Fans of the long-running SABC 2 soap opera, 7de Laan, are gearing up to protest the SABC’s decision to cancel the show abruptly.
Here’s why ‘7de Laan’ fans will be picketing at SABC offices
As reported by News24, the soapie’s ‘die-hard’ fans plan to deliver a petition to SABC executives, urging the public broadcaster to reconsider the cancellation.
The fans, who are part of the ‘7de Laan MyNou – Amptelik’ Facebook group, are spearheading the effort.
They have organised a public protest scheduled for Thursday, 28 September 2023, at 10:00, set to take place at Campus Square Auckland Park in Johannesburg.
The cancellation decision, which took effect in July 2023, was made by the SABC due to financial constraints.
The broadcaster could no longer afford to keep 7de Laan, SABC 2’s second most-watched show, on the air.
Production of the show is slated to conclude on 24 October 2023 at Sasani Studios in Johannesburg, with the final episode set to air on 26 December 2023.
Trouble arose earlier this month when 7de Laan had to halt production for three days due to non-payment from the SABC.
Although the SABC made a partial payment after the production shutdown was publicised, it still owes millions to Danie Odendaal Productions, the show’s producer.
SABC publicist Caroline Phalakatshela responded to the mounting protest efforts, stating:
“The decision taken is a business decision aligned with audience viewership and the financial state of the business. The fact that SABC 2 cannot afford to continue carrying a drama such as ‘7de Laan’ due to the accumulative costs and the dropped viewership numbers still remains.
“The show would need to double in audience numbers and also drop production costs to realise a positive return on investment. This we don’t see happening in the next few months, as the channel has been monitoring this program for the past years.”