Secret filming wraps on M-Net’s Survivor South Africa Immunity Island season as crew and castaways had to outwit and outlast Covid inside a bubble somewhere in desolate South Africa.

by Thinus Ferreira

With castaways whisked away - together with crew - and living and competing inside an extremely strict Covid-19 safety bubble, the secret filming of Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island wrapped on Tuesday at a hidden location inside South Africa.

Filming of the 8th season of Survivor SA on M-Net (DStv 101) that was about to commence was abruptly scuppered earlier this year when the impact of the growing global Covid-19 pandemic and South Africa's strict national lockdown period saw the production on the island reality series shut down indefinitely along with every other local film and TV series in the country.

M-Net and production company Afrokaans that couldn't dispatch castaways, crew or equipment to an exotic foreign locale because of health risks as well as impossible international flight and travel logistics and restrictions, were forced to indefinitely postponed production of the new season.

However, once South Africa's domestic lockdown levels eased - although international travel bans remained in place - M-Net and Afrokaans restrategised and jointly decided on a new make-TV plan to outwit, outplay and outlast: Dropping the foreign travel and setting the season in South Africa itself.

TVwithThinus has learned that M-Net plans to reveal the new location for Survivor SA Immunity Island with host Nico Panagio this coming Sunday during Carte Blanche. 

The castaways for the new season that will broadcast on M-Net in 2021 will also no longer find themselves on a physical island but a metaphorical one - a desolate and deceptive place.

"Filming for the 8th season of Survivor SA: Immunity Island started towards the end of October and wrapped in the week of 15 December," M-Net tells me.

About why M-Net and Afrokaans secretly resumed filming on the season after postponing it earlier this year, M-Net says that it was always the intention to resume since the production "had never been cancelled, only postponed. When legislation allowed us to resume we re-assessed with input from health and safety as to how this could best be accomplished safely".

That is how M-Net's Survivor South Africa: Immunity Island switched from a physical island to a Covid-19 safe "bubble" - a place that M-Net describes as "a place of isolation, deprivation and deception".

Castaways who are part of the Survivor SA jury were originally told that they needed to be away for up to 50 days for the 8th season, with the in-play show that had been mapped to run for 39 days again.

"When international borders started shutting down in early-2020 we scouted for a local alternative in order to relocate the shoot to South Africa. However, lockdown measures thwarted this option. When levels were lowered we re-investigated those options and decided to shoot on home soil," M-Net says.

As to whether the originally shortlisted castaways for Survivor SA: Immunity Island are still the same people who were selected, M-Net says that filming happened with the "cast from the original shortlist" and that Afrokaans had remained in contact with the chosen people during the national lockdown. 

When the contestants were asked months later if they still wanted to take part in the new Survivor SA season - having kept their individual secrets for months already and enduring the homebound stress of Covid-19 isolation - the members of what will be the latest diverse and eclectic group of South Africans all jumped at the chance for even more self-imposed isolation. 

But this time it wasn't just them. Besides the castaways, the entire Survivor SA production team figuratively found themselves inside an island of sorts as well - a Covid-safe production bubble cutting the people behind the cameras off from the rest of South Africa as well.

"Survivor SA was produced in a 'bubble' which was specifically designed to fit the needs of the project," says M-Net. 

"The fundamental principles were how do we keep the cast safe and allow them to play an authentic game within a safe environment? How do we keep the crew safe? How do we preserve the reality storylines by ensuring that there are no stoppages required due to Covid-19?"

M-Net says that the Afrokaans production crew were isolated for the entire duration of the filming, with a support team on the outside that dealt with suppliers. 

Hotels treated the Survivor SA production as an entity of their own and separated it from the rest of hotel occupants where certain zones were dedicated or made classified as completely off-limits except for crew.

"All cast and crew did quarantine time, under supervision of production, before entering the production bubble," says M-Net. "Health and safety functions were paramount to the operational structures and support services like marketing and publicity operated from outside the bubble".

ALSO READ: As the coronavirus pandemic spreads M-Net is reassessing Survivor SA 8th season filming and the location as the American Survivor delays production.

ALSO READ: Coronavirus: M-Net indefinitely postpones production of the 8th season of Survivor SA: Immunity Island because of the global Covid-19 lockdown.

