The British television series 'Spitting Image' enjoyed great success during the Conservative ruled era of the 80s and 90s, the French equivalent, 'Les Guignols' is still a popular television series and Kenya produces 'The XYZ Show'. What all of these shows do have in common though is that they are all produced locally for a local audience with puppet caricatures of mostly local politicians, celebrities and the everyman with the aim of holding a mirror to their respective societies so that the audience can look, laugh and learn.
"ZA News is a strong well known South African brand. We are excited to have the programme on our platform as it is local, relevant, innovative and above all else, entertaining," says Gugu Sibeko, VP local content.
The show's producer and director, Thierry Cassuto, adds, "Our puppets are very happy to have a weekly slot on television at last. Laughter and satire are the best antidote to doom and gloom that may result from watching other well-known Sunday night shows."
ZA News keeps an ear to the ground, bringing the audience a mix of the latest and most controversial current events in a witty and unorthodox way - parodying the formulaic style of media broadcasting in order to remind people that it is possible to engage humorously with societal issues that can often be a source of tension and frustration.
From Julius Malema's ramblings to Jacob Zuma's soothsaying and Helen Zille's calculated tirades, the show captures the strange, rainbow-coloured wilderness of South African politics in its own quirky, latex fashion. With puppets designed by renowned satirical cartoonist Zapiro, the show offers a take on the local milieu of South African life. No one is safe, but everyone is welcome.
The show is repeated on Tuesdays at 8.30pm and 11.30pm.
