In the dynamic world of television production, longevity is often synonymous with success. Clive Morris Productions, a stalwart in the South African entertainment industry since 1988, has carved a niche for itself by creating award-winning shows such as Grassroots, Ashes to Ashes , Broken Vows, Isono, and The South African Music Awards. However, the company now finds itself in the throes of a severe financial crisis, leading to significant payment defaults and the loss of a major project.
According to ZiMoja, the company’s financial struggles have led to delays in paying actors, service providers, and crew members. The most recent setback involved the Showmax telenovela Empini , which the company lost after failing to meet payment obligations. This default follows a series of missed payments across three productions, including two on Mzansi Magic and one on BET.
In April, Clive Morris Productions staff revealed the depth of the financial strain. “It’s two shows on Mzansi Magic and one on BET. It doesn’t make sense that two channels can miss payments,” a source told ZiMoja. Despite attempts to rectify the situation, including visits from executive producer Khayelihle Dominique Gumede and Clive Morris himself to the set of Queendom, the company’s financial woes persisted. “We last got paid before Easter and we are relying on the weekly salaries for our families,” the source added.
The situation came to a head this month when the company once again defaulted on payments, resulting in the loss of Empini. “They have lost the production. It will be taken over by another production. This is after long meetings and actors complaining,” the insider revealed. The source explained that the company collaborates with channels to share production costs, but while the channels fulfilled their financial commitments, Clive Morris Productions could not secure the necessary funds in time.
Despite the turmoil, there is a palpable sense of loyalty and respect among the staff for Clive Morris. “We love Clive and he has done incredibly well and supported us through the years, but one needs to be realistic when facing financial challenges. Many companies are retrenching because of our current economic state, we understand but he needs to be realistic and downgrade,” the source stated. There are growing concerns that if the company does not take drastic measures to downscale, it might face closure.
In response to the crisis, Dominique Gumede acknowledged the challenges but remained optimistic. “The truth is that it’s a very tough market. We dealt with those and what was reported at the time. In this instance, we are dealing with the issue as soon as possible. Multichoice is in very good standing, they paid us. Empini specifically had nothing to do with the broadcaster. Payment delays are being sorted.”
As the industry waits for an official statement from Clive Morris and Multichoice, the fate of one of South Africa’s most esteemed production companies hangs in the balance.
