President Zuma's daughter shares her side of the Uzalo story

11 July 2016 - 13:13 By Julia Madibogo

Television drama Uzalo producer Gugu Zuma-Ncube has dismissed a report suggesting that the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) recommissioned her soap because she is President Jacob Zuma's daughter. The Sunday Times reported that SABC chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng overruled his staff to push through a R167-million contract with a production company co-owned by Zuma-Ncube. In a series of tweets posted on Sunday‚ Zuma-Ncube dismissed the report saying her show had never be decommissioned.“Fact: I've produced the most successful show in RSA & arguably in the history of this country‚ but still being persecuted with lies. #Uzalo‚" she said.Zuma-Ncube said her show was renewed because they are “currently bringing in the most advertising revenue for the SABC”.She added that the show‚ which is produced by the Stained Glass Productions production company which she co-owns with Kobedi “Pepsi” Pokane‚ does not receive special treatment from the state broadcaster due to her relationship with president.“Fact: I can't help who my parents are. But what I have always done is to put my head down and I work harder than everyone around me. #Uzalo”.In a Twitter rant introduced with the words “very interesting Sunday Times #Uzalo article & by interesting I do mean bullshit”‚ she listed a posted a “some facts for anyone still interested in those”:async Fact: #Uzalo was recommissioned because we broke all viewership records in our time slot. We were & continue to be the number 1 show in RSA— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) 10 July 2016ss Fact: # Uzalo was recommissioned because we as a show are currently bringing in the most advertising revenue for the SABC.— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) 10 July 2016ss Fact: In 4 years #Uzalo will producer 628 episodes. 156 each season, not 13 per season as the Sunday Times claims.— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) 10 July 2016ssFact: Assuming the article reported Generations budget correctly; #Uzalo's budget is almost R30 million less each year. Hence 3 days vs 5— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) 10 July 2016ss Fact: It is more expensive to produce television in Durban than it is to produce television in Johannesburg. #Uzalo— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) 10 July 2016ssFact: Hired more than 100 people, given opportunities 2actors no-one had seen b4. Leading the charge of decentralizing SA tv industry.#Uzalo— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) 10 July 2016sssFact: literally being the best at what I do doesn't matter. I'm still being used in political fights that have nothing to do with me. #Uzalo— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) 10 July 2016ss - TMG Digital..

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