of the show, is similar to what the SABC did in late 2014 when Generations creator Mfundi Vundla got rid of the main cast and did a reset of the show as Generations - The Legacy with a new cast, some older faces who returned, a new intro and logo and cheaper cast contracts.

The SABC told the media interviews would be done with the broadcaster's executives, the show's producers and selected cast members on Thursday night but publicist Caroline Phalakatshela failed to keep to the arrangements.

Thanduxolo Jindela of Kwathole Conexion, Muvhango's PR firm who is paid to communicate with media about the show, didn't respond to any of multiple calls and messages about the show.

ALSO READ: The SABC effectively cancelled SABC2's Muvhango that has run out of episodes with no further contract for Word of Mouth Pictures.

ALSO READ: SABC revives Muvhango for 26th season as cheaper show with new faces.

Veteran producer Mfundi Vundla to receive the Order of Ikhamanga in silver for work on SABC1's Generations.

by Thinus Ferreira

Veteran TV producer Mfundi Vundla (76) who created Generations: The Legacy, will receive the Order of Ikhamanga in silver from South Africa's presidency on 28 April for his work on the long-running SABC1 weekday prime-time soap opera.

The Order of Ikhamanga is a National Order granted by the country's president for achievements in arts and culture, journalism, sports, literature and music.

"Generations: The Legacy is proud to celebrate and congratulate our creator, Mfundi Vundla, being bestowed the Order of Ikhamanga in silver in recognition of his contribution to the arts and culture in South Africa," Morula Pictures says in a statement.

"Since the dawn of democracy Mfundi Vundla has been a stalwart and consistent creator of impactful stories that have shaped the aspirations and hopes of South Africans."

"His immense contributions a pioneer of uniquely South African soapies is being duly recognised and as Generations: The Legacy we cannot be prouder to be associated with such an iconic figure in the history of arts and culture," the production company says.

Recipients including Mfundi Vundla will receive their honours on 28 April 2023.

Veteran producer Mfundi Vundla in hospital for a month - report.

by Thinus Ferreira

The veteran South African producer Mfundi Vundla (75) has spent a month in hospital fighting against an undisclosed illness.

The City Press newspaper on Sunday reported that Mfundi Vundla has spent a whole month at a Parktown hospital battling an undisclosed chronic illness.

The acerbic producer is the millionaire behind Morula Pictures that he started and is the creator of Generations and Generations - The Legacy on SABC1. 

Mfundi Vundla is also a producer of the Afrikaans weekday soap Binnelanders on kykNET (DStv 144) done through the Stark Films banner.

TV NEWS ROUND-UP. Today's interesting TV stories to read - 2 November 2020.

Here's the latest news about TV that I read and that you should read too:

■ As South Africa's bloated and financially struggling public broadcaster gets ready to retrench hundreds of staffers the SABC is looking for an external service provider to do job evaluations for the SABC for 6 months.

■ Fox in America cancels its new drama series Filthy Rich and NeXt after single seasons (both of which are actually good).

■ James Bond actor Sean Connery dead at 90.

■ The correspondents of The Daily Show seen on Comedy Central (DStv 122) on the difficulties and how they've been adjusting to filming from their living rooms.

■ England in new Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic lockdown: TV and film industry can continue but cinemas will have to close.

■ CNN (DStv 401) reporter Amara Walker in 3 anti-Asian racist incidents in 1 hour inside an American airport.

■ Katlego Maboe: 6 things to know as the TV presenter now faces a court battle.

■ "The worst Top Gear I've ever seen!"

Many viewers feel that the "new" Top Gear seen on BBC Brit (DStv 120) doesn't work and is awkward.

■ eNCA (DStv 403) and e.tv fined over Gareth Cliff's Covid-19 conspiracy theorist show.

- Media Monitoring Africa (MMA) says the Gareth Cliff interview damaged eNCA and raised serious questions about the editorial failures at the eMedia Investments channel:

"While the host and producer should shoulder some of the blame, serious questions need to be raised about the editorial failure that gave the go-ahead to run the interview."

■ Nigeria's corrupt National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) that is handing out fines to TV channels like AIT, Channels TV and Arise TV for covering #EndSARS public protests should stop trying to "padlock the air".

■ The creator of This is Us, seen on M-Net (DStv 101) explains how #BlackLivesMatter and the Covid-19 pandemic will feature in the new 5th season.

■ Why Netflix will keep raising its prices for subscribers.

■ Shock-couple Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha apparently signed a R3 million contract to do a 13-episode reality series with MultiChoice's Showmax streaming service.

■ China's state-run China Central TV (CCTV) remains shrouded in secrecy.

