Apology to Jack and Jill Productions

On Friday August 5, the Daily Dispatch published an article titled “Film Contracts Claim Joburg Firm Failed to Pay them in Full”.

In the article, the publication recorded a claim by a former service provider, Mak and Mak Arts, that it had not been paid in full by Jack and Jill Productions for catering services in 2020, and claimed she was owed R156,699.

Jack and Jill Productions strongly denied each and every one of her allegations.

In support of its denial it provided seven proofs of payment dated July 2020 and October 2020, amounting to R210,414.25, that it had made to Mak and Mak Arts and/or Thami Ralo.

It said it owed nothing more.

In the article, the Daily Dispatch incorrectly recorded that Jack and Jill Productions had produced only “proof of payment slips” dated July 14 2020, August 17 2020 and October 7 2020 made out to Thami Ralo in the total amount of R80,000.

The error was a serious one and the Daily Dispatch apologises for it and any embarrassment this may have caused to Jack and Jill Productions.

Furthermore, the Daily Dispatch cited two other anonymous sources who claimed to have been contracted by Jack and Jill Productions in 2020.

They claimed they had to work unfair overtime, were not paid their salaries timeously or in full, and did not get payslips outlining deductions.

As the sources did not want their names divulged to Jack And Jill Productions, the company was unable to refute their claims apart from a blanket denial.

However, it has pointed out that contractors are not entitled to salaries or payslips, and only get paid the contracted amount.

It requested the names of the contractors, which the Dispatch was not in a position to divulge, as they had requested anonymity.

The Daily Dispatch agrees it did not do its due diligence with regard to the story, and apologises unreservedly for any embarrassment the story may have caused to Jack and Jill Productions.