While South Africa’s TV screens lack no new telenovelas; the industry constantly fails to produce interesting story ideas that can keep viewers intrigued.
On February 23, 2024, Thabang Moleya, a South African Director, who has worked on projects such as Gomora (2020) and The Herd (2018) posted a question on X, asking his followers what stories they would like to see more of. Moleya explained that he posed the question because he is aware of audiences’ dislike towards the typical South African stories surrounding politics, taxi wars and “unnecessary sex scenes.”
What followed was a deluge of reposts and replies with people vocalizing their dissatisfaction with the industry. “It is not even about the storylines. The cast has no diversity. Everything looks like characters in a room reciting dialogue,” X user Siwe Memela replied. Another X user suggested a South African Science Fiction like the existing film Snowpiercer.
Popular telenovelas like “The Wife and The Queen have had their fair time in the spotlight; keeping viewers glued to their screens for a nightly fix of scandal-infused storylines – specifically stories about the drug industry.
After The River ended in 2024, BET launched Queendom, featuring familiar faces like Sindi Dlathu, Linda Mtoba and Hamilton Dlamini. Queendom follows Nthandokayise, community leader who discovers she is the heir to the Khahlamba Kingdom’s throne – a storyline previously explored on Mzansi Magic’s The Throne.
This is one of the problems viewers and inspiring actors face as the industry tends to recycle the same talent– which often leaves no room for diversified storytelling as actors get typecast; and new talent has no room for entry.
Despite Moleya’s question, audiences have always expressed their fatigue with these familiar storylines, and unfortunately the entry of streaming giant Netflix has meant more of the same.
Netflix South Africa requires writers and filmmakers to pitch to established agencies or a production companies with a proven track record, before they can get on the platform.
These agencies and production companies can be risk averse and often shy away from hiring new talent, preferring to collaborate with established industry professionals.
While broadcasters like SABC, Mzansi Magic, and Moja Love provide direct pitching opportunities, my experience as a religious viewer of South African series and telenovelas suggest that these platforms rarely produce fresh ideas.
According to News24, three aspiring content producers claim the Moja Love channel commissioned their proposals without informing or involving them.
However, South Africa’s law, as explained by a legal blog PopLaw, ideas themselves are not protected by copyright. “In order to qualify for copyright protection, an idea needs to be reduced, using the author’s own skill and effort, to material form.”
I believe the industry could be transformed by getting new writers into writers-room; and by recognizing that South African audiences want to see stories that reflect the current times.
FEATURED IMAGE: Ofentse vents about the South African Film Industry. Photo: Ofentse Tladi
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