- Mexican TV news anchor shot dead in his car.

■ How to look rich on TV: The Undoing that will be shown on M-Net (DStv 101) and what money looks like on the TV screen.

Creating a fictional world for the 1 percent isn't as easy as it seems.

■ SABC1's Generations creator and producer Mfundi Vundla on his art collection and what's hanging in his bathroom.

■ SABC: We can't make money from Google's YouTube.

Generations The Legacy on SABC1 renewed for 2 further seasons while the SABC ponders whether SABC3's Isidingo is still needed.

The South African public broadcaster has renewed its one SABC1 prime time weekday soap Generations - The Legacy for two more seasons while the broadcaster remains silent over the fate of the long-running Isidingo on SABC3 facing possible cancellation.

Generations - The Legacy on SABC1 on Monday night continued uninterrupted despite an announcement three days earlier that it would go into reruns as part of  a "summer break" of old themed rerun episodes that was set to start on Monday - a plan which was abruptly scuppered.

Generations - The Legacy is SABC1 and South African television's second-most watched TV show and pulled 9.23 million viewers (25.7 AR / 65.4 share) during October.

The SABC dragged its heels in signing a new contract for a 6th season of Generations - The Legacy with Morula Pictures, owned by Mfundi Vundla, but finally did so on Monday 25 November.

Although the SABC on Friday announced that Generations - The Legacy would go into repeats on SABC1 from Monday and not revealing that it was because no further contract existed, a period of schedule padding with reruns didn't start on Monday at 20:00.

Instead a new first-run episode of Generations - The Legacy was broadcast on SABC1 after the SABC concluded a new 2-year contract with Morula Pictures.

At 20:05 the SABC in a statement said that "the SABC and Morula Pictures are pleased to announce that Generations - The Legacy has been recommissioned for two new seasons".

The SABC said that "Generations - The Legacy will continue uninterrupted and audiences will be spoilt with fresh episodes throughout December and the rest of 2020."

Neither Phillip Mabitsela, SABC1 publicist, nor Morula Pictures responded to media enquiries made since Friday.

Meanwhile questions continue to swirl whether the struggling prime time soap Isidingo - The Need on SABC3 is getting renewed of axed.

Neither the SABC nor Pomegranate Media have responded to media enquries seeking clarity over the future of Isidingo that is facing possible cancellation.

The longrunning local soap that has shed popular characters and viewers drew a paltry 957 500 viewers in October on SABC3 which remains the public broadcaster's biggest headache and struggling to make money as the SABC's only commercial TV channel.

The SABC has done away with and cancelled most of SABC3's high-cost, longrunning signature programming over the past three years including Days of Our Lives, The Bold and the Beautiful, High Rollers, 3Talk and its replacement Real Talk, as well as Top Billing.

Unable to conclude a new Generations The Legacy contract after demanding production length cuts SABC abruptly puts SABC1's Morula Pictures soap into reruns for 2019 festive period.

Generations - The Legacy is abruptly gone from SABC1 from tonight in prime time and replaced with old reruns of the decades-old Generations after the South African public broadcaster failed to sign a new contract for a 6th season with Morula Pictures.

Generations - The Legacy is SABC1 and South African television's second-most watched TV show and pulled 9.23 million viewers (25.7 AR / 65.4 share) during October.

This makes the show "too big to fail" as one of the few remaining successful on-air properties for the struggling South African public broadcaster and means that the SABC and Morula, owned by producer Mfundi Vundla, will very likely conclude a new contract although the two sides are still currently at odds because of some changed terms that the SABC is allegedly demanding.

In a statement SABC1 says "starting from Monday 25 November the soapie will go down memory lane by screening selected iconic episodes of Mzansi's most-loved soapie, Generations, in celebration of its indomitable records, reminiscing on talent who went on to become households names and storytelling spanning 28 years".

SABC1 calls the Generations library episode reruns - for which no time period is specified - a "summer break", saying that "favourite villains, heroes and matriarchs from the past will be brought back to turn this year's festive break into a nostalgic, unforgettable television experience".

According to highly-placed SABC insiders, negotiations stalled and couldn't be concluded in time for a new, signed contract due to the SABC allegedly demanding some changes, including a reduction in the half-hour episode lengths.

The SABC wants this in order to give the broadcaster's commercial enterprises division that handles ad sales for Generations, more 30-second ad spots inventory to sell during the lucrative 20:00 weekday timeslot on SABC1.

The SABC currently charges around R200 000 per 30-second TV advert during Generations and with the cash-strapped broadcaster looking at increasing revenue where it can, wants to add more commercials in order to squeeze out more income from successful shows on its channels' schedules.