'Stop it or I'll stop it': South Africa's police boss Bheki Cele damages the image of the country's struggling film biz after holding Cape Town crew 'hostage' with shocking shutdown of TV advert beach shoot despite valid permit.

by Thinus Ferreira

"Stop it or I'll stop it," said South Africa's uninformed police minister Bkehi Cele on Wednesday when he further damaged the image not just locally but internationally of South Africa's struggling film and TV industry as he wrongly ordered the shocking shutdown of the filming of a new TV commercial with a valid permit on a Cape Town beach while spouting non-sensical and non-applicable Covid-19 regulations.

During an altercation on Cape Town's scenic Camps Bay beach on Wednesday the caustic Bheki Cele doing a "beach inspection" summarily ordered around 16 police officers to abruptly halt the Red Petal Productions production on a new TV advert, despite the production company that had already applied for and had been issued with a valid permit to film on location.

The TV commercial production also had its Covid-19 compliance officer in place, checking and monitoring everything. 

The Red Petal Productions filming was permitted by Cape Town's Film Permit Office as required by the Film By-Law regulating filming on public spaces.

Co-incidentally JP Smith, Cape Town's mayoral committee member for safety and security, happened to be at Camps Bay at the same time for a beach inspection as well.

A clash ensued when Bheki Cele, who referred to JP Smith as "PJ", insisted on the production being shut down, while JP Smith said the film shoot had already applied for and was approved for filming on the beach and had a valid permit.

Bheki Cele and his heavy-handed entourage that his publicist Lirandzu Themba called the "Cele Beach Watch" and that included 4 generals, later called in further police reinforcements to Camps Bay to specifically ensure that filming of the TV commercial remains shut down. 

Bheki Cele as a member of South Africa's so-called National Coronavirus Command Council appeared clueless and uninformed how TV and film productions work since and during Covid-19 or that film and TV production sets have been classified as workspaces with very specific risk-adjusted strategies and rules to continue operating.

The Camps Bay production that had a price tag of around R2.9 million, employing around 75 people on Wednesday and strictly adhering to the Covid-19 safety protocols for filming underwritten by the Commercial Producers Association of South Africa (CPASA), lost around R1.5 million on Wednesday.

According to the regulations published in South Africa's latest Government Gazette of 15 December 2020 there is no ban nor any regulations to outlaw the approved filming of commercial television and film productions on beaches that are adhering to stringent Covid-19 prevention protocols.

"Bheki Cele instructed 16 South African police officers to come down and shut a film shoot on Camps Bay beach which has a legal permit from the city and is employing 75 people," said JP Smith who announced that the city of Cape Town would be applying for an urgent court interdict to prevent Bkehi Cele from "illegally interfering with this film shoot".

"We are approaching the Western Cape High Court on an urgent basis for an interdict against the South African police's interference in a film production on Camps Bay beach," said JP Smith.

"The next time residents of the Cape Flats or the townships are wondering why you can't find police, maybe it's because the national minister is busy deploying them to score political points."

On Wednesday evening JP Smith said that "After forcefully stopping the film company from working and holding them hostage the South African police just walked over to us here at the film shoot and said that filming can proceed tomorrow".

"I hope they get sued and landed with a massive cost order as they have now clearly figured out that they were wrong and that the minister instructed them unlawfully".

Lirandzu Themba, Bheki Cele's publicist, in a statement, said that "an activity by a private company on the Camps Bay beach was shut down during the minister’s walkabout".

"While it was permitted by the City of Cape Town, upon closer inspection, the production was not compliant with what is permitted on beaches, as stipulated on the Covid-19 regulations."

"According to the permit of the production company that was handed to the South African police, the production would go against the very rules set out by president Cyril Ramaphosa which are clear on what is permitted on beaches and therefore could not be allowed to continue for now."

On Thursday morning JP Smith told eNCA that "this morning there were again police officers blocking them and preventing them from carrying on which I think is very problematic. We're waiting for the judge to hear the case so that we can get that urgent interdict and prevent the minister from interfering".

UPDATE: Thursday 17 December 2020 19:00 - Toni Marais, executive producer at Red Petal Productions, in an interview on Thursday at Camps Bay after the international TV commercial was shut down again, said "I'm very disappointed, I'm very angry. We're doing everything we can to try and work around this so that our international client get the shoot that they've come to South Africa for to get".

Toni Marais said "it's been very frustrating and very hard because I have not been given a reason as to why I've been shut down".

