Paramount's BET Africa trying again with illegal mining weekday drama as Black Gold from Black Brain Pictures is set for 18 August with Nomalanga Shozi, Dawn Thandeka King and Sello Maake ka Ncube

Thinus Ferreira

After the disastrous Queendom Paramount's BET Africa division in South Africa is again trying to find and launch a successful, scripted, South African weekday drama and will start Black Gold, co-produced by Black Brain Pictures, on 18 August on BET (DStv 129) as a story set in the world of illegal mining.

Black Gold is set in South Africa's KwaZulu-Natal province, similar to Uzalo and Amalanga Awafani on SABC1.

Black Gold is BET Africa's fourth big local telenovela-styled series, following Isono, Redemption and Queendom which all had mixed success with viewers and in the ratings and with Isono and Queendom - both from Clive Morris Productions - that ran into financial problems and shuttered.

Black Gold will start on BET Africa on 18 August with four episodes weekly from Mondays to Thursdays at 18:30.  

The Black Gold cast includes Nomalanga Shozi in her first lead role, as well as Dawn Thandeka King and Sello Maake kKaNcube.

Black Gold revolves around Amandla Zungu, portrayed by Nomalanga Shozi, who is cast out of her ancestral home after she's falsely accused of her father's murder.

Amandla Zungu is then forced into the dangerous world of illegal mining, where she "rises through the ranks to reclaim her legacy and confront the woman who stole everything from her" according to a logline from the production. 

Florence, portrayed by Dawn Thandeka King, is responsible for orchestrating the betrayal, while Sello Maake KaNcube plays the role of Tom Motsepe - Florence's secret lover and co-conspirator.

Mandla N, Black Brain Pictures executive director, says "Creating Black Gold was a game-changing experience - it shook us as much as it will shake the audience".

"Partnering with BET on this co-production is more than just making a show - it's about reinvesting in our industry, breaking barriers, and taking a bold step forward for local storytelling and long-term growth. Black Gold is raw, emotional, and unapologetically authentic storytelling."

Monde Twala, senior vice president and general manager of Paramount Africa and lead for BET International, in a prepared quote, says "Black Gold is a celebration of African storytelling at its finest - rich in culture, layered in emotion, and driven by a stellar cast that brings these powerful characters to life".

"At BET Africa, we are committed to showcasing narratives that reflect the beauty, strength, and complexity of black lives."

"This series is a tribute to black resilience, black love, and the unbreakable spirit of our communities."

SABC adds little-publicised entertainment magazine show The Sauce to SABC1.

by Thinus Ferreira

The SABC has added another entertainment magazine show, The Sauce to the SABC1 schedule, barely promoting it and with little publicity effort.

The SABC didn't bother to share or send out even a basic press release for The Sauce produced by Bonngoe Productions, and there were no roundtable interviews or any publicity push for the show. 

Ironically and sadly - but unexpected for the SABC - the show is about the local entertainment industry, but the SABC wasn't able to actually engage with the local entertainment industry properly about it.

Last week, two days before the broadcast of its first episode on TV the SABC suddenly had a lunch event for The Sauce in Johannesburg for some Johannesburg media only (who likewise did little to absolutely no reporting about it but will probably be invited again), although SABC1 is a nationally-seen channel. 

Nomalanga Shozi is the presenter of The Sauce. On Wikipedia it says she was in Rhythm City, the now-cancelled soap on e.tv, and is a TV and radio presenter and an actress. In 2018 Nomalanga Shozi went to Las Vegas to cover the backstage area and red carpet of the 2018 BET Soul Train Awards and hosted BET Breaks.

The SABC complained in parliament earlier this month that the money it has spent from its last government bailout failed to lift ratings for any of the new shows produced by that money.

The Sauce is another great example of that where the SABC makes content and doesn't bother to properly publicise or promote it with the media through anything remotely resembling proper PR. It's as if it doesn't exist although it costs a lot of money to make it.

The Sauce is apparently an entertainment show, like E! News, doing "takedowns of everything celebrity, entertainment news, influence and lifestyle" with a "tongue-in-cheek comedic approach". 

It sound and looks stale and dated and completely from a bygone 2000s era like trying to redo Nicky Greenwall's The Showbiz Report that was on e.tv. Another here-today-gone-tomorrow show or will The Sauce survive for longer than a season?