Cancelled!
The Estate.
Or is it?
Not according to the SABC and Clive Morris Productions who say it's going on a production hiatus after Season 3 and will return once S3's sorted out all of its problems.
Haha! We presume you're trying to breathe through your laughter - same thing happened to us when we heard.
How many times have we been made promises over the decades? Year after year after
year the channel's gone through an "overhaul" with commitments to new programming, new channel heads, a new name.
Nothing works.
The only thing the channel's had going for it over the past three years was The Estate and the SABC botched that too with the gap between Seasons 2 and 3.
The show had managed to gain impetus and fandom, then it disappeared for too long between seasons instead of continuing as other soapies do. The momentum was broken, the head writer departed and favourite cast left e.g. Sdumo Mtshali, Dineo Langa, Sparky Zulu etc.
And now it's ending in July, with a promise that it'll be back sometime in the future, after a rigmarole, details unconfirmed.
The news comes after the exit of the channel's head Pat van Heerden whose contract wasn't renewed last month.
As you'll see from the press release below, the SABC cites loadshedding and the analogue switch off as the reason for the show's hiatus.
These are our conclusions from it:
1. S3 should shut down now. There isn't even enough fresh programming for SABC1 and 2, let alone a third channel.
2. The review process described below will take
too long for The Estate still to be of interest once it returns. The budget should rather go to a fresh show.
This is the release, see if you agree:
A SEASON WRAP UP OF THE ESTATE SEASON
The Estate, which debuted on S3 in 2021 tackling issues relating to land, politics, and the crisis of governance, keeping the viewers intrigued for three seasons regrettably comes to a season wrap.
The television drama series 'The Estate' will take a hiatus at the end of its third season, at the end of July 2023.
In line with the SABC’s content offering strategy of telling compelling and nuanced South African stories, the quality of production and storytelling on The Estate has been appreciated by South Africans audiences and the industry alike, with the show winning various awards including The Royalty Soapie Awards for The Outstanding Supporting Actor, Outstanding Lead Actor, Outstanding Wardrobe and Outstanding Writing Team amongst others.
Key market changes such as the impact of the analogue switch and loadshedding has forced a review on the channel’s strategy.
In addition, The Estate will be put on hold whilst it reviews its offering. This exercise is aimed at enabling the S3 to better compete within the environment.
Produced by Clive Morris Productions, The Estate will be in production until June 2023. S3 extends its gratitude to the producer, cast and crew of The Estate for a world class and award-winning production, and thanks the viewers for their support.
“It has been an immense privilege to work with the SABC in producing The Estate over the last three seasons.
"We are extremely grateful to our national broadcaster for the bravery and courage they have demonstrated in affording us the opportunity to tell authentic, hard hitting, and ground-breaking stories, which reflect the South Africa we live in today.
"Thank you to our incredible crew and cast for their unparalleled talent and commitment and most of all thank you to you the viewers who have walked the journey with us over the last two years.
"We look forward to sharing the next chapter of The Estate with the nation after our production hiatus.” – Khayelihle Dom Gumede, Chief Operating Officer, Clive Morris Productions.
Meanwhile, viewers can continue to enjoy the remaining episodes of season 3 as the storyline reaches a thrilling climax in July 2023.