After Red Petal Productions handed in all of the necessary documentation at the Camps Bay Police station, they were once again prevented from filming by the South African Police on Thursday.

"One shoot day costs around R1.5 million and we've had to pay all of the crew to come out today and now we have to send them all home until we can understand what is happening and why it's happening".

Meanwhile, the location manager for the production, Derek Raeburn, told News24 on Thursday that Red Petal Productions is scouting for a possible new filming location now for the Russian TV commercial that had been filming at the lifesaver's clubhouse and can't wait any longer for a possible court interdict decision since the expensive shoot was losing too much money and valuable filming time. 

"The police came in and said 'Shut this thing down'. We don't know why. They can't give us a reason why. Officially we're totally legal, permit wise and they've shut us down. The problem is that a lot of film crew haven't worked since March because of Covid," said Derek Raeburn.

"There are so few jobs here as it is. And the one or two jobs we get, they close us down in the middle of a shoot."

"What are the foreign people who come here going to say about this when they go back to their various countries? They can't be guaranteed to film and work here with an official permit. How is this going to affect the rest of filming in Cape Town?"

Andrey Shkatov, a TV producer from Moscow, Russia, told News24 on Thursday that "We came here to South Africa to bring some business and to shoot a very beautiful commercial here on this sandy beach with white sand for our client".

"The local company we work with they've got all the papers. They fully made all the necessary agreements with the local government and suddenly our shooting didn't start today, so we're a little bit upset and we're confused and we need to move our shooting somewhere else".

UPDATE Thursday 17 December 2020 20:00 - According to the City of Cape Town on Thursday another 11 film shoots, representing about R24 million in lost revenue, have withdrawn from planned filming in the city in the 24-hours  since police minister Bheki Cele's altercation with a film crew that the South African police service shut down on Thursday for a 2nd day without any reasons given.

The Wendy Williams Show on BET takes another break after the death of Wendy Williams' mom Shirley.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Wendy Williams Show seen on BET (DStv 129) has once again gone on a break in the United States from this week after talk show host Wendy Williams revealed that her mom Shirley had died.

The Wendy Williams Show will return with new episodes in America the new year after Christmas on 4 January 2021.

The show released a statement, saying "The Wendy Williams Show will air repeats to allow Wendy to travel and be with her family at this time".

"The show will return with original episodes on Monday, 4 January 2021. Debmar-Mercury extends its deepest condolences to Wendy and her family".

While the 12th season of The Wendy Williams Show on BET started on 21 September 2020 in America, ViacomCBS Africa only managed to start running them almost a month later in October. It means that viewers in Africa will still continue to see new episodes on the BET Africa channel with repeats that will only start here in roughly early-January 2021.

Wendy revealed in this past Friday's episode that her mom passed away. 

Shirley, who made several appearances in the past on her daughter's show, passed away on 29 November according to Wendy's brother Tommy Williams who revealed the exact date in a YouTube video. Shirley's funeral took place this past weekend in Miami, Florida. 

Wendy said on Friday's episode that Shirley "passed away beautiful and peacefully and surrounded by love".

"My mom and I, our relationship became closer and closer when I went to college. Our relationship was like that of two teenage girls - 17, if I could pick an age," Wendy said.

"You know if you have siblings, each of you has different relationships with your mom and dad… Right up until the end, my relationship with my mother was so girly and ridiculously giggly. We would do our nails together and we’d watch Housewives or American Greed."

"Gone is the best mother, the best girlfriend a girl could have. I am fortunate I had her in my life all of my 56 years".

Wendy said "She is everywhere; first thing I think about in the morning, the last thing I think of when I go to sleep."

ALSO READ: Wendy Williams back on BET in Africa for her 12 season - but with several changes, episodes a month late and cold topics that's old and dated.

Ziyanda Mngomezulu promoted to Rapid Blue managing director from 2021 as legendary TV exec Kee-Leen Irvine steps down after 30 years, production company ups others to new roles.

by Thinus Ferreira

Rapid Blue has promoted Ziyanda Mngomezulu who will become Rapid Blue's new managing director from 2021, replacing the legendary TV executive Kee-Leen Irvine and Rapid Blue co-founder in the position who is stepping down after as managing director after almost 30 years.

Ziyanda Mngomezulu is currently executive producer and business director at the production powerhouse. In her new position, Ziyanda Mngomezulu will be reporting into Duncan Irvine, Rapid Blue CEO.