Morula Pictures as a production company will however make less money if the actually delivered story minutes per half-hour episode is reduced and which adds up to multiple hours less Generations - The Legacy on-screen over the course of a year.

Phillip Mabitsela, SABC1 publicist, didn't respond to a media enquiry on Friday. Morula Pictures was asked for comment which will be added if received.

Growing number of shows snub the Saftas as producers' unhappiness with the industry's South African TV and film awards grows.

In an ongoing industry boycott a growing number of South African shows are snubbing the Saftas with producers who again decided not to enter the 13th South African Film and Television Awards set for 2 March, with their creators and crews who won't attend and their stars who won't walk the red carpet.

The conspicuous absence of a string of shows from the badly-organised and shoddily-produced Saftas continues to make the award show, organised by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), look flawed, with the winners not deemed truly legitimate and reflective of the totality of the local TV industry's body of work.

Several of the most-watched weekday shows and dramas across channels on South African television don't want to be part of 2019's 13th Saftas, despite luring millions of viewers daily and collectively employing hundreds of people in the local TV industry.

Not entering the 2019 Saftas are Generations on SABC1, Muvhango on SABC2 and 7de Laan on SABC2.

Also missing-in-action are all of the shows from Ferguson Films like The Queen and The Throne on M-Net's Mzansi Magic (DStv 161), including the eligible first season of The Imposter. M-Net's Arendsvlei on kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) is also missing.

Previously the producers of several production companies have had concerns around the Saftas secrecy and lack of transparency and inclusivity, the process and judging process, other issues that they said are not being addressed and getting resolved, and even called the Saftas "not fair".

Deliberately gone again from the Saftas is Generations - The Legacy, produced by Mfundi Vundla's Morula Pictures, for the second consecutive time. Generations is SABC1's and South Africa's second most-watched show and soap, pulling 7.9 million viewers. Generations' publicist didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment about its decision not to enter the Saftas.

Also deliberately gone again is Muvhango, SABC2's Venda soap produced by Duma Ndlovu's Word of Mouth productions for the fourth consecutive time and fifth time overall. Muvhango is SABC2's most-watched show and soap, pulling 6.1 million viewers. Muvhango's publicist didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment about its decision not to enter the Saftas.

Also deliberately absent again is 7de Laan, SABC2's Afrikaans language soap with 2.2 million viewers produced by Danie Odendaal Productions, for the third time in the history of the Saftas after it won as Best Soap in 2009, 2010 and 2011. In response to a media enquiry, 7de Laan said "we will not comment at this stage on our reasons for not entering the upcoming Safta awards".

Meanwhile, all of the popular shows produced under power-producer couple Connie and Shona Ferguson's Ferguson Films banner like The Queen, The Imposter first season (second season now produced by Seriti Films), and The Throne are nowhere to be seen at this year's Saftas. Shona didn't respond to a media enquiry seeking comment about the decision not to enter the awards show.

The telenovela The Queen is the most watched show on all of MultiChoice's DStv pay-TV platform with 1.5 million viewers, while The Throne lured 697 000 viewers in December 2018. The Imposter grabbed just over 1 million viewers during its first season run.

Not part of this year's Saftas without a reason given is kykNET's Afrikaans language telenovela, Arendsvlei although it's eligible. kykNET was asked why but didn't provide an answer although Arendsvlei's Saftas no-show is likely more due to an oversight from the producers than a deliberate snub.

Since the NFVF forces the producers of soaps and telenovelas to enter in other categories if they want to be listed in the overall Most Popular Soap/Telenovela category, these shows - although legitimately forming a huge part of the local genre - have once again been blocked from the Saftas category and can't be voted for.

It means that viewers - actively solicited to vote for the Saftas' Most Popular Soap/Telenovela - can't vote for what might really be most popular or a viewer's most liked show for instance Generations, Muvhango, 7de Laan, The Queen or The Throne, and again will mean a hollow victory for whatever soap is announced the winner.

Neo Moretlwe, NFVF communications coordinator, didn't respond to media enquiries made since Friday seeking comment on the growing number of producers snubbing the awards and other issues after the Saftas organisers announced the 2019 nominees.

The Saftas that will take place and be broadcast on 2 March on SABC2 at 19:00 and produced by Clive Morris Productions this year, is once again taking place at Sun City but in a new change is dropping the 2-night spectacle - completely doing away with the previously separate, technical awards evening that was a separate awards ceremony that wasn't televised.

The Saftas at Sun City has been criticised as an out-of-touch and not representative money-wasting soiree for film body elites, sponsors and TV executives to clink glasses in luxury while making the ceremony inaccessible to a lot of media, nominees, even its own lifetime achievement award winners not invited, with people having to drive back to Johannesburg and elsewhere late at night.

