TV show 'lunch': Background actors on Durban-filmed production fed a shock box of corn and carrots, Stained Glass Pictures denies it's Uzalo.

by Thinus Ferreira

A lump of cold rice, a few centimetres of corn on the cob and a few carrot pieces - thrown into a foamalite box - is what background actors allege they've been served on Tuesday last week as craft lunch in Durban on the set of a South Africa TV show.

While a newspaper report said it's on the set of SABC1 and South Africa's biggest TV show, Uzalo, Stained Glass Pictures denies that this food, in this way, was served by this production which is also filmed in Durban.

A shocking image, taken by a background actor of the food they were served as part of a TV show's craft service, came to light last week - with the barely-there "lunch" looking like the scandalous lunch box that festival-goers received at the disastrous Fyre Festival in April 2017 in the Bahamas.

Background actors have now come forward to share and show what they got to eat, claiming that the "meals" they have been served for lunch differed from those given to the show's main actors and crew. 

It's standard in South African craft and catering services that all cast and crew eat together and are served the same food on a production, without any delineation between main and other on-call or guest actors, and crew.

While even on big-production, big-budget shows the craft service is never five-star food since cast and crew are not on-set to eat, it is an included production budget expense line-item with decent portions, bulk-prepared but properly made and served, and often with the option for a second helping.

After the image was shared on social media last week, Jack Devnarain, chairperson of the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) shared another image of "breakfast" given to background actors in Durban. 

It's unclear what Durban-based production this "breakfast" - also in a foamalite box comprising a hard-boiled egg, a vienna, and a piece of bacon on top of a few baked beans - is from.

Jack Devnarain noted "It's an absolute disgrace and an insult to both the background actors and to the industry itself. The worst part is that its now become the new normal. This pic [is] from background actors in Durban - this is breakfast apparently".

The Sunday World newspaper quoted Uzalo production insiders and background actors who claim they were ordered not to even ask for water or juice since that "is reserved for the main crew of actors, video editors and lightning guys". 

Background actors say Uzalo main cast members get to eat "better food" like salads, beef and chicken.

"The shabby treatment started last week," a background actor said. "I thought it was a temporary thing but it has gone on until this week. I was expecting a better service since Uzalo is one of the big productions in the country".

"At Stained Glass TV, we take such matters seriously and are committed to ensuring the well-being and satisfaction of all individuals involved in our productions," King David Mukwevho, Uzalo series producer told TVwithThinus in response to a media query.

"We also consulted with the catering team to conduct thorough investigations, and we are certain that the referenced image does not belong to our production."

"Whenever we are serving food, there is always enough for everyone. This could be another production that shoots here in Durban. Our priority is to provide a comfortable and nourishing environment for everyone on set."

Uzalo on SABC1 wraps production on 4th season as three cast members depart; Noxolo Mathula bumped up to principal cast as show adds two new actors.

Uzalo on SABC1 has wrapped production on its 4th season with three cast members who have exited the Durban-filmed series, while two new faces will join the weekday prime time drama series.

The KwaMashu-set show produced by Stained Glass will start its 5th season on SABC1 in February 2019 with Nay Maps (Mxolisi Mdletshe), Nokuthula Mabika (Thobile) and Glen Gabela (the recast Mfundisi Mdletshe) who have exited the show.

For the 5th season of Uzalo, Noxolo Mathula who portrays the character of Lilly is being upgraded from an on-call role to a principal cast member. Uzalo is also adding newcomers Thuthuka Mthembu and Nkanyiso Makhanya.

The production says the changes are part of keeping the show "authentic", and that some existing role "will be amplified".

"Season 4 brought incredible evolution and riveting storylines to our screens, and our incredible cast delivered over and above, every time," says Bongi Ndaba, Uzalo head writer, in a press release.

"We're so grateful for the golden energy and dedication that Nay Maps, Nokuthula Mabika and Glen Gabela brought to Uzalo – they breathed life into their characters and have been a major part of 2018’s success."

"Saying goodbye to these characters and actors is so hard, and we do so by wishing them all the best going forward and have no doubt that they will continue to deliver their magic on our screens."

Mmamitse Thibedi, executive producer for Stained Glass Pictures, says "We have a lot to live up to with season 5, and everyone is amped about the challenge".

"We're certainly excited about what’s in store and promise to keep our viewers glued to their screens. The fifth season will definitely be a fresh and exciting journey for Uzalo."

On 25 September Uzalo set a new South African TV ratings high-water mark of 10.2 million viewers

SABC1’s Uzalo sets a new South African TV ratings high-water mark of 10.2 million viewers.

SABC1's and South Africa's most watched TV show, Uzalo has set a new viewership high-water mark with the second episode of its recent two-parter wedding storyline that reached 10.2 million viewers - a new record-high for South African television.

Uzalo set in KwaMashu in KwaZulu/Natal and produced by Stained Glass Pictures, has been South Africa's most watched TV show and the number one show on SABC1.

Uzalo however improved on its own record on 25 September by reaching a combined 10 251 231 viewers (29.3 AR / 74 share) for the wedding drama when the scorned, gun-wielding MaNgcobo (Dawn Thandeka King) showed up in a wedding dress at the wedding of her common-law husband Nkunzi (Masoja Msiza) and love rival MaMlambo (Gugu Gumede). 

The previous South African viewing record was on 11 June 2010 for the opening match between South Africa and Mexico of the FIFA World Cup in South Africa that reached 10 146 793 viewers but that comes with an asterisk - the figure is of the combined audience who watched it on SABC1 and SuperSport 3 on MultiChoice's DStv.

