'Uyajola' 'takes a break' from screens amid BCCSA complaints

A week after TshisaLIVE revealed that the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA) had received objections to Moja Love's controversial reality show, Uyajola, the channel has reportedly announced that the show will be taking “a break”.

The series, based on American TV series Cheaters and hosted by rapper Molemo “Jub Jub” Maarohanye, made headlines last week after an episode featuring violence and strong language sparked outrage. 

In it, a woman assaulted her husband for allegedly cheating, and the woman he was allegedly cheating with joined in. The man did not receive help until later in the altercation. 

Speaking to TshisaLIVE, Moja Love spokesperson Lindiwe Mbonambi confirmed that the show had been taken off air from this Sunday. 

"Uyajola 99 is on a production break as the series have ended. Channel will announce when the series will be back on air."

She said the decision to halt production had nothing to do with recent complaints against the display of violence and strong language.  

“It doesn't mean that it is the end of the show because of people's complaints to the BCCSA. The production company has chosen to take a short break from filming as they have been doing it for some time,” she said.

*This story has been updated to include Moja Love's statement to TshisaLIVE.

BCCSA registrar Shouneez Martin confirmed to TshisaLIVE last week that the commission had received complaints about the show relating to gender violence, violence and language.

She said the BCCSA had sent broadcaster MultiChoice, which airs the Moja Love channel, the complaints and was awaiting a response.

MultiChoice group executive for corporate affairs Joe Heshu confirmed the broadcaster had received a complaint and said it was working with Moja Love to respond to the BCCSA.

“MultiChoice can confirm that it has received a complaint from the Broadcasting Complaints Commission of SA (BCCSA), with regards to the recent episode of Uyajola 9/9, which aired on independent channel Moja Love on Saturday, 28 September 2019.

“Whilst we do not exercise editorial control over third-party channels, which have fully independent editorial and content policies, we are in discussions with the channel about this particular complaint and will respond accordingly to the BCCSA.”

Several attempts by TshisaLIVE to get further comment from Moja Love were unsuccessful at the time of publishing this article.