As in previous years, the Saftas organisers and judges once again also made some perplexing and head-scratching choices regarding nominees in categories for the 13th Saftas.

Some include VIA and Showmax's JAN, a fly-on-the-wall lifestyle documentary series following the life of South Africa's first Michelin-star Jan-Hendrik van der Westhuizen in Nice that is a very worthy nominee but snagged a nomination in the Best variety show category.

Meanwhile a reality competition show like Die Kontrak is a nominee as Best music show instead of Best reality show, while Starlight Classics 2017 on M-Net is a nominee under Best variety show although it belongs in the Best music show category.

M-Net working on a Xhosa king period drama set in the Eastern Cape and a Deon Meyer crime novel adaptation for 2018.

M-Net is adding two new local productions, Trackers, a 6-episode Deon Meyer crime novel adaptation; as well as House of Phalo, a period drama focused on the rise of Xhosa in the Eastern Cape and the rise of King Phalo produced by Mfundi Vundla's Morula Pictures.

M-Net says the pay-TV broadcaster remains committed to local storytelling and that the slate of new productions will provide compelling viewing for DStv subscribers and help to feed the growing global appetite for television drama series.

"This is the golden age of television series – an era marked by a year-on-year increase in scripted content that is eagerly consumed by audiences, both live and through binge viewing," says Yolisa Phahle, CEO of General Entertainment for MultiChoice,

"Audiences are also increasingly receptive to authentic, universal stories and this provides an opportunity for us to take African stories to the world."

Trackers is an adaptation of the acclaimed South African crime writer Deon Meyer’s international best-selling novel.

The 6-part series is co-produced with SCENE23, a new production hub created by Deon Meyer, Cobus van den Berg and Tim Theron, together with Three River Fiction, a London-based, independent production company.

"It is a real pleasure and privilege to co-produce an international TV series based on my novel, Trackers – with South African talent, textures and accents,” says Deon Meyer.

"Thanks to M-Net and Three River Fiction’s involvement, we are also delighted to have Robert Thorogood, best known for the Death In Paradise TV series, on board as the showrunner, leading our writing team".

"Deon Meyer has been responsible for introducing millions of people across the globe to South Africa, so it made absolute sense to adapt one of his books for SCENE23’s first outing into the great unknown of the international industry," says Cobus van den Berg.

"The global and critical success of Trackers made it the perfect choice to go with. As producers we’re really excited to join the current push to show the world that we’re not just a great place to come and shoot their films and series, but that our own stories deserve to be seen and enjoyed by the global audience. But we can’t do it alone, and SCENE23 is extremely proud to be partnering with M-Net and Three River Fiction to make this project a reality."

"Three River Fiction is delighted to be working with SCENE23 and M-Net on Trackers,” says Jonathan Drake, CEO and co-creative director at Three River Fiction.

"Deon has written a thrilling book, and working with Deon and Robert Thorogood to adapt the story for television is a really exciting opportunity. M-Net is the ideal home for Trackers – a story rooted in Africa but with strong international appeal. It is already generating strong interest from other networks around the world."

A Xhosa Game of Thrones

A uniquely South African historical drama series is also currently in production - House of Phalo, a telling of the first modern history of the Xhosa and the rise of King Phalo.

Mfundi Vundla’s Morula Pictures is behind House of Phalo. Vundla is renowned for his game-changing television, having created South Africa’s first soapie Generations in 1994 on SABC1. House of Phalo will appeal to fans of series like Vikings and Game of Thrones that's on M-Net.

"This story is about shattering the popular narrative that the history of our people began in 1652 with the arrival of Jan Van Riebeek," says Mfundi Vundla. "There is indisputable evidence that Xhosa people have lived in the Eastern Cape since the 15th century."

"It’s only through systematic erasure by colonialists and apartheid that we have lost part of this history. It was crucial for us then to treat this drama with the care and reverence it deserves. We hope we have managed to evoke a sense of pride in our history, a better understanding of the people we are, and a clearer vision of our present and future."

M-Net acting CEO since 1 February, Nkateko Mabaso says "co-productions are on the rise globally and they are certainly playing a huge role in the opportunity to build global audiences for local stories. These days it is common to see productions that are a collaboration between broadcasters operating in different markets."

"This is good for the industry as it has the potential to increase audiences," says Nkateko Mabaso.

"We are thrilled to be working with some of the finest talent, both locally and abroad, to bring an increased focus to the incredible talent in South Africa."

Generations warns against 2018's first bogus casting call and audition scam: There is no Mfundi Vundla Academy.

