Gugu Zuma requests R,5 million from government for soapie

The eThekwini municipality has agreed to hand over R5-million to Durban-based drama series, Uzalo, after producers appealed to the city for financial assistance. According to The Mercury, Uzalo co-directors Pepsi Pokane and Gugu Zuma-Ncube, daughter of President Jacob Zuma presented Durbans economic development and planning committee with a request for a R11,5 million cash injection. The city agreed to give them R5 million.

Uzalo premiered on SABC1 in February, and revolves around the lives of two prominent middle-class families who live in the township of KwaMashu, and whose eldest sons were switched at birth in the 90s.

Speaking to the publication, Pepsi said that the show has proven very popular with viewers, as ratings for the 8:30pm time slot it took over at the beginning of the year has increased from 25 percent to 48 percent.

Pepsi and Gugu, who creates the show alongside renowned producer Duma KaNdlovu, during their presentation to the city also argued that it is important for them to keep producing the show in Durban, so as to reverse the brain drain in the city

This is in reference to the tendency of talented individuals to relocate to either Cape Town or Johannesburg to follow their dreams.

Pepsi said that financial help from the city will help them to prove that Durban can produce and deliver a daily drama series on an ongoing, sustainable basis.

The production team said that they would also be inevitably forced to film the series in Jozi in the event that they dont receive financial assistance

We would have to move back to Joburg and use the model which we can shoot in studio and standard location shots, said Gugu.

We need to see that there is a partnership with the city and the province, so it's not just us who are taking the hit.

http://www.all4women.co.za

Business and Finance

South Africa

News

LINK:	http://www.filmcontact.com/news/south-africa/business-and-finance/gugu...
	See more stories from filmcontact

Most recent headlines