While Uzalo is luring viewers to SABC1 as the SABC's biggest show, it is ironically one of the shows the SABC struggles to pay, with Stained Glass Pictures that shut down production on Uzalo for a week early last month, and with the production company that was also asked to take over the responsibility of looking after the imploded Uselwa, that also filmed on location in Eshowe in KZN and ran out of money.

Meanwhile e.tv's weekday soap Scandal! managed to reach 6 million viewers for the first time in August this year, reaching 6 021 421 viewers for its episode on 15 August, but falling back to around 5.5 million during September.

Mmamitse Thibedi, Uzalo executive producer says "words cannot explain how thrilled and grateful we are to hit this milestone".

"The entire team pulled out the stops to give memorable, enthralling story lines, and audiences responded by keeping their screens locked onto Uzalo. The writers, cast and entire production team delivered over and beyond, and we are all committed to continuing on this upward trend."

Fabian Rainers, SABC1 commissioning editor, says "Uzalo's magic lies in it's ability to consistently portray story lines that resonate with society and deliver authentic, credible story lines".

"These record viewership figures are testament to the fact that the drama is connecting with audiences in a meaningful way, and making a real impact. We're excited that the show has reached this milestone and than the audience for affirming the work so kindly."

Although struggling to pay producers, the embattled SABC in a statement says it is "delighted with the performance of one of its flagship television programmes, Uzalo".

Nomsa Philiso, the SABC's group executive for television, in a statement says "the partnership with Stained Glass Productions is one that keeps exceeding all expectations. We are confident that the programme is in line with our strategy of growing audiences, and meeting the needs and expectations of the South African public".

Nomvula Mokonyane, South Africa's current minister of communications, in a statement says she congratulates "the producers, actors and actresses and crew of Uzalo, on the soapie becoming the first television show in South Africa to clock the 10 million viewers mark in South African television history".

"Congratulations to Uzalo for setting the bar high by clocking a never-been-done-before 10 million viewers mark in South African television history. A baby in the industry at just three years of existence, the soapie achieved what its peers with decades on television are yet to achieve. They came, they saw, and they conquered. The bar is set," says Nomvula Mokonyane.

"This is the first time a project spearheaded by a young, black and female producer has hit such a milestone in South African television history. This is proof that where there is hard work and dedication, there is success. This should be an example to other aspiring producers."

"We celebrate black excellence and are hopeful that with our migration from analogue to digital terrestrial television, more young, black producers will come forth to exploit the opportunities that will be presented by the new multi-channel environment."

Double wedding day drama in Uzalo on SABC1 as a battle of the brides is raging between MaMlambo and MaNgcobo.

Double wedding day drama is coming to Uzalo on SABC1 starting tonight at 20:30 and on Tuesday in a two day battle of the brides raging between MaMlambo and MaNgcobo.

The war of the brides with Nkunzi as the prize will have viewers enthralled as the 2-episode wedding spectacular will push the scandalous love triangle story to a dramatic conclusion.

SABC1 and South Africa's most watched prime time show, Uzalo, produced by Stained Glass Pictures, is turning up the antics for Heritage Day and tomorrow when Nkunzi (Masoja Msiza) will find himself before the altar with not just one but two brides locked in a vicious fight over the man - and one of them with gun in hand.

The wedding day drama will play out over two consecutive nights as Nkunzi gets ready to marry MaMlambo (Gugu Gumede) on Monday 24 September but MaNgcobo (Dawn Thandeka King) is adamant to get her man even if she - dressed in her white gown - has to bring a gun to the wedding that Pastor Mdletshe will officiate.

With more viewers home due due to the national holiday, Uzalo that pulled 9.32 million viewers last month on 15 August on SABC1 for its most watched episode during the month is likely to increase its viewership tonight for the dueling brides spectacle that will include a white wedding as well as a traditional Zulu wedding ceremony in the KwaMashu-set show that is filmed in KwaZulu-Natal.

Over the past season producers have been building up the love triangle between Nkunzi, MaNgcobo and MaMlambo, the onetime friends who are now rivals for Nkunzi's affections.

Nkunzi's tuxedo is by die Durban-based designer Nhlanhla Mvubu of NP Creations with each of the groomsmen's suits for the characters of Sbu, Mxolisi and Qhabanga that were also hand-tailored.

The dresses of the bridesmaids for GC, Thobile, Fikile and Zekhethelo are from House of St. Luke in KwaZulu-Natal.

MaMlambo and Nkunzi will also appear in a traditional Zulu wedding ceremony with their wedding attire that were made from artificial animal hides.

SABC admits the public broadcaster should have been more hands-on earlier over imploded, high-risk Uselwa; shuttered show taken over by Stained Glass Pictures as SABC has no footage to show for the money.

The SABC admits that the South African public broadcaster should have been more hands-on earlier and should have known sooner that the imploded, high-risk Uselwa production was facing trouble, with the shuttered show that has now been taken over by Stained Glass Pictures while the SABC has no footage to show for the millions it has already spent.

The SABC now says two SABC staffers are facing disciplinary action for not having done enough oversight on the NCA Productions show that dramatically imploded in mid-June when production on the over R4 million show abruptly shut down with just R13.65 left in the bank and the cast and crew who revolved after they haven't been paid.

Production on Uselwa, a new drama series for SABC1 that was filmed at Shakaland in Eshowe in KwaZulu-Natal, imploded when line producer Megan Firth was asked to resign and executive producer Mkhomazi Mashinini faced revolt from the over 80 cast and crew over gross mismanagement.

The SABC asked Stained Glass Pictures, the production company behind the KwaMashu set Uzalo on SABC1 to take over and save the show.

