The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has announced the immediate discontinuation of its drama series Pimville on SABC 2, citing unresolved contractual obligations and breaches involving production company Bakwena Productions.
In a statement issued on Monday, the broadcaster confirmed that the programme would stop airing from tonight following what it described as a “thorough review process and careful consideration”.
The SABC said the decision was regrettable, especially given the commitment shown by the cast and crew, as well as the support the show had received from viewers and industry stakeholders.
“As part of the Corporation’s contingency plans, the 21:00 timeslot previously occupied by Pimville will now be playing repeat episodes of the brand-new Season 2 of the telenovela Amalanga Awafani,” the state-owned broadcaster said.
The public broadcaster also moved to defend the commissioning process behind the show, saying Pimville had gone through its standard editorial, operational, commercial and governance approval procedures before production began.
Risk mitigation measures kicked in
However, the SABC admitted that concerns later emerged during the production process, prompting the corporation to introduce “enhanced oversight and risk mitigation measures”.
The broadcaster further revealed that some approved oversight mechanisms were not implemented consistently or to the required standard, leading to an internal consequence management process.
The SABC said disciplinary and legal processes are now underway in line with labour laws and contractual obligations. A formal notice of breach was reportedly issued to Bakwena Productions in April 2026.
The corporation added that it has engaged cast and crew representatives following concerns raised around the production and said it remains committed to protecting affected stakeholders while exploring operational options regarding the future of the show.
The broadcaster apologised to viewers for the disruption to its programming schedule and reiterated its commitment to delivering quality local content.
Background
Recently actor and filmmaker Kagiso Modupe, who owns Bakwena Productions – a company producing Pimville – broke his silence over the growing payment scandal surrounding Pimville, saying he is not responsible for the production’s financial operations and has also not been paid.
The controversy erupted after cast, crew members and suppliers allegedly went unpaid for months, sparking backlash against production company Bakwena Productions. The SABC had at the time stated that it had fulfilled its contractual obligations and claimed the production company was in breach of contract.
In a video posted on Instagram titled “The Truth”, Modupe said although Bakwena Productions collaborated with producer Brenda Mukwevho on the show, his role changed once contracts were signed.
He explained that he moved from executive producer to head director and was never involved in salaries, hiring, firing or managing finances.
- The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) has immediately stopped airing the drama series Pimville on SABC 2 due to unresolved contractual breaches by Bakwena Productions.
- The decision followed a thorough review and was made despite support from the cast, crew, viewers, and industry stakeholders.
- Pimville's 21:00 timeslot will now feature repeat episodes of Season 2 of the telenovela Amalanga Awafani as a contingency plan.
- SABC acknowledged lapses in oversight during Pimville's production, leading to internal disciplinary and legal actions; a formal breach notice was issued to Bakwena Productions in April 2026.
- The broadcaster apologized for the disruption, assured continued support for affected stakeholders, and remains committed to delivering quality South African content.
In a statement issued on
“As part of the Corporation’s contingency plans, the 21:00 timeslot previously occupied by Pimville will now be playing repeat episodes of the brand-new Season 2 of the telenovela
However, the SABC admitted that concerns later emerged during the production process, prompting the corporation to introduce “enhanced oversight and risk mitigation measures”.
Recently actor and filmmaker Kagiso Modupe, who owns Bakwena Productions – a company producing Pimville – broke his silence over the growing payment scandal surrounding Pimville, saying he is not responsible for the production’s financial operations and has also not been paid.
In a video posted on Instagram titled “
He explained that he moved from executive producer to head director and was never involved in salaries, hiring, firing or managing finances.
