Gugu Zuma on Uzalo - 'I cant help who my parents are'

Following the Sunday Times article about Uzalo getting R167 milliom from the SABC, one of the first daughters, Gugu Zuma-Ncube — who is also the co-producer of the show, took to twitter to refute the claims made by the paper and set the record straight. 

President Zuma's daughter, who produced few tv shows before getting Uzalo on air, has lashed out at Sunday Times and by extension the critics for not judging her work on its merits but continuously tying her to her parents. 

Read Gugu's posts below

Fact: The article in the Sunday Times this morning about Uzalo was some idiotic bullshit! #Uzalo

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Fact: Sunday Times just awarded #Uzalo prizes for the best current TV show & the coolest soap on television. Today this article?

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Very interesting Sunday Times #Uzalo article & by interesting I do mean bullshit. Here are some facts for anyone still interested in those:

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Fact: I've produced the most successful show in RSA & arguably in the history of this country, but still being persecuted with lies. #Uzalo

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Fact: literally being the best at what I do doesn't matter. I'm still being used in political fights that have nothing to do with me. #Uzalo

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Fact: I can't help who my parents are. But what I have always done is to put my head down and I work harder than everyone around me. #Uzalo

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Fact: Hired more than 100 people, given opportunities 2actors no-one had seen b4. Leading the charge of decentralizing SA tv industry.#Uzalo

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Fact: It is more expensive to produce television in Durban than it is to produce television in Johannesburg. #Uzalo

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Fact: Assuming the article reported Generations budget correctly; #Uzalo's budget is almost R30 million less each year. Hence 3 days vs 5

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Fact: In 4 years #Uzalo will producer 628 episodes. 156 each season, not 13 per season as the Sunday Times claims.

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Fact: # Uzalo was recommissioned because we as a show are currently bringing in the most advertising revenue for the SABC.

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

Fact: #Uzalo was recommissioned because we broke all viewership records in our time slot. We were & continue to be the number 1 show in RSA

— Gugulethu Zuma-Ncube (@guguzuma) July 10, 2016

My thoughts...

While it must suck for Gugu to have to deal with her family name being dragged into everything she does, I also feel she is being a little naive or disingenuous by expecting that her ties to the political echelon of this country can be separated from her work.

I like Gugu and I have interviewed her before [even asked her about the Zuma thing] so I know she is not a bad person. However, she can not seriously believe that her projects do not benefit from the fact that she is GUGU ZUMA.

Her argument about Uzalo having proven itself to be the best is very valid. Her stance that her team at Uzalo are leading the charge on decentralizing the entertainment industry also is very true and should be lauded.

There is plenty that Gugu and everyone working on Uzalo have to defend the integrity of the show as an entertaining medium as well as a viable business platform. Say what you will but you can not take that away from them. Facts are facts.

I do hope (and I know it must be frustrating for her when she feels her show has proven itself and validated her position) that she also realises that she just has to accept that it is not really an awful thing to have a Zuma name and that has had it perks. 

Oh dear Gugu,

Defend the show. It has earned its keep. Do not try and divorce yourself from the very thing that opens doors for you... whether you want to admit or not. You are the president's daughter so you do get preferential treatment whether you ask or warrant it — or not. The poor-little-rich-girl-but-she-did-not-choose-to-be-rich pity party will be a blemish on your character. Accept your privileged circumstances and let the work speak for itself. We see it.