Last week Stained Glass Pictures shut down production completely on Uzalo over the commercially insolvent SABC's non-payment to producers of money owed for shows. Production on Uzalo resumed on Monday after promises by the SABC to pay some of the outstanding money due, but Uselwa remains in limbo.

Nomsa Philiso, the SABC's group executive for television, told parliament's portfolio committee on communications that "NCA Productions was part of those that was identified as an emerging producer. This was the first time that the producer was producing a drama series and we do know that these type of productions do become high risk."

"The SABC does have a responsibility to play an oversight role but also has got to be mindful of the fact that this is an independent production and has got to be run in that way. In this case we do believe that the SABC should have picked it up a little bit earlier."

"As a high risk project the SABC should have been more focused on how the funds are being dispersed. By the time the SABC team that was supposed to be on site reported the problem to us, I think there was R13 left in the bank and therefore the whole thing imploded," said Nomsa Philiso.

"These two employees have since been taken to task and are facing disciplinary action because we do believe that they could have done better."

"We have since exercised a take-over clause, which allows us to then pass this on to another production house that will save the production. We have also interviewed the cast members to ascertain exactly what has gone wrong because there were a lot of allegations."

"On 17 August we have dispensed R600 000 which will be paid by Stained Glass Pictures to some of the cast and crew members, and the other R600 000 is also being paid, it is however waiting for the people to produce invoices and proof so that there can be a paper trail."

"At this stage the SABC does not have any footage because the crew and the directors have held on to it in exchange for their wages. So once we've paid them we will then when we get the footage see how far that is and then we can take it to the next level," said Nomsa Philiso.

Work set to resume on SABC1's Uzalo after production shutdown due to SABC non-payment; payments promised to be made Monday morning.

Work is set to resume on SABC1's Uzalo on Monday according to sources after the production shutdown that saw Stained Glass Pictures shutter the prime time soap, with insiders telling TVwithThinus that payments have been promised to be made Monday morning.

Sources told TVwithThinus that the Uzalo team will return to work today on the KwaMashu set soap - the SABC's most watched show on SABC1 and the most watched programme on South African television after promises that cast and crew will be paid today.

It follows after Stained Glass TV shut down production in August because of the SABC's worsening cash crunch that saw the show going unpaid and facing the possibility of firing staffers.

After workers didn't get paid on 25 August they collectively decided to down tools, with several other productions telling TVwithThinus that they're considering doing the same.

Neither the SABC nor the show released any statement that production on Uzalo is officially resuming on Monday.

After no pay Uzalo on SABC1 abruptly shuts down due to the SABC’s worsening cash crisis.

The filming of Uzalo has abruptly ceased with production that has shut down on the SABC and South Africa's biggest and most-watched show and sending shockwaves through South Africa's TV industry due to the South African public broadcaster failure to pay producers as the broadcaster moves ever closer to financial implosion.

Uzalo is the most watched show on SABC1 and on South African television in its entirety, drawing in excess of 9 million per episode, but the SABC that is basically bankrupt, is no longer able to afford the show, with Uzalo's production company as well as a litany of other producers who are not being paid although the SABC still wants them to supply content.

Last week SABC executives told parliament the public broadcaster will only have R26 million left at the end of August while debt has spiralled to over R694 million. It means that the SABC owes 27 times more than the money it has left.

The SABC said it's struggling to pay to keep "water and lights" on, then staffers and freelance workers, and the pays what it can to other service providers and producers.

After years of mismanagement, corruption, looting and irregular expenditure of hundreds of millions of rands and the destruction wreaked by its former COO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the SABC is once again hovering on the brink of collapse, desperate for another government bailout since its previous one in 2009 when it got a R1.47 billion Nedbank loan guaranteed by the government.

Stained Glass Pictures that produces Uzalo said production shut down on Monday on the KwaMashu set prime time drama series until the SABC starts paying.

It follows two weeks after producers within South Africa's TV community started buzzing that Uzalo is in serious trouble as well and is facing the impossible choice of either firing crew and staffers or having to shut down if it's not going to get paid by the SABC within two weeks. That has now happened.

"It's so sad because they're such sweet people and don't want to lose their contract and they're still a relatively new production company, trying to hard to create good work for the SABC," a producer not directly involved with the show but with connections there, said.

TVwithThinus was reliably informed that other production companies are likely set to follow Stained Glass Pictures, with producers who are at wit's end and fed-up with the SABC who can no longer continue to take make content for the public broadcaster and take out bank loans to finance it, instead of actually getting paid by the SABC who has simply shifted the cost burden to producers.

"As a company we carried the cost of production for as long as we were able to, while waiting for the outstanding payments to be settled by the public broadcaster," says Pepsi Pokane, Uzalo's executive producer.

Uzalo will remain shut down for at least this week until the end of August with the cast and crew who suspended their services since they were not paid on 25 August. It means that the window between production and episode delivery to the SABC will narrow by at least a week as SABC1 starts to use up and play out the reserve episodes.

Stained Glass Pictures says the production staff have exercised their right to withhold services until they receive their August salaries. "We are in constant communication with the broadcaster and are confident that this will all be resolved in the next week," the company said.

Ironically the SABC reached out to Stained Glass Pictures to help after the disastrous implosion of its other TV drama, Uselwa where all the money is gone and with the cast and crew unpaid and the broadcaster having no footage to show for it.

The SABC asked Stained Glass Pictures to take over managing the Uselwa crisis, although Uzalo is now itself experiencing a crisis.

"Is the government ever going to let the SABC fail?" asked a TV executive who previously worked for the SABC as a producer but who is no longer doing work for the SABC. "Why isn't the government approving another SABC bailout and delaying the inevitable? Production companies have been made to suffer when they haven't had anything to do with causing this crisis".

