After MultiChoice and M-Net lied and said it won't show the second of racist Mike Bolhuis but then did, kykNET now says the trash-tabloid series won't see further episodes or repeats on DStv.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice and M-Net's kykNET (DStv 144) channel is finally finished after two seasons with the racist Mike Bolhuis whose trash-tabloid series Bolhuis won't see further episodes nor any rebroadcasts on DStv.

Tim du Plessis, kykNET's head of actuality, in a message told a viewer in Afrikaans that "With the authority of kykNET's top management I can inform you that the final episode of a rebroadcast of Bolhuis will be shown on 29 June".

"There will be no further repeats or rebroadcasts and no new seasons of Bolhuis will be produced."

Last year MultiChoice and M-Net in a shocking decision, decided to go ahead and started to broadcast the second season of Bolhuis with Mike Bolhuis, produced by Rian van Heerden.

That was after MultiChoice initially scrapped the second season just before it was supposed to air following a flurry of racist slurs and derogatory remarks made by Mike Bolhuis in audio recordings - including using the "k"-word - that surfaced in mid-2019 from the private investigator and kykNET reality star.

MultiChoice and kykNET lied and said that "MultiChoice is committed to the building of a non-racial society and strongly condemns any acts of discrimination. In the circumstances, we resolved that programming in the second season of the Bolhuis series, in which Mike Bolhuis is the central figure would not be broadcast."

A short while later, MultiChoice and kykNET then shockingly went ahead anyway with the broadcast of the low-class tabloid series marked by low production values. 

About the abrupt turn-around of allowing a racist back on kykNET, after MultiChoice said it won't show it, Karen Meiring, director of M-Net's kykNET channels, told TVwithThinus in September 2020 that Mike Bolhuis "has taken steps in his personal life to not only reflect but use his platform to support and promote diversity and inclusion". 

ALSO READ: kykNET pulls new second season of detective show Bolhuis shortly before broadcast as well as first season repeats from schedules due to unspecified contractual problems.

ALSO READ: As even more Mike Bolhuis racist slurs from the kykNET reality star surface including him using the 'k'-word, MultiChoice says it is still considering 'the reinstatement of the show'.
ALSO READ: MultiChoice canned the Bolhuis reality show on kykNET after investigator Mike Bolhuis used racist and derogatory language including the 'n'-word. 

ALSO READ: After MultiChoice canned racist Mike Bolhuis' TV show on kykNET the private investigator starts a belated apology tour pleading for forgiveness: 'I used these terms in anger'. 

After MultiChoice canned racist Mike Bolhuis' TV show on kykNET the private investigator starts a belated apology tour pleading for forgiveness: 'I used these terms in anger'.

After MultiChoice canned the racist Mike Bolhuis' TV show Bolhuis on kykNET (DStv 144) following his derogatory and racist comments, the private investigator has started a belated apology tour to try and do damage control, pleading for public forgiveness and saying that "I used these terms in anger".

Mike Bolhuis also revealed that "further conversations" could "surface that might paint me as someone who discriminates".

Racism caused MultiChoice to axe the kykNET show Bolhuis after a voice note with extremely racist and derogatory language by investigator and Bolhuis star Mike Bolhuis surfaced, referring to a black person as "a pitchblack houtkop" (wood head) and using the "n"-word.

The second season of the detective reality show Bolhuis, produced by Rian van Heerden also responsible for other kykNET tabloid programming fare like Die Siener, was set to start on 31 July on kykNET (DStv 144).

M-Net's Afrikaans language channels division however abruptly pulled the show from its schedule and also yanked the first season repeats of Bolhuis from sister channel kykNET&kie (DStv 145) shortly before broadcast.

Bolhuis also disappeared from the DStv Now's Catch Up service and the Showmax subscription video-on-demand service run by MultiChoice's Connected Video division with episodes that would have been made available simultaneously on Showmax.

kykNET didn't want to be honest and open with viewers or the public and when asked why Bolhuis was pulled from the schedule at short notice, only told TVwithThinus and other media that the show could no longer be broadcast "due to contractual issues".

kykNET refused to explain or admit the shocking racism and discriminatory language in a recording of Mike Bolhuis that led to MultiChoice ordering Bolhuis off of kykNET.