The SABC weekday soap Generations – The Legacy is warning the public against yet another fraudulent scam trying to lure victims to fake auditions they have to pay for, purportedly done by The Mfundi Vundla Academy, with the TV production telling TVwithThinus that a “Mfundi Vundla Academy” doesn’t exist.

Fraudsters annually entice gullable South Africans to so-called “soap auditions” – mostly in Johannesburg – trying to cash in on the hugely popular genre’s appeal under ordinary South Africans who watch these shows and like the characters they see, dream of riches and fame. 

Soaps that have been most susceptible over the past few years have been the longrunning Generations and Muvhango on SABC2, as well as Scandal! and Rhythm City on e.tv due to these brands’ wide appeal under the viewing audience on free-to-air terrestrial TV channels.

Besides specialised talent agencies doing closed castings, open casting calls are done directly by TV shows themselves and it doesn’t happen very often. 

People should also never have to pay for any casting call for a potential TV role or “soap audition”. People should never pay a model scout or to be seen by any modeling agency – and should definitely never undress, send or do naked photos, pay for interviews or sign contracts.

After several bogus casting calls last year, 2018 has started off with the first fradulent “casting call” targeting SABC1’s Generations produced by Morula Pictures, asking people to come to a fake audition at the Market Thearte Lab in Johannesburg on 2 February, trying to cash in on the name of the show’s creator and executive producer Mfundi Vundla. 

Generations tells TVwithThinus this is fake.

“It has come to our attention that there are fake auditions being held at the Market Theatre Lab on 2 February. The perpetrators are using Mfundi Vundla’s name to lure unsuspecting victims. There is no such thing as a ‘Mfundi Vundla Academy’ and there are no real Generations auditions held at the Market theatre on 2 February 2018,” says the show.

“With the rise of human trafficking we fear this could be one of the tools used to lure young people so it’s imperative that word gets out. Mfundi Vunda does not have anything to do with the advertised audition.”

Thando Thabethe quits her soap role on SABC1's weekday Generations for her upcoming new talk show.

Thando Thabethe has quit her TV soap role in the public broadcaster's weekday soap Generations after almost three years for the chance to do her own talk show that will be starting soon.

After revealing two and a half weeks ago that that she has a new talk show on the way, Thando Thabethe - who also added a weekday co-presenting DJ job since May in the afternoon drive slot with Msizi James on 5FM - felt that she could no longer fit in the time required to be on the Generations set as well and resigned.

Thando Thabethe joined the rebooted Generations - The Legacy two and a half years ago in January 2015 after executive producer Mfundi Vundla and the SABC fired the striking principal cast and repopulated the soap with new faces.

Although Thando Thabethe is existing the Morula Pictures produced soap, Generations - The Legacy films episodes some months in advance and the actress last scenes in the role of Nolwazi Buzo will only be broadcast on SABC1 in early January 2018.

"It is with great sadness we announce the resignation of talented actress Thando Thabethe from Generations - The Legacy," says the SABC soap in a statement.

"The cast and crew of Generations - The Legacy wish Thando well and will miss her great work ethic and her abundant talent," says Mfundi Vundla, Generations executive producer in the statement.

"Thando Thabethe is one of South Africa’s most talented TV actors. She has a great future to look forward to."

In the statement Thando Thabethe says her years at "Generations - he Legacy have been nothing but amazing", calling the role of Nolwazi "life-altering".

"I have learnt so much about myself and the incredible art of acting and I'm forever indebted to the producers, directors, writers, cast and crew and most especially the viewers."

"This was not an easy decision to make but I take forward with me great relationships, a better understanding and appreciation of my craft, and the confidence that it will take me to greater heights."

Generations producer Mfundi Vundla slams SABC's Hlaudi Motsoeneng 'nonsense' 90% local content quota as an 'empty promise'.

Generations producer Mfundi Vundla has come out publicly to slam the SABC's Hlaudi Motsoeneng for his unilaterally imposed local content quotas saying the controversial executive at the now basically bankrupt public broadcaster made "empty promises" and only did it to ingratiate himself with artists.

Interviewed by DJ Sbu on his new Massiv Metro online radio station, Mfundi Vundla from MMSV productions, had scathing criticism for the SABC's Hlaudi Motsoeneng as several production companies across South Africa making shows for the SABC have again not been paid at the end of April.

After not being paid since February, several South African production companies say they will have to start let workers go as the SABC, unable to pay and now owing production houses hundreds of millions of rand, is once again on the brink of financial collapse similar to 2009.

In June 2016 the SABC with great fanfare announced that actress Sophie Ndaba is partnering with MMSV Productions and would be co-producing a new show together with a claimed R600 million that was set aside by the SABC to fund new productions.

