Interim measures have been put in place by the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to ensure that recording of the popular SABC3 soapie Isidingo continues, following the devastating fire which gutted Studio 6 of Henley Studios on Wednesday night.
According to an SABC statement issued on Thursday, 14 June the cause of the fire has not yet been established with investigations still underway.
SABC acting COO Hlaudi Motsoeneng is quoted in statement as saying: “We have five studios that are used to produce drama and only one of them has burned down. This means production will continue and the public need not panic thinking the production of their favourite soapies – Isidingo, Generations and Muvhango – might be affected. We are doing our outmost as management to ensure that things return to normal and that the affected sets are speedily rebuilt’.
The rest of the statement reads: “It is expected that it will take the production companies and the SABC a few months to return operations to normal. The estimated value of the damage is around millions of rands. Only once our investigating team finalises their investigations can we offer more details around the exact extent of damage and the recovery period. The SABC is confident that it has the capacity and capabilities of continuing full production despite the fire damage.’
Another SABC statement also issued on 14 June draws attention to the fact that chairperson of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) board, Dr Ben Ngubane, called an urgent board meeting on the same day to assess the situation.
The statement reads: “The board expressed deep concern about the safety of all personnel and the possible disruption of scheduled programming on television. Group executive of Risk and Governance Sully Motsweni briefed the board on the effects of the fire and contingency measures the SABC has put in place.
“The fire caused widespread damage to the production studios, but as yet a precise assessment of the cost and extent of that damage has not been finalised. We expect it to run into millions of rands. Contact has been made with our insurer. No persons were injured in the fire, but staff who were near the site at the time, including security staff, have been taken to hospital for pulmonary examinations and they have been offered trauma counselling. Our Health and Wellness department has availed the services of nurses and a doctor. None of our television channels have been affected.
“In terms of the production agreements we have with the producers, we have six weeks of material in advance, which should give us ample time to find alternative studios to produce forthcoming episodes of our popular soapie, Isidingo.
“Our other soapies, Muvhango and Generations, will not be affected but production staff will not be able to enter the studios until the relevant authorities have declared the area safe.
“The cause of the fire is currently been investigated by the relevant authorities, the SABC itself is assessing the impact of the fire on operations.
“Ms Motsweni is heading the internal inquiry into the fire and is in charge of contingency plans that need to be put in place so that production can continue.
“Dr Ngubane would like to reassure the SABC’s advertisers, viewers, listeners and all concerned citizens that our operations have not been affected. Our programmes and adverts will go on air as scheduled.’
