--
Pollen Creative Media accused of financial mismanagement and fraud --
Wed, 04 Nov 2015 08:27
--
SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: Bridget Scarr, the managing director of Pollen Creative Media, is a South African entrepreneur. She co-founded The Hummingbird Group, which consists of five companies that offer creative content, advertising and technology services, and was named one of South Africa s Top 200 Young South Africans by the Mail and Guardian in 2014. Prior to founding Pollen, Scarr garnered production and management experience working at advertising agencies, production and post-production companies. In the last year her management of various businesses within the Hummingbird Group as well as her interaction with organisations such as the Department of Trade and Industry (dti) and Media, Information and Communication Technologies Sector Education and Training Authority (MICT SETA) have come under scrutiny, eventually erupting in a series of allegations which were posted on social media platforms by anonymous whistle- blowers.
Scarr was accused of not paying her staff, receiving funding for projects which were never completed, obtaining loans with no intention of paying them back, receiving bursary funding which was never paid over to institutions and even fleeing the country with partner Tobias Jaeger. Screen Africa was alerted to these allegations by an anonymous Twitter account, which has since been suspended. It has been confirmed that Scarr is back in the country, and she states the purpose of her trip was to attend the MIPCOM content market, held annually in France.
In August 2014 Pollen Creative Media elected to run a year-long animation training programme called Afriantics. The full-time programme would see animators of varying levels of experience participate in one of three projects (two 22 episodes of 20 minutes and one 52 episodes of five minutes) as a way to enhance their skills and knowledge. According to an anonymous source, MICT SETA had provided funding for the 60 participating junior animators, and Scarr had included this contribution in her dti rebate application. The source stated that the rebate was processed, with a number of milestone payments made. The source also claimed that facilitators abandoned the programme due to salaries not being paid for two months. Jabu Sibeka, senior manager of Learning Programmes at MICT SETA confirmed: The MICT SETA has taken the necessary steps to ensure that all interns have been placed with a new service provider that has undertaken to complete the programme. When asked about funds contributed by MICT SETA to execute this initiative, Sibeka responed: This information is part of a service level agreement (SLA); due to a confidentiality clause in the SLA, MICT SETA cannot disclose such information. Scarr added, Pollen TV rendered services to the official production entity, Brave Creative Media, which is headed up by Matsobane Lebelo. The production is currently in its final stage and is expected to be finished by the end of the year.
A registered MICT SETA vendor, Pollen Creative Media also facilitates bursary payments to AFDA students on behalf of the institution as it cannot pay the school directly, and has been accused of withholding these funds. AFDA issued the following statement to Screen Africa: AFDA can confirm that for a number of years Pollen TV has channelled MICT SETA funds in the form of bursaries to AFDA students. There is truth to the allegation that Pollen TV has fallen behind on their payments and as a result thereof over the past two years 34 students have been negatively affected by this to an amount of R850 000.00 in outstanding student fees. It must be understood, however, that students enter into an Enrolment and Tuition Agreement with AFDA, the service provider, and the students remain contractually responsible for the settlement of all fees, irrespective of where their funding is sourced. Thus, AFDA has no other recourse but to make demand for outstanding fees against such contractee, such demand having been made. MICT SETA has stated that it is taking legal action in this regard, while Scarr states, Pollen TV has several contracts with MICT SETA and has worked with SETA excellently over the past five years without any incident. Pollen is still expecting payments from SETA as part of the current contracts. Currently, there are two active contracts in place with SETA and neither one has been completed to date. For outstanding payments to AFDA there is a payment plan in place, which was agreed upon by both parties.