At the time, only MMSV Productions and Mfundi Vundla was named as a "mentor" of actors starting new TV productions for the SABC.

Eleven months later, several of the promised shows have so far failed to materialise on South African TV screens as the SABC is sinking deeper and deeper into a financial crisis quagmire.

""I think that the local content quota was a publicity stunt and was a populist stance designed to expand his footprint in the artistic community," Mfundi Vundla said of Hlaudi Motsoeneng's unilateral decree for 90% local music radio play and 80% local TV content he forced in overnight in June 2016 and July 2016 respectively.

"If you say let there should be 90% local content, that needs to be accompanied by a massive infusion in capital investment. You cannot just declare 90% local content without the money to make that content," said Mfundi Vundla.

"The SABC did not have that money so it was an empty promise. For television it was an empty promise because today those production houses that produce most of the content for the SABC are not getting paid. So, that 90% local content is nonsense."

Actors slam the SABC and South Africa's entertainment industry at Joe Mafela's memorial service, 'hope and pray SABC will pay our artists their royalties'.

Veteran actors came out swinging good and nice on Thursday afternoon, slamming the SABC, the SABC2 soap Muvhango and South Africa's entertainment industry at actor Joe Mafela's memorial service, asking the public broadcaster to please start paying residuals and to do more than lip service when it comes to looking after actors.

The legendary Joe Mafela (75), most famous for his 'Sgudi 'Snaysi sitcom and Chicken Licken TV commerciasl work, died on Saturday night during a car crash on the M1 in Johannesburg, with a public memorial service that took place earlier today at the packed Johannesburg theatre and was broadcast on television.

The memorial service was attended by TV executives like James Aguma, acting SABC CEO and Bessie Tugwana, acting COO.

Actors and friends didn't hold back, using their chance at the podium to voice not only their personal remembrances and honouring Joe Mafela's legacy but also speaking up and out about what he wanted to see happen within South Africa's entertainment talent sphere and resistant-to-change entertainment and television industry.

Actor Tony Kgoroge put the SABC on blast after SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago spoke, saying that even though Joe Mafela himself didn't manage to fully escape exploitation in the local entertainment industry, that he is glad that he managed to rose above it.

Cautioning the entertainment industry, Tony Kgoroge said "the 'magic' is in the exploitation. They exploit you, they take your story, they own it, they pay for it, and then they say you'll just be a performer."

"Now coming into the new dispensation, the people like Joe Mafela tried to rise up and say to the broadcasters: 'We want to own our own. We want to tell our own stories the way we want to tell them, without anybody owning it or any foreign ideas becoming part of our narration".

"Then we're told because you don't have experience, go and partner with that company. And you go there - it's our white colleagues again. And when you go there you're only going there with a script or an idea," said Tony Kgoroge.

"They have cameras, they have editing suites, they have studios. They have everything you can think of. You're only bringing a script. How much of a percentage do you think you'll get from that? So you're bound to sell that story because you have to put bread on the table. You have kids that have to go to school."

Directly addressing the SABC, Tony Kgoroge said "Kaizer, was saying that they [SABC] is still repeating some of the things that Joe Mafela used to do. I hope and pray Kaizer that you pay our artists their royalties."

Tony Kgoroge's words were met with loud applause.


Cynthia Shange: It's not like we don't know how to save
Veteran actress Cynthia Shange who called Joe Mafela "my brother, then my father" used her turn at the podium to draw attention to the little job security and work stability local South African actors are provided, saying "I just briefly want to tell you about the life of actors".

"I've been in this field for 43 years. I know we make you happy. But deep inside most of us, we are not happy."

"We can just pretend to take those selfies, to sign autographs. Life for actors are very hard because we are not permanent. I'm 43 years in this industry but I'm still a freelancer."

"I must always sign a new contract. I've been with Muvhango for 18 years now. But each years we must sign a new contract. I can't get a loan because I'm not permanent.  You can maybe squeeze from your salary to have maybe a medical aid. But if you lose the job for that period, it lapses."

"You can struggle to have your funeral cover. So please if we die and we ... " - and then Cynthia Shange became visible emotional - "and now I'm talking to the journalists: If one of the actors die and we don't have money, they make as if we don't have money".

"It's not like we don't know how to save. We save. We save what there's left to save. We save that one cent, that two cent. We do our best. But we chose this career. I'm not saying it's a wrong career. It's our passion. We chose this for our lives."


Rename SABC's Studio 5 the Joe Mafela Studio
Super-producer Mfundi Vundla of Generations The Legacy on SABC1 said that Studio 5 at the SABC's Henley Studios should be renamed after Joe Mafela.

