‘Zaziwa’ put on hold for now

Presenter Modiadie not aware of schedule change

The presenter and co-executive producer of popular talk show Zaziwa was apparently not told about the SABC’s decision to put the show on ice until a new time slot in November.

SABC1 spokesman Phillip Mabitsela confirmed the channel decided to remove the show from its Sunday slot until its return on Wednesdays, from November 8.

Repeats of Zaziwa will be aired at 11.30pm on some Sunday evenings.

“It was simply a schedule change at the channel,” Mabitsela said, without going into further detail.

SABC spokesman Kaizer Kganyago denied the show was cancelled and said the current season of Zaziwa had come to an end and will return in November with a new season.

Pearl Modiadie was taken aback by news of the decision and said she had not been notified of the change.

She added it was up to the channel to decide when they air the episodes given to them.

“As producers of the show, we have been contracted to create the content and provide it to the SABC. We do our part to make a quality production but it is up to the SABC to decide on the time and day that is best to air it.”

When the show was moved to Sunday night earlier this year, it dropped from the top 20 of most-watched shows on the channel, according to reports by the Broadcast Research Council’s Television Audience Measurement Survey.

Modiadie said: “I am aware [of the decline], but we are not concerned. The SABC is doing what it can with the show...”