The SABC asked for comment about the Uzalo shutdown on Monday night again cited it's precarious financial position.

"The SABC has reported on numerous platforms that it is experiencing dire financial difficulties with the corporation unable to meet its monthly financial obligations, after making critical payments," said Neo Momodu, SABC spokesperson.

"Payment arrangements are being made with suppliers, service providers and creditors and we are proactively engaging with these stakeholders."

"We remain concerned that a financially distressed public broadcaster will not only have negative effects on its staff, the local production industry, small, medium and micro enterprises, but on every citizen," Neo Momodu said.

The SABC repeats a wrong episode of Uzalo in prime time on SABC1 without any apology as viewers take the SABC to task over its latest mistake.

The SABC remains silent about its latest on-screen blunder while Uzalo fans are angry and wondering what went on, after SABC1 on Wednesday night replayed an old previous Uzalo episode without telling viewers what's going on.

The SABC knew it was a mistake but kept showing the wrong Uzalo episode at 20:30 and failed to offer any apology to the viewing public over messing up the third season of the Stained Glass Productions produced soap.

SABC1 that didn't do an on-screen scroll or acknowledged the mistake, failed to tell viewers to stay tuned for longer, since the channel decided to then show the next and new episode after the repeat, by which time viewers have tuned away from SABC1.

While viewers settled in to see the outcome of Zekhethelo confronting Mxolisi for betraying her dad, Nkunzi in Uzalo - the SABC's most watched show - all they got SABC1 was a repeat in prime time.

SABC TV head publicist Zandile Nkonyeni didn't immediately respond to an emailed media enquiry on Thursday seeking comment as to why SABC1 replayed an old episode in prime time and how the mistake happened.

Stained Glass Productions in response to a media enquiry said it can't comment on the SABC's scheduling mistake.

While the SABC kept silent, viewers on Wednesday on social media were quick to make their voices heard:

@Official_SABC1 covering up @Uzalo_SABC1 's repeat like...#Uzalo pic.twitter.com/ZYcVwBw3AJ

— PHILL (@PholoH) June 21, 2017

#Uzalo 15min gone
Was someone High on Weed or sleeping on the Job

And no apologies

— Flick Madd Thug® (@mr_flick_thug97) June 22, 2017

I think cloudy hacked into the system 😅

— Violin Candy (@CandyViolin2) June 22, 2017

#Uzalo sabc sucks!! Firstly, no Confed Cup. Now, we are forced to watch repeats and they expect us to pay for TV licences!! Bayanda stru!! pic.twitter.com/K05RxIpKFN

— Baba ka Mbalie (@spree1982) June 21, 2017

Soo u paid ur TV licence to watch a repeat nyana#uzalo pic.twitter.com/f0QB7s2DcB

— John Mokgotho (@john_kgotho) June 21, 2017

What do you call a #Uzalo repeat in English?

Born Again??? 😂😂😂😂 pic.twitter.com/4fVmUpnkAT

— Noxolo Binda (@NoxoloMobileSpa) June 21, 2017

#Uzalo repeating the same episode and I was like
Me:want us to pay TV license but can't broadcast uzalo episode pic.twitter.com/oBlRX4XoqF

— Sips Dee (@dee_princs) June 21, 2017

SABC crew busy watching #LTDWSomizi and forgot to put today episode #Uzalo pic.twitter.com/sPsL9sQudk

— Anele (@mbalsea) June 21, 2017

KwaMashu set prime time soap Uzalo on SABC1 extended to 5 days a week from 1 February; actors Glen Gabela, Luthuli Dlamini added.

Uzalo on SABC1 will roll out more episodes per week from 1 February 2017, with the KwaMashu set prime time local soap that will add episodes on Thursdays and Fridays.

The extended weekly episode order kicks in from the third season next year, with 5 episodes per week for the Stained Glass Pictures show filmed in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal, that's been ramping up production in order to deliver 66% more of Uzalo per week to viewers.

It follows after the off-the-cuff announcement in mid-July by the SABC's controversial and famously matricless boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng in a press conference to address the unfolding set of crises at the beleaguered South African public broadcaster, that he has decided Uzalo will be increased from 3 to 5 episodes per week.

The increased episode order and on-air play-out on SABC1 for the Gugu Zuma-Ncube produced soap will only kick in from the 3rd season in February 2017, since the fixed episode order, budget and contract couldn't be altered this year so late into the second season.

Uzalo remains the most watched TV show in all of South African television - as well as the most watched soap, and most watched show on SABC1 - with a top viewership in November of 8.13 million viewers (23.8 AR, 67 share).

Joining the cast is Luthuli Dlamini - known in the South African TV biz and television soap industry for infamous disappear acts from shows like Generations and e.tv's Scandal! - in the role of a lawyer.

Also playing to type (cast) is Glen Gabela, taking over and reviving the role of the first season character of Pastor Mdletshe from the fired Bheki Mkhwane who left Uzalo under a cloud.

Glen Gabela who was seen as Judge Jacob Mweli in Mzansi Magic's (DStv 161) Doubt this year previously played Pastor Solomon in SABC2's Hopeville and Pastor Titus in Mzansi Magic's Remix.

Uzalo on SABC1 is offering 6 on-set crew internships in Durban to work behind-the-scenes on the show to learn about and get experience in filmmaking.

Uzalo on SABC1 is giving 6 young people the chance to do a crew internship, working behind-the-scenes on the hugely popular South African show filmed in KwaMashu, Durban.

Stained Glass Productions will give training and experience to 6 young people, and the 6 lucky people who doesn't necessarily have to be a film student - will be people who already have some basic knowledge of filmmaking, or who have demonstrated an interest in choosing film or TV as a career, or who are interested in one day working in one of the six film and TV industry fields.

