Thomas Gumede and Lungile Radu's company Parental Advisory Productions (PAP) is not been having a good season. They have fallen on hard times after failing to meet their targeted numbers on Nikiwe. They have officially lost the slot to Mandla N's company, Black Brain Productions, who will be taking over with the new show Isiphetho: Destiny.

BOOTED

ZiMoja previously reported on how PAP had not paid its actors their salaries. First, they booted the head writer, Siphosethu Tshapu, and replaced her with former Generations employee and writer Bongi Ndaba. Then actors threatened to take legal action after the company failed to pay salaries. Now the show has officially been canned and Mandla N has taken over. "This is because they were not doing good. Lord knows what they did with the money. But they have lost the prime slot and it's been given to Mandla N," the source said. "This is sad because the show had a lot of potential."

THE TAKE OVER

Mandla N's company joined the e-TV family with the production, Isitha: The Enemy which premiered in May 2023. According to an insider, the show far exceeded the expectations of the channel and reached a height of 4 million viewers. "It was the first time a show did so well on e-TV since Scandal! Nikiwe did terribly, they were between 400 000 to 500 000 viewership. It put them in the red," the insider revealed.

CONFIRMED

PAP owners did not wish to comment while Mandla N confirmed to ZiMoja that indeed they have a new show in that time slot. "Yes, Black Brain Pictures has a new show called Isiphetho: Destiny. I, however, don't think the channel dumped anyone, they had their time and did well. It's just unfortunate that maybe the channel needed something different at this point," he said. "We have a number 1 TV show on e-TV, so they trusted us to come up with another big show. We are very excited to have to produce a show like Isiphetho: Destiny, especially when we have to tell local stories and people relating to our stories," he added. Mandla N added that the film industry is a very big yet small industry where they all know each other. "I have a good relationship with the guys and have known them for a while now. Every production house in SA must produce good content for viewers and we all work towards one goal."

?Isiphetho: Destiny is set in the heart of Soweto, amidst the vibrant community of Mzimhlope. "Our story follows the intertwined lives of four friends who were bound by a life-changing secret during their teenage years. Now in their 30s, they find themselves drawn back to Mzimhlope, determined to chase their true destinies," he concluded.