Pimville Non-Payment Scandal: Producer Rashaka Muofe Keeps Telling Crew and Cast the SABC Didn't Pay and Isn't Communicating as He Threatens 'to Fold the Show', as SABC Says Payments Are Fully Up to Date and it is Trying to 'Stabilise the Situation'

by Thinus Ferreira

Somebody is lying: Either Pimville producer Rashaka Muofe of Bakwena Productions who remains in failure to pay the cast and crew of the disastrously derailed show and who keeps telling cast and crew that he can't pay and claims the SABC hasn't paid or communicated while he threatens to "fold the show" - or the South African public broadcaster who says it's payments to Bakwena is fully up to date and that it is busy with crisis management to try and "stabilise the situation".

The SABC is dealing with an unmitigated local production disaster, totalling millions of rands, after it decided to commission Bakwena Productions to produce Pimville for the SABC.

Pimville on SABC2 was supposed to replace Muvhango as part of a plan to turn around SABC2's flailing ratings, but filming then flamed out as the show crashed and burned just a few months later, after Bakwena Productions, since February, failed to pay the show's crew and cast.

Bakwena Productions is owned by actor Kagiso Modupe and the married couple Rashaka "Rush" Muofhe and Brenda Muofe.

Bakwena Productions is also embroiled in a nasty legal battle with Black Brain Pictures after its founder Mandla Ngcongwane, known as Mandla N., borrowed Bakwena Productions R4.2 million in order for Bakwena to allegedly pay casts and crews. 

Bakwena has allegedly failed to pay back this loan.

After Bakwena Productions' non-payment erupted, the SABC has suspended SABC head of content Lala Tuku, along with SABC executives Nirvana Singh and Reatlegile "Ree" Mampa.

SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli, Lala Tuku and the other SABC executives were all aware of Bakwena Productions deplorable production record before filming of Pimville started, but Nomsa Chabeli told South Africa's parliament that the SABC would manage it.

Lala Tuku in interviews said the SABC will ensure that Bakwena Productions pay the cast and crew working on the show and that the SABC will appoint a supervising producer to check payments.

South Africa's film industry bodies warned the SABC beforehand not to go ahead with using Bakwena Productions, and slammed the SABC's decision to make use of the production company.

Rashaka Muofe told the Pimville cast and crew in a latest string of messages that he is blaming the SABC for not being able to pay them, claimed that the SABC has not communicated with Bakwena Productions, and threatened that he would "fold the show".

The SABC disputes the claims in Rashaka Muofe's latest messages to the cast and crew, says it is aware of these messages he sent, categorically states that the SABC has paid Bakwena Productions and is up to date with payments, and that the broadcaster is busy with "legal processes" against Bakwena Productions.

Rashaka Muofe told the Pimville crew and cast "Please note, SABC hasn't paid and hasn't communicated a way forward, with nobody answering calls."

"We have three crew members who have become reliable sources to the media, and this has led to the SABC further distancing themselves from us. We urge those individuals to stop so we can reach an amicable solution with the SABC soon."

Rashaka Muofe further messaged that "We only have one option and that is for the SABC to pay so we can pay cast and crew. Unfortunately it is not in our hands ... If SABC doesn't pay, we unfortunately have to fold the show."

Mmoni Ngubane, SABC spokesperson, told TVwithThinus in response to a media query, "the SABC would like to reiterate that the broadcaster has duly fulfilled its contractual obligations to Bakwena Productions and remains up to date with contractual payments relating to the production".

The SABC says Bakwena Productions is in breach of its contract with the broadcaster.

"As previously communicated, the production company is currently in breach of its contractual obligations with the SABC, and formal contractual processes, including a notice of breach, have already been instituted."

About Rashaka Muofe's constinuing claims to the Pimville cast and crew that it is the SABC's fault that they're not getting paid, Mmoni Ngubane says the SABC "is aware of various claims and communications currently circulating regarding the matter".