In the Uzalo trainee programme one person will get the chance to work in sound, as a camera assistant, in the make-up and hair department, the art department, helping with scripts, and helping the wardrobe department.

Here is what each internship job will entail:
Sound – training as "boom swinger" in the basics of sound mixing. (Suitable for someone who is interested in sound design and has an ear for music.)

Camera– training as a camera assistant with exposure to camera operating, lighting and focus pulling, with a view to equipping the trainee to be a competent camera assistant. (Suitable for someone who has the ability to pay attention to detail, a basic understanding of camera equipment and previous experience/ interest in photography).

Make-up and hair – training as a make-up and hair standby assistant to be able to do onset checks and touch ups required by actors and performers. This trainee will also be exposed to the basics of television make-up application, hair styling and basic special effects.

Art department – training as art department standby assistant. This trainee will be exposed to set dressing, prop management and production design. They will become competent in seeing to all the onset art department needs; making sure artists have appropriate props handy and that the set is dressed to the directors satisfaction. (Applicants must have an Interest in art, painting, carpentry, fine arts, graffiti and graphic design).

Continuity/Script Supervision-training as Script supervisor. This trainee is responsible for marking up scripts with continuity notes. His/her duties also include maintaining a detailed log of daily scene shots slated for production with accompanying production notes and continuity suggestions.

Wardrobe – training as a wardrobe standby assistant who will be competent in all the onset checks and adjustments needed for artists and their wardrobe needs. (Applicants must have an eye for design and training in dress making, costume design/ construction, interest in fashion and styling would be an advantage).

Whilst all of the training is on the job and hands on, the production house will be testing the trainees' development in their respective basic functions every two months.

"This is the second year that we are running this training programme, we are very pleased with the outcomes of the first cycle of training, and we look forward to welcoming more skilled film technicians into the fold." says Toni Monty, the head of the Durban Film Office.

To apply to do an internship on Uzalo, people need to send a CV and motivation letter to Fezile Peko, DFO Project Manager, 11th Floor Rennies House, 41s Margaret Mncadi Avenue. Durban and can call Fezile Peko or Nosipho Hlophe on 031 311 4243. Email applications are not accepted and the closing date  for applications is 12 October 2016 at 12pm.

SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng orders SABC2 Venda soap Muvhango to move from Johannesburg to Thohoyandou in Limpopo.

The SABC's controversial boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng has ordered the SABC's Venda soap Muvhango, filmed on sets in Johannesburg, to move its production to Thohoyandou in Limpopo.

There's no film and TV studios in Thohoyandou equipped to produce the two and a half hours per week Venda soap, nor the underlying film industry services needed to support a TV production like this, for instance equipment rental.

The Muvhango move will mean an increase in production cost, meaning that the SABC will have to pay more for the show to be made outside of Johannesburg.

It's not clear when the Venda soap, produced by Word of Mouth Productions will have to start doing episodes away from Johannesburg. The big move from Auckland Park will affect the cast and crew as well as their extended families who are living in Gauteng.

Muvhango is the most watched programme and most watched soap on SABC2 with 5.8 million viewers per episode.

The SABC's existing contract with Word of Mouth's ends in August. The SABC is expected to renewed the contract to produce Muvhango for another three years.

Although Word of Mouth's contract hasn't been renewed yet, Hlaudi Motsoeneng in late May ordered Muvhango boss Duma Ndlovu to give principal cast members three year contracts as well when the show's contract officially gets extended.

Muvhango having to move to the bha-Venda area of the Limpopo province comes as Hlaudi Motsoeneng visited the VhaVenda king Toni Mphephu Ramabulana at the royal palace last month, with the king who there publicly stated that he supports the SABC's censorship decision of the public broadcaster's SABC TV news when it comes to public protest visuals.

PhalaPhala FM is also moving to the town of Thohoyandou and will broadcast from there from 1 September where there's a bigger building that was previously used by Radio Thohoyandou. The SABC said it will be upgrading the building and radio studios.

"We have buildings there. We need to build studios so that when production house come and you produce content, you don't go to Auckland Park, you are able to shoot here in Thohoyandou," said Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

He said the people who will revamp the Thohoyandou building must come from Thohoyandou.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng's move of Muvhango out of Johannesburg is part of his macro edict of 90% local content on the SABC's radio stations and TV channels under which new local SABC TV content will have to be produced in various different provinces by new and emerging TV producers.

On Monday Hlaudi Motsoeneng suddenly announced that the episode order of Uzalo on SABC1, filmed in Durban by Stained Glass Pictures, will almost double, increasing it from three days to five days per week.

It follows revelations that Hlaudi Motsoeneng single-handedly overruled and reversed a decision by a 6-person SABC executive panel who cancelled Uzalo after its first season, ordering the prime time soap to continue.

About the show's R158 million contract price tag that costs R14 000 per minute to produce, Uzalo co-producer and co-owner Gugu Zuma-Ncube, daughter of president Jacob Zuma, said "it is more expensive to produce television in Durban than it is to produce television in Johannesburg".

Uzalo co-producers Pepsi Pokane says R14 000 per minute production cost for Durban soap is 'industry standard'; Gugu Zuma-Ncube says she's 'used in political fights'.

Uzalo co-producer and co-owner Kobedi "Pepsi" Pokane says the R14 000 per minute price tag to make the SABC's expensive hit Uzalo is "industry standard", while the other co-producer and co-owner Gugu Zuma-Ncube also lashed out saying "I'm still being used in political fights that have nothing to do with me" and that Uzalo is currently the TV show that bring in the most advertising revenue for the SABC.