"Joe Mafela built the SABC. He brought audiences to the SABC. The SABC is just brick and mortar without the content and the people who bring audiences. Without that the SABC is brick and mortar."

"I said we have to do something to recognise Joe in a very signifcant way."

"Joe and I and Generations worked out of Studio 5 at the SABC, the biggest studio at Henley Studios. I wrote to the head of TV and said my suggestion is that this Studio 5 must be named The Joe Mafela Studio".

"In the big studio in Rome there where they make movies and stuff, Fellini had a studio where he worked all the time and after he passed, the funeral was in that studio and guess what, the studio was called the Fellini Studio. So Studio 5 must be called The Joe Mafela Studio," said Mfundi Vundla.

On Sunday veteran actress Lillian Dube revealed that the 11th South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) that took place on Saturday at Sun City, organised by the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF), didn't invite either herself or Joe Mafela to the award show although both of them are honorary recipients of lifetime achievement awards from the Saftas previously.

Fourth actor exists SABC1's Generations The Legacy just months after the troubled Mfundi Vundla soap's reset.

A fourth actor is exiting the reset Generations The Legacy on SABC1, with Vuyo Dabula who is out just months after the show restarted with new actors when creator Mfundi Vundla fired the entire principal cast of 16 actors late last year.

Vuyo Dabula is the fourth abrupt departure from Generations The Legacy which lost its ratings dominance the past seven months.

Asanda Foji and Mary Gumede left the show a month ago. A blindsided Asanda Foji was fired and didn't even know about it, Mary Gumede couldn't come to terms and wanted out of her contract and Denise Zimba was fired from Generations The Legacy as well.

Now Vuyo Dabula who portrayed Gadaffi is also out, with the actor who also couldn't come to terms with the producers no longer prepared to stay with the weekday soap any longer since negotiations didn't work out.

The soap says "Vuyo will no longer be part of Generations The Legacy" in a statement.

"The actor requested to be released from his contract as he has other projects he would like to explore," says Gaaratwe Mokhethi, Generations The Legacy publicist in a statement.

"I think now is the right time to move on and do other things with the exposure the show has given to me," says Vuyo Dabula in the statement.

"Generations the Legacy has allowed me to take my acting craft to newer and better levels and I plan to take that into future characters I’ll be portraying."

SABC1's Generations The Legacy implores viewers to please stay and keep watching; Asanda Foji and Mary Gumede out in latest cast shake-up.

Generations – The Legacy cast members are out the door just seven months after joining the soap with the show now asking viewers to please stay tuned to the reset show watched by millions less viewers than before.

In October 2014 the beleaguered Mfundi Vundla soap Generations on SABC1 abruptly shut down production and restarted in December under a new name after firing the entire principal cast of 16 actors for demanding better contracts.

The shocking derailment of the SABC's biggest show and money-spinner as the public broadcaster's top executives failed to successfully intervene and keep the show on the air, sent shockwaves through South Africa's TV industry and inflicted big brand damage and reputational harm on the SABC, creator Mfundi Vundla, as well as the soap.

Generations – The Legacy has since been overshadowed by Uzalo, the Duma Ka Ndlovu and Gugu Zuma Ncube produced telenovela set and filmed in KwaMashu and on a Newlands sound stage in Durban.

Last month Uzalo for the first time started to pass Generations – The Legacy in the ratings race in an upward climb while Generations – The Legacy is still millions of viewers below its erstwhile perch as the most watched TV show in South Africa, a title it held for almost two decades.

Now the Generations – The Legacy producers, in a statement, are imploring viewers to stay tuned to the SABC1 weekday soap, saying "we promise new and exciting story developments will be taking place".

Asanda Foji, criticised by viewers for her stilted acting in the role of Simphiwe, has been cut with her contract which has not been renewed, with Mfundi Vundla expressing "well wishes for the talented actress".

Jaqui Archilleas, Generations – The Legacy commissioning editor, "praises Simphiwe for the value she brought to the show" in the statement.

Also out is Mary Gumede who played Denise Zimba and who wanted to be released from her contract. "Her professionalism in aiding us to mount a new show was exemplary. We wish her the best in her endeavours," says Mfundi Vundla.

'We ask that our viewers stay tuned'

Generations – The Legacy is now asking viewers to please stay tuned to the soap.

"Our goal is in advancing the story and keeping our viewers entertained and that's the reason we keep introducing new and fresh stories," says Generations – The Legacy publicist Gaaratwe Mokhethi.

"We promise our fans stories that are filled with high drama and intensity, stories that will leave them begging for more."