The news was revealed anyway by upset insiders, making kykNET look bad for not being upfront about exposing, naming and shaming such disgusting behaviour when it is the cause of content cancellation on DStv.

kykNET boss Karen Meiring was asked for comment from the channel's side but haven't responded with any public statement.

MultiChoice said in a statement that "It came to our attention that Mike Bolhuis had conducted certain conversations in which he expressed himself in a discriminatory manner, which is unacceptable to MultiChoice".

"MultiChoice is committed to the building of a non-racial society and strongly condemns any acts of discrimination. In the circumstances, we resolved that programming in the second season of the Bolhuis series, in which Mike Bolhuis is the central figure would not be broadcast."

"We are in full support of a society where freedom of speech is celebrated, however we take a stand against discrimination."

For almost a week after having no comment and saying nothing, Mike Bolhuis who failed to immediately speak to the public and giving comment to the media, has now started a weird and belated public apology PR attempt, aimed at trying to rehabilitate his damaged and racist image.

Mike Bolhuis in a weird direct-to-camera apology, chose eNuus, the daily Afrikaans TV news bulletin of kykNET done by e.tv news for the channel, to make a public apology on Thursday evening, pleading for forgiveness.

Instead of looking sideways at reporter Mia Spies, eNuus recorded Mike Bolhuis looking straight into the camera for his belated and odd-looking mea culpa, saying in Afrikaans "I hope that you can find it in your hearts to forgive me. The apology is irrespective of whether the series continues or not, because it is the right thing to do".

It's unclear why it took Mike Bolhuis days to finally do some type of a public apology instead of immediately when he was asked after the racism and discrimination connected to the Bolhuis production was revealed.

In a written statement Mike Bolhuis now says that "I used these terms in anger but in retrospect realised that the use of this kind of language can hurt others and further the divide between people in our country".

"I in no way think that my apology absolves me, and I have no expectation that my television programme will continue."

"In my fight against crime, I have made many enemies, and I also expect that there will be opportunistic attempts now to further discredit me by these individuals."

"If further conversations surface that might paint me as someone who discriminates, I would like the public to understand that I now want to be part of the solution to South Africa's problems."

He says that "My apology is unconditional, for not only any discriminatory language I used previously but for the fact that I did not offer my services earlier to help build a unified country."

MultiChoice canned the Bolhuis reality show on kykNET after investigator Mike Bolhuis used racist and derogatory language including the 'n'-word.

Racism caused MultiChoice to can the kykNET show Bolhuis after a voice note with extremely racist and derogatory language by investigator and Bolhuis star Mike Bolhuis surfaced referring to a black person as "a pitchblack houtkop" (wood head) and using the "n"-word.

The second season of the detective reality show Bolhuis was set to start last week Wednesday on kykNET (DStv 144) but M-Net's Afrikaans language channels division abruptly pulled the show from its schedule and also yanked the first season repeats of Bolhuis from sister channel kykNET&kie (DStv 145).

Bolhuis also disappeared from the DStv Now's Catch Up service and the Showmax subscription video-on-demand service run by MultiChoice's Connected Video division.

The new second season of Bolhuis, following the private investigator Mike Bolhuis tackling and commenting on various crime cases, was supposed to start on Wednesday night 31 July at 20:00 on kykNET (DStv 144) and episodes would have been made available simultaneously on Showmax.

In the new second season of Bolhuis, viewers would have seen how Mike Bolhuis hunts international fugitives and takes a look at drugs targeted at school children, along with shedding light on dark occult activities, as he tries to save a town and even gives romantic advice.

The second season of Bolhuis would also have shown "Mike’s softer side when he releases the flamingos he saved, and there’s even a wedding on the horizon" with the show that is part of the tabloid programming slate produced by Rian van Heerden and include shows like Die Siener and Skelmpie.