Ziyanda Mngomezulu joined Rapid Blue in May 2020 and previously held roles at eMedia Investments as group content services general manager and at the SABC as a programme manager where she worked on bringing shows like SA's Got Talent on e.tv and Strictly Come Dancing SA on SABC2 to viewers.

"I am hugely excited to take on the role of Rapid Blue managing director of such a formidable and highly respected production company both here in Africa and internationally," says Ziyanda Mngomezulu.

"I hold great respect for Duncan and Kee-Leen from working closely with them both over the years, as we share the same ethos, values and creative ambition. I am drawn to their professionalism and ability to produce world-class television."

"Kee-Leen will leave some big boots to fill after such an admirable career leading a strong and talented team. I look forward to carrying forwards the energy she’s been instrumental in instilling, that of respect for people first."

"Building on this legacy, I am ready to continue to grow Rapid Blue’s range of productions and to help entertain even more viewers here and abroad in the years to come."

Kee-Leen Irvine, former managing director and co-founder of Rapid Blue said, "I am delighted we have got someone of Ziyanda’s calibre to pass the baton on to".

"With her expertise and creative vision, I know she will be a huge success and I am excited to see her thrive at the helm. After over 30 years in the television industry and 28 years leading Rapid Blue, I’m immensely proud of what we’ve achieved."

"The team, to me, are the best people in entertainment television in Mzansi. As much as I’m stepping down on a high note, I’m going to miss my colleagues immensely because of the bond that exists between all of us and the passion and excellence they bring to everything they do."

"It has been a pleasure and privilege to work alongside them and be able to make great shows, from nine exhilarating seasons of Dancing With The Stars, eight seasons of the captivating SA’s Got Talent, six seasons of the hilarious Come Dine With Me South Africa to matchmaking on the likes of The Bachelor SA and First Dates South Africa amongst many other hits."

Alongside the appointment of Ziyanda Mngomezulu, Rapid Blue has confirmed additional promotions to establish a new leadership team for the company.

Kim Thwaites, currently head of production, has been promoted to head of television, taking over from Ed Worster, who after a successful 40-year career is emigrating from South Africa.

Tsubi Mapiyeye, currently line producer has been promoted to supervising producer and Adi de Lancey, recently joined as a senior executive producer.

Rapid Blue starts 2021 with a collection of upcoming shows including The Bachelorette SA and Love Island SA for M-Net and new Come Dine With Me South Africa for BBC Lifestyle.

Duncan Irvine, Rapid Blue CEO, said, “I am hugely excited to have Ziyanda step into the role of managing director and lead Rapid Blue into what is already shaping up to be a busy and promising year for the company".

"Ziyanda has been a fantastic addition to the team so far. Her wealth of experience and eye for what makes a good production is hugely encouraging for what’s to come. When myself and Kee-Leen formed Rapid Blue 28 years’ ago, we could only have dreamed of what has been achieved together."

"I am hugely proud of what we all as a team have built and created for audiences around the world so far and am confident that our vision will be carried forward in an exciting direction with Ziyanda."

MultiChoice adds Amazon Prime Video to its carousel of video streaming services on its DStv Explora Ultra decoder, meaning DStv subscribers will be able to see 'the world's most expensive show'.

by Thinus Ferreira

As expected MultiChoice announced on Tuesday that it is adding Amazon Prime Video as a video streaming service to its latest DStv Explora Ultra decoder.

The addition of Amazon Prime Video comes after MultiChoice added Netflix SA to its new decoder box last month.

The addition of Amazon Prime Video to MultiChoice's carousel of subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) means that the pan-African pay-TV operator will be able to keep crucial "bragging rights" to new international content that has been in danger of slipping away as streamers are making shows for their own platforms that they are not making available through their usual international distribution channels.

MultiChoice will now, for instance, be able to claim that it will be able to offer "the world's most expensive show", the upcoming Lord of the Rings series currently filming in New Zealand, in partnership with Amazon Prime Video. Without Amazon Prime Video, DStv subscribers would not have been able to see this much-awaited production.

There is no word yet on whether MultiChoice has any plans to add Disney+, discovery+, HBO Max, Paramount+ or any of the other flurry of international streaming services not yet available in South Africa.

