A few months after their public argument about their child, seasoned and award-winning producer Lebo M and his ex-actress Zoe Mthiyane are involved in another bitter fight. Zoe is fuming, and her lawyers, LP Mkhize Attorneys, have written to her former partner to stop using their child in his upcoming reality show.
DESIST FROM USING NAME AND IMAGES
“In the letter that Zimoja saw, Mthiyane urged Carol Bouwer Productions and Primedia to stop using her child’s name and pictures without first getting her permission.” Our client has informed us that Mr. Morake is filming a new reality show with Primedia and Carol Bouwer Productions, the show’s producers, and that some fliming has taken place, including with her minor child (name withheld). In light of the foregoing, neither Mr. Morake nor Primedia and Carol Bouwer Productions have sought or obtained prior consent from our client for the filming of the minor child. Given the circumstances, any filming that includes (name of child withheld) has taken place without our client’s permission and may be illegal.”
Mthiyane has given the producers until today to provide her lawyers with a written undertaking or confirmation that the offensive scenes will be removed from the show. According to Mthiyane’s legal team, Primedia and Carol Bouwer Productions are prohibited from publishing and/or broadcasting the entire production or any portion of it in which Mr. Morake or any other cast member specifically mentions Mthiyane. “Primedia and Carol Bouwer Productions refrains from publishing/broadcasting the production or portions thereof where Mr. Morake and any other cast member portrays her negatively or in any manner whatsoever,” reads the remainder of the letter. Our client is open to exploring any reasonable means of excluding any reference to her by name by Mr. Morake and any other cast member, including but not limited to the complete removal of those scenes or the censoring of those scenes that have already been filmed. She has no intention of causing unnecessary disruption to the production, and given the circumstances, she is open to doing so. “This is to protect our client’s private life as well as her and her minor child’s personal information, which Mr. Morake or Primedia and Carol Bouwer Productions may not use for public entertainment or commercial gain,” the statement reads.
Legally Managing It As a Final Point, the Letter Continues: In addition, we are instructed to advise that our client’s primary goals are to limit any harmful or negative use of her name and to preserve her dignity and privacy. She has engaged our offices in this regard.” Although his wife Pretty Samuels stated that she has not personally received the letter, her husband is handling the matter legally, Lebo M, who is currently on tour abroad, could not be reached for comment. I do not possess this letter. The child’s father is consulting with his legal team regarding anything related to Zoe Mthiyane and will refer to Zoe’s legal letter. Ditty Bouwer said she was unable to remark as her attorneys are managing it.