"As we near the second half of this year, we have new and exciting storylines. Twists and turns that weren't expected are still set to take place. We ask that our viewers stay tuned to see how the story keeps developing."

The soap says Lebohang Mthunzi who plays Angela and Ivy Nkutha who plays Gog' Flo are not leaving.

"These two actresses will still be part of the upcoming season of Generations – The Legacy."

'Pity that Generations has failed to deliver'

"Uzalo has garnered a great following in a short time," Cheryl Dube, media strategist at Carat SA tells TV with Thinus.

"It's important to note that these two shows do not fall into the same timeslot, so it's not necessarily that Uzalo has taken viewers from Generations – The Legacy," she says. "It's a shock but definitely not a surprise that a new show has surpassed Generations."

"Viewers that Generations had lost have opted to watch other shows like Ashes to Ashes on e.tv as they both compete in the same timeslot and we have seen that Ashes to Ashes has also built up a strong and loyal following," says Cheryl Dube.

"The storylines for Uzalo and Ashes to Ashes reflect our society a lot better than Generations – The Legacy does at present."

"The characters are more relatable and exciting and it's such a pity that Generations – The Legacy has failed to deliver on this because it is something that they used to do well," says Cheryl Dube.

SABC1's Generations - The Legacy falls to 3,9 million viewers; industry wonders if 'numbers will go back up to 8 million again'.

The viewership erosion of what used to be the SABC and South Africa's most watched TV show, Generations – now retitled as Generations – The Legacy – continues, with the soap which has now dropped to 3,9 million viewers by last Friday, while industry experts wonder "if the numbers will go back up to 8 million" ever again.

Millions of viewers have abandoned the Mfundi Vundla produced soap on SABC1 after it returned, retooled with a new cast in December 2014, after an absence of two months following the SABC and MMSV Productions' firing of the entire principal cast in August 2014 for demanding their promised three year contracts and better remuneration. 

Viewers have since taken to the third season of SABC1's Skeem Saam, and there's also high buzz for SABC1's new telenovela Uzalo and e.tv's new local telenovela Ashes to Ashes starting on 2 March at 20:00 in the same timeslot as Generations – The Legacy. 

These new shows are all looking to cash in on the millions of viewers who no longer watch the damaged soap. 

The SABC moved Generations – The Legacy from SABC1 to SABC2 for the duration of the Afcon 2015 soccer tournament which further dampened the soap's ratings performance.

Generations – The Legacy's ratings fell further from 5,9 million just before the Afcon 2015 on SABC1 for viewers aged 15+  – the viewers most prized by advertisers and the TV industry and worth millions of rand in ad spend – to 4,7 million during Afcon 2015, and declined further to 3,9 million by this past Friday.

According to the latest consolidated ratings information this is how Generations – The Legacy did last week on SABC2 at 20:00:

Monday: 5,107 million

Tuesday: 5,084 million

Wednesday: 4,831 million

Thursday: 4,257 million

Friday:  3,998 million

Average audience for last week: 4,655 million

'Numbers aren't back to where they used to be'

"The numbers aren't back to where they used to be with a current weekly viewership of roughly 5 million," Cheryl Dube, media strategist at Carat SA told TV with Thinus.

"On Twitter and other social media people are still quite upset about the cliffhangers that the previous Generations left behind," says Cheryl Dube.

 "Perhaps the storyline needs to incorporate what happened to all our favourite characters like Queen, Dineo, Kenneth and Sibusiso who we left behind 'two years ago'."

Was it a mistake for the SABC to rush the new Generations back on air in December? The soap returned in the month of the year when available viewership is traditionally lowest, and the SABC knew that the just-returned soap would also be shifting TV channels a month later for Afcon 2015 as part of the SABC's "transversal strategy". 

Would it have been better for Generations' ratings to rather start the soap in February or March?

Cheryl Dube says "I believe that they wanted to get Generations – The Legacy back on air as soon as possible as Generations is one of their highest earning shows in terms of advertising revenue".

"So despite the time of year it was important to get it back on-air while interest was still high," says Cheryl Dube.

"Only time will tell if the numbers will go back up to 8 million per episode but it will be interesting to watch,” says Cheryl Dube.

TV with Thinus asked the SABC for comment regarding Generations – The Legacy’s viewership trends since the soap returned, and whether the public broadcaster has any context or perspective on the ratings but the SABC didn't respond to a media enquiry.

It's not clear what the SABC's new ratings expectation is for Generations – The Legacy and where it sees the viewership of the soap possibly stabilising.

This morning Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the SABC's chief operating officer (COO) at the TNA breakfast briefing told attendees that "Let me tell you, the new Generations is doing well. The Muvhango is doing well".