"We are excited to add Amazon Prime Video to the DStv Explora Ultra’s pot of exceptional content," says Nyiko Shiburi, MultiChoice South Africa CEO, in a prepared statement.

"This opportunity unlocks access to more quality global content for our customers and is another way to access Amazon Prime Video content, whilst complementing DStv’s promise to offer the very best in local content.”

Similar to Netflix South Africa, DStv subscribers who have an existing Amazon Prime Video account can just log in through the DStv Explora Ultra. New Amazon Prime Video subscribers can open the app on the DStv Explora Ultra's homepage where they can sign up.

Unlike Netflix SA where the subscription fee is added in rand to the DStv subscriber's existing monthly bill, Amazon Prime Video will be billing customers directly - in order words, the subscription cost will not be forming part of the DStv bill.

Henry Cavill injured on set of Netflix's The Witcher, production continuing after leg injury not bad enough to need ambulance.

by Thinus Ferreira

Henry Cavill has been injured on the set of Netflix's The Witcher while filming the second season but production on the fantasy series is continuing after production had already been suspended twice this year because of Covid-19 cases.

According to Britain's The Sun tabloid that first reported the news, filming on the second season of The Witcher is continuing in the United Kingdom after Henry Cavill sustained a leg muscle injury on set.

According to on-set sources, Henry Cavill "was on an assault course and injured his leg. He just suddenly pulled up and was clearly in a lot of pain. It wasn’t clear if an object had hit his leg or it was some sort of hamstring or muscle injury".

Henry Cavill was apparently in trees using a safety harness at the time of the injury. "It wasn’t bad enough to need an ambulance but it’s messed up the filming schedule as he can’t walk properly. He has to wear heavy armour in the scenes and he just wouldn’t be able to do it with his leg injury.”

In March production on The Witcher following the adventures of the monster hunter Geralt of Rivia was shut down until mid-August after actor Kristofer Hivju got a Covid-19 positive test. 

In November The Witcher production was shut down again after multiple Covid-19 positive cases on the Netflix series emerged that is currently filming at Arborfield Studios in West-London.

The Witcher is expected to go on another production break for the Christmas period later this month.

South Africa's Democratic Alliance (DA) political party starts a petition against controversial SABC TV Licence plan for video streamers and pay-TV operators like Netflix and DStv.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Democratic Alliance (DA) has started a petition that is against the ANC-led government's controversial plan to introduce new legislation to force viewers to pay for a SABC TV Licence for smartphones and tablets, and that would force video streamers like Netflix and pay-TV operators like MultiChoice to collect SABC TV Licence fees from DStv subscribers by adding it to their bills. 

"You should not have to pay a cent more to keep the SABC afloat! The public has already had to suffer the consequences of the billions in bailouts the SABC has received via the public purse," says the DA political party in its new online petition. "The SABC must find creative ways to self-sustain and break-even without making people like you fork out any more money."

"Given the emergence of streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV+, Showmax, Amazon Prime Video and others, the department of communications and digital technologies proposes broadening the definition of a 'broadcasting service' to include online broadcasting services," says the DA.

"This means that you would have to pay a SABC TV Licence fee for watching any 'broadcasting services', including streaming services, regardless of whether it’s on a TV, a computer or a phone."

The DA joins the Organisation Undoing Tax Abuse (OUTA) that it its submission to the controversial plan asks "Why should Netflix and Netflix be obliged to collect revenue on behalf of another entity and how will this initiative be facilitated? Furthermore, how will the money be collected and then handed over to the SABC?"

"How will subscribers practically be managed because Netflix and DStv subscribers may signup

and cancel at any time?"

The financially struggling South African public broadcaster that once again suspended its retrenchment process until 2021 due to political and trade union pressure, made a net loss of R511 million for its 2019/2020 financial year and is on track to make a loss in excess of R1.2 billion in the next financial year.

Less than a third of South African TV households that the SABC is aware of as having a SABC TV Licence still bothers to pay it.

The proposal to shift the burden of collecting SABC TV Licence fees on behalf of the SABC is contained in the Draft White Paper on Audio and Audio-visual Content Services Policy Framework: A New Vision for South Africa 2020.

Besides making private companies responsible for collecting SABC TV Licence fees because the SABC is unable to, the draft proposal also wants to force local and international video streaming services like Netflix, Showmax, Amazon Prime Video and others in future, to carry at least 30% local content in the country.

