The South African Broadcasting Corporation has put three top executives on leave as public anger mounts over reports of unpaid wages tied to the soap opera Pimville, which is produced by Bakwena Productions.
The individuals suspended are Nirvana Singh, Reatlegile Mampa and Lala Tuku. The broadcaster has reportedly begun an internal probe focused on how the production was managed and how payments connected to the show were processed.
The backlash builds on weeks of complaints from performers, crew members and suppliers who say they have not been paid for months, even as work on the series continued.
BuzzLife News reports that filming and production activity on Pimville has now been stopped. The final finished episode is set to air on 7 May, while sources say tensions inside the operation are still escalating.
At the middle of the dispute is Bakwena Productions, a company led by Rashaka Muofhe, alongside his wife, Brenda Muofhe, and business partner Kagiso Modupe.
Workers have increasingly criticised the company, alleging that management did not place sufficient priority on settling money owed to staff and service providers.
Some employees have also claimed that company leadership continued to spend lavishly amid the payment crisis. However, these assertions have not been independently confirmed.
One person close to the situation said worry has intensified among those working on the programme.
“Everyone is scared of Rashaka. He is making threats in the chat group. He must just pay people and stop with the threats,” the insider alleged.
Further accusations circulating around the production suggest that luxury vehicles, property purchases and other business interests were pursued while workers were allegedly left waiting for payment.
Additional claims have been raised that the production company received funding estimated at around R60 million, though it remains unclear how that money was distributed.
With frustration continuing to mount, many affected workers are now calling for accountability from both the production company and the public broadcaster, while questions grow about how the situation reached this point.
