Travel docuseries creators sue SABC for R10m
The creators of the SABC2's travel documentary series, Voetspore, are suing the public broadcaster for breaching a R10 million TV and commercial rights agreement for the episodes completed two years ago.
In court papers filed last week, Kew Productions CC says it had a valid contract with the SABC for the production of seasons 12, 13, and 14 of the award-winning series, but claims the public broadcaster has failed to pay the R10 million owed under the agreement. There were 46 episodes in total.
Johan Badenhorst and his team have undertaken many epic journeys throughout the African continent since the first Voetspore adventure in 2000.
Head of communications Mmoni Ngubane, confirmed to City Press that the SABC was aware of the matter.
"The SABC is aware of the matter. As it is currently before the courts, we are unable to comment further," Ngubane said.
The production company says the cash-strapped SABC paid R663 344 in December last year.
Key Productions lodged its claim at the Johannesburg High Court on 15 April after attempts to resolve the matter amicably failed after the SABC failed to respond to written demands.
According to the claim, the SABC failed to pay R578 345 monthly since January. The court papers also show that it made four payments of R818 064 between December 2023 and last September.
The papers read:
The parties agreed that the SABC shall be granted exclusive rights to broadcast the series on any of its platforms as per the payments agreed upon.
However, the production house says did not relinquish its rights to the master tapes of the documentary.
The papers continue:
If any dispute arises in connection with this agreement, whether directly or indirectly, the parties must refer the dispute for resolution by way of negotiation and in the event of that failing, by way of arbitration.
The company also claims that the SABC ignored its invoices for outstanding payments and a letter of demand.
"In March this year we gave written notice to the SABC of the breach and demanded that it remedy this within 14 days of receipt of the written notice," reads the papers.
Last month, City Press reported that the public broadcaster had allegedly failed to pay the production companies responsible for some of its hit prime time TV shows including Muvhango, Generations The Legacy and Skeem Saam.
According to an insider, Word of Mouth Pictures, Serite Productions and MMSV Production responsible for hit SABC1 and SABC2 drama series have not been paid since February, with the SABC citing financial struggles.
"Over the last couple of months, SABC television has prioritised the smaller production houses when it comes to payments, leaving out the bigger partners and pleading with them that payments would come later than expected," said the source.
Ngubane said the SABC would not discuss the financial affairs of production houses with the media.
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