The Sunday Times yesterday reported that the SABC confirmed that its famously matricless and scandal-riddled chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng  single-handedly overturned a panel decision not to renew the expensive soap shot in Durban that is co-produced and co-owned by president Jacob Zuma's daughter, Gugu Zuma-Ncube.

Hlaudi Motsoeneng defied an earlier decision by a 6-person SABC panel in April 2015, including executives Clara Nzima, Maretha Bakkes, Vanessa Jansen and Reneilwe Sema who decided that the SABC will not to continue with the extremely expensive three episodes a week soap produced in Durban by Stained Glass Pictures.

Uzalo, funded to the tune of millions of rands by the SABC as well as the KwaZulu-Natal provincial government where there's been vocal objections about it in its legislature the past year, is currently the most watched soap and TV show out of all programming on the SABC, and also the most watched TV programme in all of South Africa television.

On Monday morning on radio 702, Pepsi Pokane told presenter Redi Tlhabi that "pressure from the sales division of the SABC ccame into play and questions were asked. Why was this review panel held in the absence of certain key members of management that should have been on the review panel?"

"How is it that a show that is reviving the fortunes of SABC1 in terms of revenue alongside Generations and Skeem Saam is being cancelled? These are all questions that were apparently asked internally and then the question came up: What is the motivation for cancelling the show if it ticks all the boxes? That is where the reversal came into play," said Pepsi Pokane.

Pepsi Pokane said Uzalo's production budget of R14 000 is normal. "I challenge any producer out there to come and tell me that R14 000 is too much. We are getting R14 000 a minute. That is industry standard."

Gugu Zuma-Ncube also put the issue on blast, responding on social media with tweets saying "Uzalo was recommissioned because we broke all viewership records in our timeslot. We were and continue to be the number 1 show in South Africa".

She said "it is more expensive to produce television in Durban than it is to produce television in Johannesburg".

Gugu Zuma-Ncube said Uzalo is the TV show that brings in the most advertising revenue for the SABC and that in four years Uzalo will produce 628 episodes. "I can't help who my parents are. But what I have always done is to put my head down and and I work harder than everyone around me".

She said that "literally being the best at what I do doesn't matter. I'm still being used in political fights that have nothing to do with me".

SABC confirms boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng single-handedly overtuned a panel decision not to renew expensive SABC1 soap, Uzalo, of Gugu Zuma-Ncube.

The SABC has confirmed that its controversial and famously matricless boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng single-handedly overturned a decision by a 6-person SABC panel not to continue with a second season of the SABC1 soap Uzalo shot in Durban, and said Uzalo will be recommissioned.

The Sunday Times on Sunday reported that Hlaudi Motsoeneng as the chief operating officer (COO) overturned a decision by a 6-person SABC panel that included SABC executives Clara Nzima, Maretha Bakkes, Vanessa Jansen and Reneilwe Sema who decided not to continue with the extremely expensive three episodes a week soap produced in Durban by Stained Glass Pictures.

Uzalo that costs millions of rand to produce is paid for by the SABC and funded to the tune of further millions by the KwaZulu-Natal government where there's been ongoing, vocal complaints about the millions the cash-strapped province is paying Uzalo that could go to other things.

After the first season of Uzalo that the SABC originally said was to be a telenovela - meaning a close-ended show, Uzalo was suddenly turned into an ongoing soap. Reportedly the SABC experienced problems with Uzalo in terms of delivery of episodes, and problems with the writing and look of the show.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago confirmed to The Sunday Times that Hlaudi Motsoeneng overturned and changed the decision to cancel Uzalo and ordered that the show, co-owned and co-produced by president Jacob Zuma's daughter Gugu Zuma-Ncube, continue for a second season and beyond.

"The SABC can confirm that the COO overruled the decision not to renew Uzalo, based on performance in its genre and growth in revenue."

REVIEW. SABC1's new Uzalo telenovela is light on soap, heavy on conflict as a more 'mature' Soul City that's less preachy, more dramatic.

An eye-popping incident taking place on 11 February 1990 right at the beginning of SABC1's new local telenovela Uzalo - the SABC's and SABC1's very first foray into this soap-with-an-ending TV genre - will have viewers instantly hooked.

The proof of its power will however be whether the story can sustain viewer interest and viewership.

Uzalo starts tonight on SABC1 at 20:30 and the Stained Glass Pictures production set in KwaMashu in KwaZulu-Natal and filmed entirely in Durban pulls out all the stops and wastes no time in drawing the viewer in by quickly setting the convoluted scene and introducing the characters.

TV with Thinus was shown the first half hour episode of Uzalo which already ends on a cliffhanger and leaves you wanting to see more - the right end to the right beginning of a new prime time TV drama.

If anything, Uzalo was hyped and sold a bit wrong. It plays more like Skeem Saam than "powerful rival families fighting".

At its core Uzalo is the story of two young men who are the catalysts of the people's actions and the events unfolding around them.

Watch closely: The older people, grown-ups and others all react and respond to what the two young men in Uzalo are doing. Almost everyone of the older characters are "props" to a younger generation taking them to hospital, making shock announcements, asking difficult questions, behaving badly and canoodling in church.

A lot of Uzalo has somewhat of a grainy quality to it - fitting for the environment and setting of KwaMashu.

Although the telenovela has a religious element, there is another mystical element - almost supernatural - which forms part of another mystery that's introduced very early on in the premiere episode and which may or may not captivate viewers.

Will that secondary medical mystery be solved when the main "family secret" - a switcheroo - is (eventually, if ever) discovered?

Newcomers Khumbulani "Kay" Sibiya playing Ayanda and Naymaps Maphala playing Mxolisi are both suitably impressive.

