Real Talk With Anele Mdoda Sometimes Accepts Payment For Interviews
One of the show's executive producers spills the beans.
Yusuf Stevens, one of the executive producers of the popular talk show told HuffPost South Africa that it is not uncommon for people to pay for exposure on the show.
Stevens says that brands pay for screen time on the show. He added that, however, this was not the Real Talk team's doing, but the SABC's sales representatives'.
"It is important to ensure the show is authentic. It's our job to take directives and make it fitting to the show," he was quoted by HuffPost SA as saying, adding: "We still control the interview, do the research and make it interesting to the viewers. Nobody interferes with our scriptwriting or research process."
The Daily Maverick reported earlier this week that half-a-million rands was paid for Minister of Social Development Bathabile Dlamini to be interviewed on the show, which normally hosts artists.
Department of Social Development spokesperson Lumka Oliphant confirmed on Radio 702 that the department actually paid R5-million to the SABC for media exposure‚ including R149‚000 for the interview with Dlamini.
Stevens maintained that even though the interview with Dlamini was paid for, it wasn't a fluff piece, as is popular opinion.
I must add: the SABC is first and foremost accountable to its viewers and must at all times disclose the nature of the programming it airs. If government pays (& often lays down the terms of how the interview will be conducted) this must be disclosed.
— Phumzile Van Damme (@zilevandamme) 18 January 2018
"Go onto YouTube and watch the show. Some tough questions were asked," Oliphant said. "I don't think it was tainted at all. Mdoda makes sure the integrity of the show is upheld."
You can read the full report here.