Broadcasting Scandal: SABC Content Head Suspended

The South African television industry has been thrown into a state of shock following the precautionary suspension of Lala Tuku, the SABC’s Head of Content, alongside several other senior executives. The move follows a deepening crisis involving the SABC2 telenovela Pimville and a R19-million production scandal that has left many of the country’s leading creatives in financial ruin.

The controversy centres on Bakwena Productions, the company commissioned to produce Pimville, the show intended to fill the prestigious timeslot previously held by the long-running Muvhango. Despite the SABC reportedly paying R19 million to the production house, cast and crew members have not received salaries since February 2026. The situation reached a breaking point in early May when the production came to a grinding halt as workers downed tools. The allegations surfacing from the set are harrowing, with reports emerging that cast and crew were held hostage on location because the production house failed to pay property owners for the shoot.

Staff reported being forced to pay for their own transport while executives drove luxury vehicles, and further allegations that unsafe catering led to mass illness among the team. Workers accused the producers of extreme exploitation, citing a lack of basic safety and health standards. The suspension of Lala Tuku and her colleagues marks a significant shift in the SABC’s handling of the matter. Initially, the broadcaster distanced itself, claiming it had fulfilled all contractual obligations and that Bakwena Productions was in breach of contract. However, industry bodies like the South African Guild of Actors pointed out that they had warned the SABC about Bakwena’s track record, citing similar non-payment issues on their previous project, Pound 4 Pound.

The internal investigation is now focused on risk mitigation failures. The SABC had reportedly appointed a supervising producer to ensure Bakwena complied with payment obligations, yet the R19 million was seemingly never distributed to the workers. Bakwena Productions, owned by actor Kagiso Modupe and couple Rashaka and Brenda Muofhe, is now under intense scrutiny. While Modupe has publicly distanced himself and claimed to be an unpaid victim as well, the industry is calling for the Special Investigating Unit to launch a formal probe.

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