The biggest surprise is however Nompilo Maphumulo, giving a very convincing performance as the sheltered daughter Nosipho Xulu.

The adult characters and the actors who portray them - some of them so-called "big names" like Leleti Khumalo - come across as flat. These one-dimensional, almost "clingy" characters might perhaps be fleshed out in further future episodes for which there's simply not time in a 22 minute first episode.

The interesting thing about Uzalo is that you cannot help but feel for some of the characters - perhaps the main thing that will bond viewers to keep watching. 

The overriding feeling the first episode of Uzalo leaves you with, is that you feel sorry for some of the characters. You're going to watch because you want to see them get better and get to a better place.

The debut episode of Uzalo has some breathtaking "scene stealing", scene-setting scenes outside and in the hills of KwaZulu-Natal. While there's some lighting oddities, none of the interior set scenes feel or look like soap sets (which they are). It feels real. 

There's also an unexpected, violent and bloody scene which makes Uzalo not suitable for younger viewers.

Uzalo's first episode (with subtitles) setting up the premise and a lot of tension and secrets as well as introducing pivotal characters feels solid. 

In a sense Uzalo is a more "mature" Soul City that's less educationally preachy and more dramatic - one that can hopefully be sustained for the over 300 episodes it is supposed to run.


ALSO READ: Uzalo set visit reveals some on-set secrets behind the scenes of SABC1's new KwaMashu telenovela.
ALSO READ: Uzalo, SABC1's new local telenovela says its not Generations: "We have a specific story to tell."

ON SET. Uzalo set visit reveals some on-set secrets behind the scenes of SABC1's new KwaMashu telenovela.

Set inside a large, although hot and overheated, warehouse facility in Newlands, Durban, there's nothing on the outside of the industrial park surroundings to hint at what's going on inside: frenetic filming of the SABC's first local telenovela Uzalo, set to start on SABC1 on Monday 9 February at 20:30.

TV with Thinus was given a detailed set tour last week by Lucky Mokoena, Uzalo art director, of the sprawling, yet densely packed set complex, erected within a period of 3 months.


ALSO READ: SABC: "Uzalo is going to be a great story."


Production company Stained Glass Pictures has already completed episode 24 of the more than 300 episodes for the new SABC1 telenovela set in KwaMashu and filmed entirely in Durban in KwaZulu-Natal.

It's a mammoth task, made even more complex and difficult simply by being done in Durban, a city without the bigger resources and studio and film facilities available in Johannesburg and Cape Town.

The warehouse contains interiors of a big church building, several houses each with multi-rooms, a police station complete with jail cell, a classic kasi hairdresser and an Uzalo street sidewalk. There's also several other "one room" dwellings.

Even with incessant pleading Lucky Mokoena remains absolutely tight-lipped about when it will feature and when viewers will see it, but he is gladly willing to reveal and show off some of the Uzalo sets' build-in secrets: like a secret library door leading to a secret room in the study of pastor Melusi Mdletshe. What is the "good man" hiding?

There's been great attention given to detail to make the sets an as accurate depiction and representation not just of the families who live there but of the architecture.

The interiors very closely match the very real homes in KwaMashu its "modeled" on - even down to window frames used and in what corner a staircase (leading nowhere) in the Xulu mansion has been placed.

The paint job on several of Uzalo's sets are outstanding - especially where plywood walls are supposed to represent brick and concrete.

Even standing close with up-close inspection, its virtually impossible to tell that you're looking at thin plywood - especially the brick walls and arches of the church building and the "concrete walls of the police station and cell.

ALSO READ: Review: SABC1's new telenovela, Uzalo, is light on soap, heavy on conflict as a more "mature" Soul City that's less preachy, more dramatic.

SABC1's new Uzalo telenovela says it's not Generations. 'We just have a specific story to tell in a specific place, very unique to itself.'

If there's hope for South Africa's local television industry - beyond mere advertiser-funded productions, product placement filled TV trash and bake a dozen cookie cutter reality shows - it's to be found in nifty new TV dramas like the SABC's new Uzalo telenovela starting tonight at 20:30 on SABC1.

The telenovela is shot entirely on location in the streets of KwaZulu-Natal's poor yet vibrant F-section of KwaMashu and on elaborate and finely detailed sets constructed within three months on a sound stage in Newlands in Durban.

It is production company Stained Glass Pictures' attempt to prove that local TV drama on South African television can be done successfully outside of Johannesburg.

Viewers will find the story instantly compelling when it kicks off at the time Nelson Mandela was released from prison. On 11 February 1990 at the Queen Anne hospital, two baby boys are born, but accidentally switched.

Now, 24 years later, they find themselves in very different circumstances without them - nor their "families" the Mdletshe's and the Zulu's - aware that they've got the wrong son.

Uzalo at 20:30 as the SABC and SABC1's first local telenovela is taking on Mzansi Magic's (DStv 161) popular Isibaya in the same timeslot and is getting a headstart on e.tv which is launching its first local telenovela Ashes to Ashes on 2 March at 20:00.

The producers are also adamant to stress that Uzalo - more akin to SABC1's popular youth drama Skeem Saam - is not going to be similar to the ratings damaged and reset Generations - The Legacy on the same channel.

"We've never worked from a departure point of 'We want to be different in this way' or we don't want to be associated with this or that. We just have a story to tell."

"It is a specific story, which happens in a specific place which is very unique to itself and we just want to tell that story the best way we can," says the production company headed by president Jacob Zuma's daughter, Gugulethu Zuma ka Ncube and Pepsi Pokane.

According to the producers, KwaMashu will be a strong "invisible" character in the telenovela written by playwright-producer Duma Ndlovu.