"However, given the active contractual, governance, operational, and legal processes currently underway, the SABC is unfortunately not in a position to engage publicly on further detail at this stage."

"What we can confirm is that the SABC continues to engage directly with the production company, as well as with affected cast, crew and writers representatives, as part of ongoing efforts to stabilise the situation and determine the most responsible way forward."

The SABC says it is "focused on protecting the interests of affected stakeholders, ensuring continuity considerations are responsibly managed, enforcing contractual accountability, and assessing appropriate operational options relating to the future of the production."

Mmoni Ngubane says "At this stage, it would be premature for the SABC to speculate publicly on final production outcomes or timelines while these processes remain underway."

ALSO READ: After SABC Was Warned It Would Happen Again, Bakwena Productions Failed to Pay Pimville Cast and Crew

ALSO READ: SABC Head of Content Lala Tuku and Other Execs Suspended as Bakwena Productions' Pimville Non-payment and Exploitation Scandal Grows

SABC silent on 7-month delay of Pimville shifted to SABC2 in February 2026 as Bakwena Productions non-payment scandal continues

by Thinus Ferreira

The SABC doesn't want to explain why Pimville on SABC2, its replacement for the cancelled Muvhango, failed to start in August and has now been shifted to February 2026, while the scandal around not paying people what they're owed by its controversial production company Bakwena Productions, continues.

In May, Nomsa Chabeli, SABC CEO, told parliamentt that ""Come August, we are launching a new telenovela called Pimville on SABC2, and based on that we will be really driving that audience share back to SABC2. We're working hard to ensure that the script is relevant for the audiences and that the storyline is going to be effectively doing what we need it to do."

Pimville failed to start in August, or in 2025. 

Nomsa Chabeli never spoke about Pimville again and gave no further update. 

Since August the SABC was asked repeatedly in media queries about Pimville's delayed launch but didn't respond.

Pre-production on Pimville started in January after the SABC decided it was finally done with Muvhango.

Meanwhile, there are new reports of Bakwena Productions not paying people. It's unclear why the SABC decided to give Bakwena Productions work when the public broadcaster is aware that Bakwena Productions has a problem paying people what they are owed.

Bakwena Productions is owned by Kagiso Modupe and Rashaka Muofhe. 

Service providers claim they are still owed over R200 000 for the failed Pound 4 Pound drama series that Paramount African commissioned from Bakwena Productions for BET Africa (DStv 129).

Sipho Hlatshwayo, a transport provider who worked on Pound 4 Pound, has now also come forward to say he and two drivers are owed hundreds of thousands of rand by Bakwena Productions. Bakwena Productions was served with a letter of demand.

Last week Tuesday, the SABC had a Pimville "cast reveal" media event in Johannesburg for the show that is no longer called Pimville Queens.

Media were invited only on the Friday before with several unable to attend due to the short notice. The SABC's event held at Piano Hub in the Pimville township was for Johannesburg media only.

The SABC distributed nothing of what was said by whoever at the media event, like cast members, SABC or show executives, or what happened at the media event, afterwards, making it's impossible to report on any of that.

On 13 November, SABC publicist Caroline Phalakatshela, the media liaison person working on Pimville, was asked why Pimville is now starting in 2026 after the SABC said it would start in August. There was no response.

Caroline Phalakatshela was then asked again the same thing again, with again no answer from the SABC after Caroline Phalakatshela said she would "revert ASAP". 

In a supplied quote after the Pimville media launch event, Dichaba Phalatse, SABC Video Entertainment marketing manager, says "At SABC2, we are committed to telling stories that reflect the heartbeat of our people".

"Pimville is not just a telenovela - it is a mirror of our society, capturing its struggles, dreams, and triumphs. We believe this series will deeply resonate with viewers and reaffirm SABC2 as the home of authentic and inspiring local content."

