Publications
- kykNET is reacting with shock and surprise that its system of background checks for reality show participants failed.
- The latest issue of Huisgenoot magazine reported that ostrich farmer Francois Fourie featured in the show Boer Soek 'n Vrou has a criminal record for physically attacking a woman.
- The channel "immediately conducted an investigation into this matter" after becoming aware of the 2013 assault earlier this month.
kykNET is reacting with shock and surprise that its system of background checks into reality show participants failed to find the criminal record of one contestant Francois Fourie who had previously physically assaulted a woman.
As a result, kykNET says an investigation has now started into the serious flaw and that it strongly condemns gender-based violence.
The latest issue of Huisgenoot magazine on Friday reported that Fourie, 51, a Boer Soek 'n Vrou contestant and Oudtshoorn-based ostrich farmer, has a criminal record for physically attacking a woman a decade ago.
According to the report, the farmer did not reveal the information to Wolflight, which produces the Afrikaans Boer Soek 'n Vrou as per the Fremantle (UK) format.
In 2013, Fourie admitted guilt and paid a fine, with police records showing he was involved in a case of physical assault in which he used his hands to "strike, hit, beat" a woman.
Fourie couldn't immediately be reached on Friday for comment but admitted to Huisgenoot in a sit-down interview that he was involved in a fight with an unnamed woman and that he "pushed and shoved a little here and there".
He added that he wasn't aware at the time that he was paying the fine as an admission of guilt of physical assault.
Failure to pick up the criminal record raises red flags for M-Net's system of background checks and its duty-of-care policy, which sets out guidelines for content makers to keep contestants and participants in reality shows safe and out of harm's way.
kykNET on Friday told News24 that the M-Net channel and the production company conduct "thorough background checks on all the participants of each season of our reality TV shows" and that contestants are obliged to declare any criminal charges laid against them.
According to kykNET, the correctness of information supplied by all participants – including both the farmers and potential romantic matches – is verified by an independent assessment company which collects and compares information from various platforms, including the database of the South African Police Service (SAPS), the Company and Intellectual Property Commission, and the Department of Home Affairs.
kykNET said that during the vetting process for Boer Soek 'n Vrou in 2022, no criminal record or any payment of a fine that would constitute an admission of guilt was found for Fourie and that the channel became aware of the R200 fine and the 2013 assault earlier this month.
The channel "immediately conducted an investigation into this matter".
kykNET told News24 that the independent company, which conducts background checks on its reality TV shows, is investigating to determine why Fourie's criminal record wasn't detected last year "to ensure that this does not happen again in the future".
"kykNET advocates for the safety of not only the public and our viewers but also our co-workers, which includes all the participants in our TV programmes. Gender-based violence has no place in our society, and we condemn any acts of violence in the strongest terms."