A local businessman, who asked to remain anonymous, claimed to be one of many people in the industry who loaned Scarr money to assist with what she explained was cash flow constraints in her business. The half a million rand loan, which was issued early in 2015, was never repaid despite a signed acknowledgement of debt agreement between the two parties. After months of delays, the source confronted Scarr: I actually went round there unannounced. At that stage they said that they had paid and that the money hadn t yet reflected in my account so I had requested a bank certified proof of payment. I pitched up at their offices and then got Bridget and her finance manager into a meeting and they called the bank. The bank said outright that no payment had been made and that no payment had ever been attempted. It became clear that she could not be telling the truth. After that she cut me off, would not speak to me or return my calls. From that day all correspondence has been through attorneys.
Scarr responded to allegations in a press statement issued by PR agency Meropa. In it she states that allegations against the Hummingbird Group stem from one or two disgruntled former employees ; that the group is 100% operational ; that cash flow issues have resulted in scaling back on sta
Most recent headlines
04/08/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, is excited to announce Santiago Solanas as its new Chief Executive Officer (CEO)....
03/06/2024
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, a...
04/05/2024
NEW YORK As the Asian Pacific American Heritage Month kicks off in May, Nielsen has released an extensive new report diving into their media habits with data sh...
04/05/2024
PHILADELPHIA As National Military Appreciation Month gets underway, Comcast has announced several new initiatives to help veterans, service members, and their f...
04/05/2024
WASHINGTON, D.C. Federal Communications Commission chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has announced a tentative agenda for the May Open Commission Meeting scheduled...
04/05/2024
The Broadband Forum has announced major enhancements to key 5G convergence standards that the group said will help advance next-generation applications, improve...
04/05/2024
Spotify Wrapped Campaign Spot Graded With DaVinci Resolve Studio
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Blackmagic Design today announced that Colorist M...
04/05/2024
Three Boston Conservatory at Berklee Alums Nominated for Tony Awards An additional eight alums and two current students performed in nominated productions.
...
03/05/2024
An innovative learning tool to help media and civil society better understand ho...
03/05/2024
PARK CITY, UTAH - JANUARY 21: (L-R) Actors K stutis Cic nas and Greta Grinevi i t , Director Marija Kavtaradze and Producer Marija Razgute attend the 2023 Sunda...
03/05/2024
If you aren't familiar with Danny Ocean's music, it's only a matter ...
03/05/2024
Spotify has an unwavering commitment to supporting emerging artists across all genres, to helping them launch and thrive in their careers, and to connecting the...
03/05/2024
Como uno de los sonidos de mayor expansi n en el mundo, la M sica Mexicana va m ...
03/05/2024
As one of the fastest-growing sounds worldwide, M sica Mexicana is more than jus...
03/05/2024
NEW YORK FuboTV reported that it lost 110,000 subs in Q1 2024 but it exceeded its guidance for the quarter with double digit year-over-year increases across key...
03/05/2024
Only 3 Weeks Left To Enter The Creative Industries Most Award
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
Creativepool is giving a last call to the creative i...
03/05/2024
WePlay Studios Transforms the Future of Live Event Storytelling with AJA Gear
Brie Clayton May 3, 2024
0 Comments
By 2032, the esports market is expec...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Shannon Bream, Fox News Sunday anchor and chief legal correspondent, sat for a keynote chat at The Business of TV News, with Tom Umstead, senior co...
03/05/2024
WASHINGTON Asked how important is local news, Martha Raddatz, who has covered foreign conflicts for decades and moderated presidential debates for ABC News, s...
03/05/2024
Sony Pictures and Apollo Global Management have made a $26 billion cash offer fo...
03/05/2024
CBS announced its 2024-2025 primetime schedule, which features the new dramas NCIS: Origins, Matlock and Watson, and new comedies Poppa's House and Georgie ...
03/05/2024
Sports-focused streaming service Fubo said it reduced its red ink in the first quarter, despite losing 110,000 subscribers since the end of the year....
03/05/2024
Walmart is reportedly about to release a new 4K streaming box/smart speaker hybrid device for Google TV that could retail for as low as $50, according to a repo...
03/05/2024
Enhancements to its Delivery Workspace solution provide increased content delivery robustness and security
By Matthew Corrigan
Published: May 3, 2024
Enha...