A rebroadcast of the first season of Bolhuis would have started on Wednesday night 31 July at 21:00 with MultiChoice that said viewers can binge-watch the first season of Bolhuis on Showmax.

MultiChoice still promoted Bolhuis to the press in publicity material in the Friday before what would have been the Wednesday broadcasting date and Bolhuis publicity material, articles and videos are still available on the kykNET website.

Last week Tuesday, kykNET in a programming notification a day before the second season was supposed to debut, said Bolhuis is being replaced with Sandra op 'n Drafstap at 20:00 for the next three months.

On kykNET & kie the first season Bolhuis repeat has been replaced by a rebroadcast of the documentary series Oppie Kassie detailing the history of South African television.

kykNET when asked last week why Bolhuis was pulled from the schedule at short notice only told TVwithThinus then that the show can no longer be broadcast due to contractual issues but refused to explain what exactly the contractual problems behind-the-scenes are.

On Sunday the Rapport newspaper reported that Mike Bolhuis sent a racist voice note of a recording of a telephone interview with a young Potchefstroom student who was being blackmailed by a girl with naked images of him which he said wasn't his.

The student sought help from Mike Bolhuis who said "Firstly,  it's not a 'she', it's a n-, it's a pitchblack houtkop".

The voice note led to kykNET management canning the show.

Joe Heshu, MultiChoice's head of corporate affairs, told TVwithThinus on Sunday that "It came to our attention that Mike Bolhuis had conducted certain conversations in which he expressed himself in a discriminatory manner, which is unacceptable to MultiChoice".

"MultiChoice is committed to the building of a non-racial society and strongly condemns any acts of discrimination. In the circumstances we resolved that programming in the second season of the Bolhuis series, in which Mike Bolhuis is the central figure would not be broadcast."

"We are in full support of a society where freedom of speech is celebrated, however we take a stand against discrimination."

kykNET's channel head, Karen Meiring haven't yet respond to a media enquiry but if or when comment is received it will be added here.

kykNET adds another so-called clairvoyant Afrikaans show, Die Siener, with Gerald Burger looking for ghosts and who says he will help the dead to move on.

Afrikaans channel kykNET (DStv 144) is adding another so-called clairvoyant show, Die Siener (The See-er) from Wednesday 24 April at 20:00.

With Die Siener, produced by Rian van Heerden, kykNET is dipping its toes back in psychic television for the first time since it aired Marietta Theunissen's Die Ander Kant.

FOX Life (DStv 126 / StarSat 133 / Cell C black 202) recently did the fake-looking Spirit in mid-2018 with Cindy Kruger.

Viewers have seen several of these psychic medium shows so far since SABC3 did Crossing Over with John Edwards, including Marietta Theunissen's daughter, Julia Theunissen doing Tussen Twee Wêrelde on VIA (DStv 147), E! Entertainment's (DStv 124) Hollywood Medium with Tyler Henry, TLC's (DStv 135) Long Island Medium with Theresa Caputo and Belinda Silbert who did Making Contact on SABC3 and then an e.tv version that flopped.

In Die Siener, the alleged clairvoyant Gerald Burger will according to kykNET "help the dead who can't move on to supernatural phenomena harassing residents".

Gerald Burger can apparently foresee the future (so probably knew this article would appear).

In Die Siener Gerald Burger "reads" people to analise their past and futures. He will also help to allegedly rid homes of ghosts and visits places like The Castle in Cape Town, the Lord Milner Hotel in Matjiesfontein and the Rudd House in Kimberley to determine if these places are really haunted.

"I would really like to help where I can with the talent I've received," says Gerald Burger.

"There is so much sadness out there - my heart goes out to everyone whose path crosses with mine. I want to console and bring peace. I also want to help those who are no longer with us to move on."

Rian van Heerden says "Die Siener is a series of which the content has never before been seen on South African television - get ready for an unforgettable series". 

Last week, Last week Tonight with John Oliver had a must-watch and excellent explainer on how how television keeps enabling psychics and the exploitation of people.

