Remember: 7de Laan and the complaint episode?

Remember: 7de Laan and the complaint episode?7de Laan is a television soapie that crawled deep into our hearts and households. But do you remember this controversial episode?

by Francois Jansen

12-12-2023 15:37

in Culture

7de Laan wraps its FINAL episode after a remarkable 23-year journey Photos: Stock/Canva

7de Laan is a television soapie that crawled deep into our hearts and households, with a theme song that could be heard in many South African streets at exactly the same time.

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Since 2000, the show has been providing viewers with a glimpse into the fictional Hillside. Characters like Hilda, Oubaas and Matrone will be part of your memory forever if you were a fan of the show.

ALSO READ: 7de Laan' reveals actor arrested isn't a current cast member

But who remembers the notorious suicide episode' that got the production company in hot water?

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Here's more about one of the most infamous episodes of 7de Laan to ever air, and why it was an important lesson for broadcast television.

Remember: 7de Laan and the complaint episode? The suicide episode' was aired in 2012, depicting the attempted suicide of a character in the 7de Laan storyline.

Aired in April that year, the episode immediately prompted complaints from viewers about the content's depiction.

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The Broadcasting Complaints Commission of South Africa (BCCSA) responded by charging the show with contravening the law: the creators of 7de Laan had to pay a fine for its suicide depiction.

Overall, the story arc was considered insensitive, inappropriate, and broadcast without sufficient warning or support.

ALSO READ: 7de Laan: Fans remember the classic old show

With some viewers feeling harmed by the episode, the show had no choice but to adapt the storyline.

7de Laan: The show's abrupt end The favourite soapie 7de Laan came to South African screens in 2000, introducing characters like Charmaine, Hilda and Oubaas to local audiences.

ALSO READ: 7de Laan wraps up its FINAL episode

With several thousand episodes aired, it has become one of the longest-running locally created soaps.

In 2023, the show ended when an agreement couldn't be reached between the broadcaster and the show's creators.

Even though many fans wanted the show back, this year seems to mark the end of the soap and Hillside's storylines.

Where to find the show If you're a fan, the good news is that even though it's off the air, the show still maintains a fanbase online.

The show can still be found active on social media, and some of the episodes can be found in full on YouTube.

READ MORE ARTICLES BY FRANCOIS JANSEN ( ALEX J')

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