NO CONSPIRACY. People of the South on SABC3 HAS repeats and all episodes ARE repeated. Even the disgusting Robert Mugabe ones.

There's no conspiracy: While everyone seems unable to provide the information, the truth, and the facts I can - and will - gladly tell when viewers can see the repeats and rebroadcasts of Politics People of the South on SABC3.

A fake rumour is swirling that the episode of People of the South with Dali Thambo - apparently "suddenly" controversial after the fake-pathetic softball interview with that self-delusional African dictator of the former Rhodesia which was filmed just before Christmas 2012 - has been "canned" by SABC3.

That's seemingly because there is no repeat "anymore" this Wednesday morning.

Grow up, people. Nothing has suddenly been replaced, nothing was canned and there is no controversy or conspiracy. A wide number of people who can tell you this when you do the journalism:

There is a repeat of People of the South and there is a repeat of this episode. And viewers will still see the latest People of the South series multiple times in future since the SABC is not commissioning enough local content and will wring every last opportunity out of any content it - and the department of communications have financed and paid for such as People of the South - to the maximum extend.

Episode 16 - that is part one of the Robert Mugabe diatribe which aired last night, Sunday 2 June on SABC3 will repeat next week 12 June on SABC3 when viewers are able to see Dali dining with a despot at 09:30.

This coming Sunday night's episode of People of the South - part two  or episode 17 out of 26 - the one in which dear Grace Mugabe gives Dali Thambo a tour of a farm which was actually reposessed from a "colonial" white farmer in the famine ravaged country, will be shown the week after that, on 19 June at 09:30 on SABC3.

Why no episode this week? It's general information that the Champions Trophy Cricket is starting this week on SABC3 which is causing major schedule disruption on the channel. On some days there might not even be an hour long primetime news bulletin, so how can there be a Dr Mol Show repeat if even primtime is struggling to get a slot?

Then SABC3 also decided early in May already to build up a bit of a gap between the primetime showing of People of the South and the repeat.

BREAKING. Dali dining with a despot: Dali Thambo jets to Zimbabwe for a feast with Robert Mugabe in his famine ravaged country.

Now this is a TV dinner in very bad taste: The SABC will show South African viewers how Dali Tambo dines with Zimbabwe's president Robert Mugabe in utter opulence for People of the South - this while ordinary Zimbabwean citizens still starve and live on less than a dollar a day in in that poverty stricken Southern African nation.

Dali Tambo and a 14 person crew jetted into Zimbabwe as he interviewed and ate with Robert Mugabe during 19 and 21 December.

The opulent episode will be shown on SABC3 early in 2013 in Dali Tambo's interview show People of the South.

The Zimbabwean president is described by critics of conducting a "reign of terror" and being "an extremely poor role model" for the continent of Africa.

Whilst feasting in the country ravaged by famine for a "celebratory dinner", Dali Tambo and his entourage were also given access to State House, the majestic official presidential residence of Robert Mugabe for the episode.

The local talker and profile show was resusitated by the SABC in 2012 for a new run on public television in South Africa, the second season of which will be shown on SABC3 during the first half of 2013.

In the new incantation of People of the South which was made possible with assistance from South Africa's department of communications, Dali Tambo interviews personalities and their family members around family feast tables laden with a massive amount of food which 90% of ordinary Africans, in all likelihood, will never be able to afford nor taste in their lifetimes.

The People of the South episode shot in Zimbabwe will also include Dali Tambo interviewing Robert Mugabe's wife, Grace Mugabe, as well as the Mugabe offspring, Bona Mugabe and Chatunga Mugabe.

CUE the CUSHIONS. Dali Thambo back on TV as his talk show, People of the South, gets resurrected by the SABC - this time on SABC3.

19 years after he first started handing out embroidered cushions to guests after subjecting them on his SABC2 talk show with his oh-so-elocuted enunciation and effusive, pandering praise, Dali Thambo is getting resurrected by the SABC and SABC3 which is returning his talk show People of the South to South African television.

Dear Dali will once again mingle, tête-a-tête, and chat to South Africa's well-heeled - preferably politicians, stylanistas and pedantic popculturati in 26 brand-new episodes of his new talk show which SABC3 is describing as "an eclectic mix of personalities, politicians and icons".

"Dali's sensitive yet probing questions are distinctly emotive and informative," says SABC3. This time episodes of People of the South which will now be on SABC3 instead of SABC2, will culminate not in a cornucopia of cushion giving, hugs, air-kisses and praise singers, but "a celebratory dinner - a new feature of the series - where Dali encourages reminiscing, good humour, and a great sense of occasion".


People of the South is once again programmed for a Sunday evening where People of the South originally started off just after the SABC when through a tumultuous transformation at the end of apartheid and commissioned Dali's first effusive talk show go-around on South African television. The new People of the South will start on SABC3 on Sunday 12 August at 20:30.