"This surprisingly large, often predatory industry, relies on popular culture to lend it credence and validity. Put another way, every time a psychic makes a grieving widow cry on Dr. Oz, 10 con-artists get their wings, and that is a problem."

He ended it with an excellent talk show - complete with daytime set - parody of psychics on TV.

SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng tells Jacaranda FM: 'I don't believe in scientific research'; asks South Africans 'whether you really think properly?'

The SABC's controversial boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng says "I don't believe in scientific research" and said in a yet another disastrous radio interview he's wondering if South Africans "really think properly".

The limelight loving chief operations officer (COO) of the SABC who keeps talking and doing appearances where he makes jaw-dropping statements, did a live interview this week on Jacaranda FM's The Continental Breakfast show with Rian van Heerden.

This interview likewise quickly went haywire on the air, in similar fashion to the disastrous recent interviews on Lotus FM, SAfm and eNCA's Maggs on Media that inflicted massive SABC brand damage on the public broadcaster's image.

The 40-minute Jacaranda FM interview came after Hlaudi Motsoeneng's latest controversial diktat that SABC TV News will censor public protest visuals where there's images of property being destroyed with immediate effect, and that the decision won't be reconsidered.

It's not clear why Hlaudi Motsoeneng is involved in editorial decisions since the COO is tasked with running the operations of the broadcaster.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng said recently he has streamlined the commissioning process and told TV producers that they can now pitch shows directly to him. This week he said he is considering ordering all SABC staff to wear uniforms so that they can understand unity.

In the Jacaranda FM interview Hlaudi Motsoeneng said: "You as South Africans. I wonder, really, whether you really think properly?"

"Media, you go, and you are so excited about people burning schools. About people burning hospitals. I'm just giving example. Tomorrow you wake up there are no schools, there are no hospitals. We shall not even encourage it," he said.

"People who are not thinkers, easy way is to talk about politics. We are not serving politics there. We are serving the public," said Hlaudi Motsoeneng.


'I don't believe in scientific research'
Asked where and what the scientific and market research is that the SABC conducted or used for the decision that visuals of violence on news leads to more acts of violence, Hlaudi Motsoeneng said "I interact with the audience".

"I go to all this provinces myself and the team. People always raise this issues about people burning property".

Asked if there's official market research the SABC has or conducted, Hlaudi Motsoeneng said "I don't need a company".

He told Rian van Heerden: "You believe in scientific research. I don't believe in scientific research. I believe in practicality".

"Even your research you believe, the scientific research, it will tell you, if kids grow in environment where there is fight, where there is war, I mean, they grow up as fighters also," he said.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng said "my experience and my experience, it is a good research".


'I just see heart'
In the interview, Hlaudi Motsoeneng said the SABC "must have people with good heart". "I don't see colour. I just see heart, if you have good heart for the organisation".

In another decree last month, Hlaudi Motsoeneng suddenly said the SABC's TV channels will also go 90% local content, starting with SABC3 from July that must have 80% local content.

Asked where the local content and quality programming is going to come from so quickly, Hlaudi Motsoeneng said: "This is the time for all South Africans to wake up and come with miracles".

The SABC made a loss of R395 million last year but Hlaudi Motsoeneng told Rian van Heerden "we are R8 billion today, as we are speaking we are R8 billion company".

Asked why, if he faked his matric certificate symbols as the Public Protector found in a report in February 2014, why he gave himself an "F" for History and not something better, he said "I'm not going to get involved there".


'People of the SABC they love Hlaudi'
Asked about his new 6-minute long "Hlau-di" praise song that the SABC unveiled last week, Hlaudi Motsoeneng said "people of the SABC love Hlaudi, there is no doubt about it. South Africans they love Hlaudi. It's life."

Asked if its true that he's being paid more than president Jacob Zuma, he said "I don't want to dwell on the salary issue, but the fact of the matter, if I was working for a private company, I will get 10 million per annum".

"I want to put it clear, anyone who's unhappy within the organisation, leave".


You can listen to the entire Jacaranda FM interview here