SABC reportedly suspends Lala Tuku and two other executives amid 'Pimville' payment scandal
The fallout from Bakwena Productions' failure to pay the cast and crew of 'Pimville' has led to the suspension of SABC's head of content, Lala Tuku, igniting discussions about accountability in the entertainment industry.
Image: Supplied
The fallout from Bakwena Productions' failure to pay the cast and crew of 'Pimville' has led to the suspension of SABC's head of content, Lala Tuku, igniting discussions about accountability in the entertainment industry.
Image: Supplied
Bakwena Productions' failure to pay the cast and crew of 'Pimville' continues to unfold with reports indicating that the SABC has suspended its head of content, Lala Tuku.
News broke that Tuku, along with executives Nirvana Singh and Reatlegile “Ree” Mampa, have been suspended over the non-payment and exploitation scandal that has rocked Bakwena Productions.
The SABC, in a previous statement, maintained that it had honoured its contractual obligations to the producers and that the production company had breached its contractual obligations.
Actor and director Kagiso Modupe, who co-founded Bakwena Productions with Rashaka "Rush" Muofhe, publicly addressed the matter, claiming he too had allegedly not been paid for his role as head director on the production.
The debacle has opened up numerous public discussions about production companies not fulfilling their obligations to cast and crew.
Actress Rami Chuene took to X to share her thoughts about wondering how the budget for “Pimville” was used. In her tweet, Chuene shared how things were done from her experience from the moment the SABC gave the production company the allocated funds.
“Just sitting here in my thoughts and wondering how much of #Pimville budget was left to shoot the little that was shot. In my experience- I’m using this phrase loosely- 100% was signed off and paid to the production company.
“Then 30% was paid to Commissioning Editor/Head of content as a kick-back (yes, they do it- sue me). Then Executive Producers paid themselves 30% BEFORE they even started shooting. Then everyone hoped and prayed that they could somehow shoot the whole season with 40%? Kanjani? Must be crack.
“I’m gonna estimate, I repeat, estimate that Pimville budget was 100million rands. Someone took 30million randelas in kickbacks and came back to look at us in the eye to tell us how they support our stories and that local is lekker? Then the EP’s who have learnt from their predecessors know how to get paid first. We’re really not angry enough.”
The saga has once again brought attention to production companies being commissioned yet they have reputations of not paying crew and staff, with many calling for stricter regulations in the industry.
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