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Drama over SA version of reality show

Cape Town – Drama and bickering seems to follow The Real Housewives TV show wherever it goes – even within the borders of South Africa.

NBCUniversal which owns the international rights for local versions of The Real Housewives  is denying reports that a South African version of the TV show is being planned.

According to a local woman Barbie Brazil (real name Thembi Ennie Tshabalala) she is producing a South African version of The Real Housewives of South Africa.

However NBCUniversal is now claiming that the woman, who they have never heard of before, does not have the local production rights for a SA version of the reality show.

A Sunday newspaper in South Africa, which didn't check with NBCUniversal, reported that Barbie Brazil said she is going to produce Real Housewives for South Africa.

According to the paper, Brazil said that she was going to be in Real Housewives herself.

On her Facebook page Brazil says she registered the paperwork for the reality franchise and that she has "done it through the South African department of trade and industry. Therefore Bravo! [the international TV channel in America which shows the Real Housewives versions] cannot have the name in South Africa, I own it".

NBCUniversal denies reports

Jonathan Tuovinen, the international director of formats and production in the United Kingdom for NBCUniversal says "I need to inform that Barbie Brazil does not have the format rights for The Real Housewives franchise in South Africa.

"NBCUniversal and its affiliate Bravo! is in no way affiliated with Brazil. She has never been in touch with us."

Barbie Brazil's manager hits back

Barbie Brazil's manager Lelo Bikitsha posted on Facebook: "I would like to clarify that Barbie does own The Real Housewives franchise in South Africa.

"I have the paperwork with me, all the necessary documents. Americans seem to think that if you register something there, it applies to the rest of the world, but patenting law strictly states that before you own any name, company or franchise in any other country either than the one you have registered in, you also have to go through the process of registering in that country.

"That is the law. This is nothing but an unfounded claim," says Bikitsha.


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