"KwaMashu is a character itself. It's a very specific place with its own type of feeling, it's own characters. In the story we really try to weave in KwaMashu as its own character so it's not just a story that could be set anywhere."

"You see it and you just know this really is KwaMashu. KwaMashu is such a hopeful, vibrant place with a character of its own."

"We value the stories that come out of KwaMashu; that come out of Durban; that come out of KwaZulu-Natal," says Maijang Mperwane, SABC1 channel head. "We will continue to strive to tell the different stories that out there in South Africa".

"We're the biggest channel in the country and its because of the audiences that come out of places like KwaMashu that we are who we are today".

"By having the production of a show like this in Durban, we're trying to say let us not sit in Johannesburg and try and tell stories that purport to have meaning out of other places. Lets rather go out there and do our research and make sure that whatever stories we tell are relevant, that they resonate with audiences and that viewers are able to watch and see themselves through the stories we tell," says Maijang Mpherwane.

"Now we're adding Uzalo to the mix. We've done many other stories and we will continue to do many other stories".

"Viewership numbers play a huge role in us determining whether a story is sustainable or not. Unfortunately we can't sit and say 'Whether I like the story or not' it will continue - what the viewers say ultimate is what matter."

"The performances that the cast put in, the work that the directors and the rest of the crew and writers have put in will be judged on Monday onwards. From then on viewers will be the judge whether the story stays or goes," says Maijang Mpherwane.

"We're looking forward as SABC1. We are confident that Uzalo is going to be a great story. We're confident that the response will be good."

"We got to Durban in September last year," says Gugulethu Zuma ka Ncube. "We've gone through the ups and downs of a new TV production, a new city - a city that isn't necessarily geared up yet for productions of this size, and we've made it work".

"We've come here and I'm proud to say that we've made it. We're excited. We're nervous about Monday to see what the rest of South Africa thinks of the work that we've done. It's the viewers ultimate who decide."

"So we're hopeful that viewers will like what they see and recognise the work that we've put in and Uzalo becomes a show that's not only here, but a show that's here to stay," says Gugulethu Zuma ka Ncube.

In an interesting departure and perhaps a first-ever for South African dramatic television (MasterChef SA on M-Net gives away food to charities but that's a reality show), Uzalo which just finished filming episode 24 out of over 300 half hour episodes, is doing - lets call it "corporate social investment" - at the very same time as the TV production.

While some TV shows sometimes leave behind donations or sets, Uzalo is doing community upliftment at the same time as it is battling grueling production deadlines to get episodes ready for delivery and play-out on SABC1.

The telenovela - which recreated on the Newlands sound stage the imagined interiors of some of the actual buildings used for the exterior shots viewers will see - has dramatically improved the real KwaMashu buildings.

On the corner of Zulu Road and Mgobhozi Road in KwaMashu the church not only has a new roof in the place of the old one which leaked but also new doors. There's also a green lawn and a landscaped garden.

Across the road in the garden of the yellow house exterior that's used to show where the Mdeletshe's "live", new plants are also in full bloom.

It's 27 degrees but in the streets little children run and play and stare in amazement. I take my only can of LiquiFruit out of my shoulder bag and give it to two small boys. "Share-share," I say.

They run away. Happy that television decided to come to KwaMashu on such a hot day.


ALSO READ: Review: SABC1's new telenovela, Uzalo, is light on soap, heavy on conflict as a more "mature" Soul City that's less preachy, more dramatic.
ALSO READ: Uzalo set visit reveals some on-set secrets behind the scenes of SABC1's new KwaMashu telenovela.

SABC1's new telenovela, Uzalo, set to take on Mzansi Magic's Isibaya from 9 February in the same timeslot of 20:30 for 3 days a week.

The SABC first rejected the pitch for the show and forced the producers to retool it, but now, 3 years later, the new Zulu telenovela Uzalo from Stained Glass Productions will finally make it to TV.

The ambitiously filmed KwaZulu-Natal local drama Uzalo will starts on 9 February at 20:30 on SABC1 - trying to win back some audience share and viewers for the SABC against the Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) telenovela-turned-soap soap juggernaut Isibaya in the same timeslot.

Each half hour episode which SABC1 will broadcast from Mondays to Wednesdays from 9 February, revolves around the Mdletshe and the Xulu families, straddling the world's of crime and church.

Uzalo is set in KwaMashu in Durban and also filmed on location in the township's F-section since December 2014.

Despite several production and writing challenges SABC1 and the production company believe that the new telenovela following after Generations - The Legacy in the 20:30 timeslot will keep viewers tuning in.

SABC2 plans to have its own telenovela on the air this year, and told TV critics in 2014 that it is looking at July 2015 to start its own local telenovela - the South African public broadcaster's second one.

One of president Jacob Zuma's daughters, Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube is the producer of Uzalo, together with Pepsi Pokane, with the playwright-producer Duma Ndlovu now writing the scripts after several other writers were initially tasked with producing scripts but left.

SABC1 describes Uzalo as "a provocative, bold and authentic narrative that tells the story of two family dynasties and the two young men who carry their hopes and legacies as they face the complexities of money, family and love".

What is means is that Uzalo will revolve around two sons of two families - one "good" and one "bad" and the conflict and friendship between them and their families.

The KwaMashu-born Bheki Mkwane from Isibaya on DStv's Mzansi Magic channel supplied by M-Net, will now appear in the rival localdrama Uzalo as patriarch pastor Melusi Mdletshe. Leleti Khumalo plays the pastor wife Zandile Zulu.

Other Uzalo stars include Khumbulani 'Kay' Sibiya, Naymaps Maphala and Mpumelelo Bhulose and Dawn Thandeka-King.