Rashaka Muofhe, Bakwena Productions executive producer, in a prepared quote in the same statement, says "Pimville is a love letter to the township spirit - raw, vibrant, and enduring".

"We wanted to craft a show that not only entertains but also honors [sic] the resilience, beauty, and power of our communities. Bringing this story to life with SABC2 has been a true privilege."

The Pimville cast includes Gail Mabalane, Matli Mohapeloa, Thapelo Mokoena, Keke Mphuthi, Mondli Makhoba, Michelle Mosalakae, Fulu Modibedi, Clementine Mosimane, Jesse Suntele, Eve Rasimeni, Sipho Ndlovu, Mandla Gaduka, Thabo Malema, Charmaine Mtinta, as well as Lillian Dube.

Cast and crew of Paramount Africa's BET's Pound 4 Pound keeps up fight for payment from Bakwena Productions

by Thinus Ferreira

The crew and cast of Bakwena Productions and Paramount Africa's Pound 4 Pound series on BET (DStv 129) who are still unpaid after months are adamant that they must and will get the money owed to them and and won’t stop exposing the hidden plight of casts and crews who remain unpaid and are often forced to suffer financially in silence.

After multiple failed payment promises by Kagiso Modupe and Rashaka Muofhe's Bakwena Productions the crew and cast refuse to let the non-payment issue go.

Since September crew and cast members have lost homes and been evicted, had to give up rentals in Johannesburg and move further away to where there's less potential work, had to sell camera equipment and even cars to try and survive financially.

Paramount Africa which commissioned the 13-episode Pound 4 Pound says it had paid its part of the production cost for the boxing series that was aired on its BET Africa (DStv 129) channel. 

Paramount Africa was asked last week but remains silent on whether it will work with Bakwena Productions again in future and whether it's changing the way it's dealing with South African productions in order to ensure that with upcoming shows an issue of non-payment of cast and crew does not occur.

Pound 4 Pound is the third Paramount Africa production where cast and crews are struggling to get their money due after the same thing happened with Clive Morris Productions' Isono and then also Queendom this year which were both BET Africa shows as well.

Last month Monde Twala, Paramount Africa senior vice president and general manager and lead for BET International, in response to a media query last month said that Paramount Africa had communicated with Bakwena Productions "to ensure that any outstanding payments are processed accordingly" and that it wants ensure that "any outstanding payments are addressed as swiftly as possible." 

That didn't happen and many workers are struggling to survive. 

None of the payment promises were kept and at the end of December, there were again no payments.

In October when a Pound 4 Pound crew member told Rashaka Muofhe in a text message that he is desperate to get paid what he was promised, Muofhe responded with a disinterested: "I'm of the opinion that the home was not purchased on my name".

Around 60 crew, actors and call actors who worked on Pound 4 Pound are represented by Advocate Carol-Ann Myburgh who have taken Bakwena Productions and Kagiso Modupe and Rashaka Muofhe to court to get their money owed.

Brandon Auret who portrayed the character of Frans on Pound 4 Pound, tells TVwithThinus "another production that hasn't paid their crew and cast have now joined on as well".

"It's incredible how many people have come out the woodwork now. I think what's really sad is how scared people are to come forward and to speak out because they are afraid of working for people again, that then won't pay them."

Last week Auret had to put his own car up for sale as well. "Luckily my wife's got a car but I'm owed thousands of rand. They owe someone else R120 000, someone else R80 000," he says.

Paramount Africa didn't respond to a media query made since earlier last week asking what has been done to resolve the situation with the BET show, what its stance is towards Bakwena Productions, and what it makes of industry workers saying they're wary of working on BET shows in future, fearing now that they will also meet a fate of not getting paid.

Kagiso Modupe's phone rang unanswered when called for comment since earlier last week he didn't respond to text messages.

ALSO READ: Legal action starts against producer Kagiso Modupe after he fails to pay crew and cast of BET Africa's Pound 4 Pound: 'Poor show of morals'