It might, however, have an unintended consequence in that these global streamers that can't upsize local content for just one market will likely rather reduce the content they unlock for availability in a specific region like South Africa in order to get to 30%.

Forcing streamers to have a third of their content be local South African series and films will likely end up hurting consumers by taking away choice if these streamers, in order to comply, instead decide to downsize instead of upsize their overall ringfenced offering for South Africa to comply as they chase a percentage.

ALSO READ: Time running out for South African video consumers to say if they want DStv and Netflix to add and collect SABC TV Licence fees with their payments.

ALSO READ: South Africa's government wants to force video streaming services like Netflix into a 30% local content quota: Here's why it's a bad plan and will end up hurting consumers.

ALSO READ: OUTA: Scrap the SABC TV Licence scheme, says organisation as it comments on South African government's controversial plan: 'Why should Netflix and DStv be obliged to collect revenue on behalf of another entity?'

Why Idols on Mzansi Magic had less votes for season 16 in 2020.

by Thinus Ferreira

After a few years of successive, growing record-breaking voting tallies for Idols, the reality singing competition show on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) experienced its first ebb this year with 6 million fewer votes than last year although ratings held steady – something that the producers are contributing to the impact of Covid-19 on the show’s pay-TV audience.

Idols voting kept surging over the past few years, going from 83 million votes in 2016, to 98 million in 2017, and 142 million votes in 2018. A whopping 186 million votes were cast during 2019’s 15th season, with 36 million of those during the show’s last week.

This year’s 16th season, however, didn’t see Idols break its own voting record again, with votes that fell slightly by 6 million votes to a still impressive 180 million votes overall, with 29 million votes that were cast by viewers during Idols’ last week.

The 18-year old Zama Khumalo from eMalahleni (Witbank) in Mpumalanga became the winner of the 16th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Sunday night with the season finale that was broadcast during Covid-19 coronavirus restrictions in South Africa from the State Theatre in Tshwane.

She faced off against Mr Music (Lungisani Mthethwa) from Richard's Bay in KwaZulu-Natal in the Top 2 Idols season 16 live finale broadcast with the season that host and co-executive producer Proverb (Thapelo Thekisho) on Sunday evening described as "very difficult circumstances".

The 16th season of Idols, once again produced by [SIC] Entertainment, continued to draw huge audiences to MultiChoice's DStv for its latest season. 

Idols lured 1.18 million viewers for its most-watched episode in November 2020, making it the highest-rated reality and general entertainment show on all of DStv, and the third most-watched show on DStv after drama series Gomora and The Queen both on Mzansi Magic as well. Ratings were slightly down from 2019.

Idols has been renewed for a 17th season on Mzansi Magic in 2021 with initial auditions that will take place virtually because of Covid-19 and with dates and details that will be announced soon.

After the conclusion of the Idols season finale, the traditional post-show Idols season finale press conference with Mzansi Magic, the production company and the winner and runner-up took place on Sunday night at the State Theatre at 20:00.

It took place virtually this year and was broadcast to media across South Africa on DStv channel 196 that was unencoded specifically for journalists who had to submit typed questions to the panel. 

With the vote tally for the season and for the last week that are slightly down in 2020 from 2019, TVwithThinus asked what the producers attribute the lower vote count to.

"Thinus has put it in sort of a negative connotation. I actually think it's incredibly positive," said Gavin Wratten, Idols co-executive producer from [SIC] Entertainment. 

"You think of what we've all went through this year with Covid-19, the fact that we hit 180 million votes is unbelievable. You can compare it to any other TV show in South Africa, I mean we are miles ahead."

"I think it's amazing that we got that many votes if you consider that many people during lockdown probably lost jobs, they didn't have as much data, they didn't have as much access to data, they didn't maybe see us and had access to TV shows."

"The fact that we got that number is absolutely phenomenal, I didn't think we were going to get anywhere near, so a big up to everybody in Mzansi who watched and voted because it was phenomenal," said Gavin Wratten.

Nomsa Philiso, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, speaking about allegations of vote-rigging in previous Idols seasons, said that "As MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic we are absolutely comfortable with the process. I really would like people to understand that the integrity of these votes are unquestionable."

"Actually, it is South Africa that has spoken. We were not involved. South Africa has voted and we just tally the votes."

Talking about Idols and it being renewed for a 17th season, she said that "The majority of South Africans relate to it and I think that what has worked for it is that we've been very responsible towards what it is that the people want".

