Latest news with #Pimville
The Citizen
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
It's a wrap: A look inside Muvhango's final day of filming
The final episode of Muvhango will air in August. Behind the scenes of Muvhango. Picture: Instagram/@muvhangosa SABC's first Tshivenda language soap opera, Muvhango, has officially wrapped production after almost three decades on air. On Thursday, the long-running soapie shared a behind-the-scenes video on social media, giving fans a glimpse into the cast's emotional final day on set. 'I am really emotional since it's the last day. I'm going to miss everybody, including all the departments,' said cast member Wavhudi Lidzengu. Lidzengu joined Muvhango nearly a decade ago at just 17, playing the role of Vhutshilo Mukwevho. Debuting in 1997, Muvhango made history as South Africa's first Tshivenda-language soap opera. It quickly became a cultural staple and a celebration of the indigenous language on mainstream TV. The final episode will air next month, on 8 August. Speaking about the show's cancellation last month, creator and executive producer Duma Ndlovu said it had been a privilege and an honour to create television moments that placed marginalised languages at their centre. 'Muvhango gave an opportunity to an ignored language that has become one of the most celebrated in South Africa now,' he added. ALSO READ: 'Muvhango' axed by SABC 2 less than a year after relaunch Pimville to replace Muvhango Muvhango will be replaced by a new telenovela titled Pimville, produced by Bakwena Productions. SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli confirmed the news in May, stating that the show would help the channel regain audience share. 'Come August, we are launching a new telenovela called Pimville on SABC2, and based on that, we will be really driving that audience share back to SABC2. 'We're working hard to ensure that the script is relevant and that the storyline does what we need it to do,' she told TV with Thinus. NOW READ: WATCH: 'Come get me, I am not above the law' — Kelly Khumalo hits back at Advocate Teffo's Senzo Meyiwa murder claims
The Citizen
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
‘Muvhango' axed by SABC 2 less than a year after relaunch
The final broadcast of Muvhango will be on 8 August, just three days after it was relaunched a year ago. Described as a rebirth of sorts, the new version of the longstanding soapie Muvhango has fallen flat and will be replaced just nine months after its launch. 'It has been a privilege and an honour to create moments on Television where the marginalised languages were at the centre of them all,' said creator and executive producer of the show, Duma Ndlovu in a statement on Wednesday. Muvhango made its debut in 1997 and remains one of South Africa's iconic shows. 'Muvhango gave an opportunity to an ignored language that has become one of the most celebrated languages in South Africa now,' said Ndlovu. The show was South Africa's first Tshivenda-language soapie and quickly became a cultural cornerstone of local television. The final broadcast of Muvhango will be on 8 August, just three days after it was relaunched a year ago. ALSO READ: 'Fancier, fashionable and bold': New season of 'Muvhango' premieres this Monday Muvhango's failed attempt Speaking at the relaunch of the soapie in June last year, Ndlovu said he and his team had listened to what the viewers wanted for the new version of the TV show. 'The growth and development of Muvhango have always been us responding to what the viewers were saying,' Ndlovu said at the time. 'What you're going to be seeing this season is probably the most dramatic change and growth that you've ever seen. Our viewers demanded we go fancier, younger, more fashionista, and bolder. 'They wanted us to continue telling stories. They didn't want us to lose the DNA of the show, but they wanted us to jazz things up. So, we have a new logo, we have a new title sequence, and we think you're going to love it,' he said. Contrary to Ndlovu's prediction, the viewers didn't gravitate toward the 'jazzed-up' Muvhango. By the end of 2024, the soapie had attracted just more than 900 000 viewers —a massive drop from the millions of onlookers it had attracted in its prime. ALSO READ: Presley Chweneyagae: 'He was every mother's son, every girl's funny lover, and everyone's best friend' SABC hires Bakwena Productions The SABC's CEO, Nomsa Chabeli, confirmed that a replacement for Muvhango is underway. 'Come August, we are launching a new telenovela called Pimville on SABC2, and based on that, we will be really driving that audience share back to SABC2,' said Chabeli, speaking to TV With Thinus. 'We're working hard to ensure that the script is relevant for the audiences and that the storyline is going to be effectively doing what we need it to do,' Nomsa Chabeli says. The move to hire Bakwena Productions was questioned by the South African Background Actors Guild (SABAG). In an open letter in April, SABAG Chairperson Louis Setabole criticised the move. 'In 2024, Bakwena Productions produced Pound 4 Pound but failed to make timely payments. Payments were only processed three months after the project concluded, and even then, some individuals received partial payment,' read the open letter shared on social media. Bakwena Productions is behind productions such as the film Ingoma – The Song, available on Netflix, and the Losing Lerato films, among others. 'This matter has been publicly addressed, and it is deeply concerning that the SABC would choose to commission work from a company with such a track record of unprofessionalism and financial neglect.' 'Given these circumstances, SABAG demands answers and guarantees from the SABC regarding its collaboration with Bakwena,' noted the open letter. NOW READ: Wiseman Mncube on portraying King Zwide kaLanga in season 2 of Shaka iLembe
IOL News
24-04-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
SABAG slams Bakwena Productions for alleged financial fumbles amid telenovela launch
"Losing Lerato 2", a heartwarming tale about the depth of love between a father and daughter, produced by Bakwena Productions. The announcement that Bakwena Productions will produce the SABC's new telenovela "Pimville" has intensified the ongoing conflict between the production company and the South African Background Actors Guild (SABAG). The series is set to replace the long-running "Muvhango", but the move has raised significant concerns regarding the production house's past professional conduct. The SABAG chairperson, Louis Setabole, expressed his disappointment in an open letter to the SABC. He criticised their collaboration with Bakwena Productions, citing the production company's alleged history of "questionable business practices". Setabole's letter highlighted mounting frustrations, particularly their alleged failure to meet financial obligations towards cast and crew. "Our concerns arise from Bakwena Productions' history of questionable business practices, particularly their failure to fulfil financial obligations to cast, crew and background actors," read the letter posted on Facebook. SABAG alleged that Bakwena Productions, who produced the series "Pound 4 Pound" in 2024, failed to make timely payments to the background actors who worked on the show. Bakwena Productions are also responsible for productions like Netflix's "Losing Lerato", "Losing Lerato 2", Showmax's "Thando" and "Ingoma - The Song". 'Payments were only processed three months after the project concluded, and even then, some individuals received only partial payment. To this day, background actors remain unpaid, despite multiple attempts to resolve the issue. SABAG holds detailed records verifying these claims," it added. SABAG stated that when they confronted the production company about these delays, Bakwena Productions responded with "hostility and accusations instead of offering a reasonable explanation or an apology". 'This matter has been publicly addressed, and it is deeply concerning that the SABC would choose to commission work from a company with such a track record of unprofessionalism and financial neglect. 'Given these circumstances, SABAG demands answers and guarantees from the SABC regarding its collaboration with Bakwena.'