03/05/2024
According to reports, if the bid is successful, Sony would be the significant majority shareholder of the new private company
By Jenny Priestley
Published: M...
03/05/2024
Located in Manchesters Spinningfields district, the course aims to equip students with the skills, knowledge and industry insight for a career in the creative s...
03/05/2024
Lightbridge has created a new Cine Reflect Lighting System kit, dedicated to enabling artistic lighting with consideration of today's productivity practical...
03/05/2024
Broadcast media systems integrator BeckTV and Lawo worked together on a large-scale AES67 build of radio control rooms at KPBS, San Diego's NPR and PBS memb...
03/05/2024
Raleigh, NC, April 12, 2024 SmallHD announces PageOS 6, a powerful software update free for owners of SmallHD monitors, featuring increased functionality, exp...
03/05/2024
SmallHD announces the Quantum 32 a new 31.5 OLED monitor designed to provide reference HDR/SDR images for post-production final color grading, as well as cri...
03/05/2024
By 2032, the esports market is expected to grow to $9.29 billion, bolstered by a global player count and fan following that both continue to climb. The 2023 Lea...
03/05/2024
Amagi, the global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), today announced that the 11th edition of the Amagi Global FAST Rep...
03/05/2024
Riedel Communications today announced that Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR) is relying on a media and intercom network based on Riedel technology for the renewal of...
03/05/2024
Broadpeak , a leading provider of content delivery network (CDN) and video streaming solutions for content providers and pay-TV operators worldwide, announced t...
03/05/2024
Media technology innovator Limecraft will exhibit the latest updates to its online platform on stand G79 at the 15-16 May 2024 Media Production & Technology Sho...
03/05/2024
Audio interface specialist Prism Sound is partnering with console manufacturer Solid State Logic, professional monitor manufacturer PMC and acoustic panel and d...
03/05/2024
Intinor, Sweden's leading developer of products and solutions for high-quality video over the internet, is set to join forces with its UK partner Zest Techn...
03/05/2024
NAKIVO Inc., a fast-growing software company dedicated to protecting physical, virtual, cloud, and SaaS environments, announced its Q1 2024 financial results to...
03/05/2024
Hiltron Communications announces an addition to its range of satellite communication products and systems: a field-upgradable motorisation kit specifically desi...
03/05/2024
Visit LiveU at Stand D30
With this year an exceptional one for major sporting events alongside multiple, key elections, the power and flexibility of LiveU'...
03/05/2024
Agile Content, the leader in the development of technology and solutions for the provision of television services over the Internet, announces Koldo Unanue as i...
03/05/2024
Eight co-signers representing streaming services, pay TV operators and public interest groups have sent a letter to Congressional leaders urging their Committee...
03/05/2024
BOSTON Brightcove has announced that it has implemented Amazon Q Business, a new generative AI assistant on Amazon Web Services (AWS)....
03/05/2024
NEW YORK CBS has declared that it will finish the 2023-24 season as Americas Most-Watched Network in primetime for the 16th consecutive season....
03/05/2024
A new survey indicates that U.S. businesses and consumers had an overall positive attitude towards their technology spending plans in the first quarter of 2024,...
03/05/2024
Sony and Apollo Global Management have sent an offer letter to Paramount Global's board of directors making an $26 billion all cash offer for Paramount Glob...
03/05/2024
EMG / Gravity Media has appointed Charlie Cubbon chief operating officer (COO) and Jamie Hindhaugh regional CEO for the U.K., U.S., Australia and the Middle Eas...
03/05/2024
Final 2024 Season Games to Air Saturdays on WRAL at 10:30am in May, Championship on June 1
Taping for the final episodes of the 2024 season of WRAL-TV's Br...
03/05/2024
Estrella MediaCo said it is expanding its connected TV portfolio by launching three new channels with Curiosity that will first appear on Samsung TV Plus....
-- 