"In terms of being up there [amidst] how Covid-19 has affected us, is testament to how agile the production team and the Mzansi Magic team has been to put Idols on." 

ALSO READ: Zama Khumalo from eMalahleni clinches the season 16 Idols winner title on Mzansi Magic, overall vote tally of 180 million slighty down during Covid-19 year.

Zama Khumalo from eMalahleni clinches the season 16 Idols winner title on Mzansi Magic, overall vote tally of 180 million slighty down during Covid-19 year.

by Thinus Ferreira

The 18-year old Zama Khumalo from eMalahleni (Witbank) in Mpumalanga became the winner of the 16th season of Idols on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Sunday night with the season finale that was broadcast during Covid-19 coronavirus restrictions in South Africa from the State Theatre in Tshwane.

"South Africa, thank you," said a crying Zama. After the conclusion of the episode during the prize-giving ceremony, she said that "This is the most amazing thing that has ever happened to me".

She faced off against Mr Music (Lungisani Mthethwa) from Richard's Bay in KwaZulu-Natal in the Top 2 Idols season 16 live finale broadcast on Sunday evening.

It was a season that host Proverb on Sunday evening described as "very difficult circumstances".

Over 29 million votes were cast by viewers in the past week before Sunday's Idols season 16 finale, bringing the total Idols season 16 votes to over 180 million votes. 

With the 16th season coming during a Covid-19 year, this year's Idols vote tally was slightly down from 2019's 186 million overall votes of the 15th season and its 36 million votes during the last week.

The 16th season of Idols, once again produced by [SIC] Entertainment, continued to draw huge audiences to MultiChoice's DStv.

Idols lured 1.18 million viewers for its most-watched episode in November 2020, making it the highest-rated reality and general entertainment show on all of DStv, and the third most-watched show on DStv after drama series Gomora and The Queen both on Mzansi Magic as well.

Idols has been renewed for a 17th season on Mzansi Magic in 2021 with initial auditions that will take place virtually because of Covid-19 and with dates and details that will be announced soon.

After the conclusion of the Idols season finale the traditional post-show Idols season finale press conference with Mzansi Magic, the production company and the winner and runner-up happened on the stage of the State Theatre at 20:00.

It took place virtually this year and was broadcast to media across South Africa on DStv channel 196 that was unencoded specifically for journalists who had to submit typed questions to the panel.

TVwithThinus asked: "The overall vote tally for the season and for the last week are slightly down from last year. What do you attribute the lower vote count to?"

"Thinus has put it in sort of a negative connotation. I actually think it's incredibly positive," said Gavin Wratten, Idols co-executive producer from [SIC] Entertainment.

"You think of what we've all went through this year with Covid-19, the fact that we hit 180 million votes is unbelievable. You can compare it to any other TV show in South Africa, I mean we are miles ahead."

"I think it's amazing that we got that many votes if you consider that many people during lockdown probably lost jobs, they didn't have as much data, they didn't have as much access to data, they didn't maybe see us and had access to TV shows."

"The fact that we got that number is absolutely phenomenal, I didn't think we were going to get anywhere near, so a big up to everybody in Mzansi who watched and voted because it was phenomenal," said Gavin Wratten.

Nomsa Philiso, M-Net director of local entertainment channels, speaking about allegations of vote-rigging in previous Idols seasons, said that "As MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic we are absolutely comfortable with the process".

"I really would like people to understand that the integrity of these votes are unquestionable," Nomsa Philiso said. "Actually, it is South Africa that has spoken. We were not involved. South Africa has voted and we just tally the votes."

Talking about Idols and it being renewed for a 17th season, she said that "The majority of South Africans relate to it and I think that what has worked for it is that we've been very responsible towards what it is that the people want".

"In terms of being up there [amidst] how Covid-19 has affected us, is testament to how agile the production team and the Mzansi Magic team has been to put Idols on." 

Zama Khumalo, asked what she has learnt from being part of Idols season 16, said that "it's really amazing how everyone has to be on time. I didn't know that before and now I know. Now I know I can never be late, I have to always be on time".

"I'm just grateful because I've learnt a lot. I think I have stage presence now. My confidence has grown. And it has also taught me how to carry myself now that I'm a brand."

ALSO READ: Why Idols on Mzansi Magic had less votes for season 16 in 2020.