Give SABC1 the respect that it deserves

SABC1 does not get the respect it deserves. I'm not being sarcastic. The channel is often an easy target when people criticise dismal local productions. But said people can't be watching much of the channel, as SABC1 is actually ahead of everyone else when it comes to good quality local productions.

Sure, the channel's special child is Generations, hardly the pinnacle of great TV-making.

But for years, "Mzansi FoSho" (their tagline) has been at the forefront of pushing local content - without resorting to reality shows which is the easy option other local channels go for.

SABC1 has been embedded in the DNA of black South Africa for two decades, so I, like millions of others, grew up watching it.

One of its greatest productions, is Yizo Yizo, the iconic drama our parents hated (I was a tween when it started) and we loved it. It was a gritty, raw show that depicted the good, bad, ugly and frightening parts of township life.

Every week, the day after Yizo Yizo's broadcast, it would be all the kids at school talked about. It was brave tobroadcast the show, let alone in the face of all the controversy that came with it, but also very necessary.

This is something the channel intrinsically understands. They know how to tell our stories, whether or not we want them to be aired. Many of the dramas are riveting, and the current cream of the crop are Skeem Saam, Tempy Pushas and After Nine. Other brilliant shows they helped produce but are currently off air, include Room 9, A Place Called Home and Intersexions.

The channel serves as evidence that South Africa has truly talented content producers.