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PRODUCTION HOUSES STEERED BY WOMEN
Minnie Dlamini-Jones
Rethabile “Retti” Ramaphakela
Kee-Leen Irvine
ALYSSIA BIRJALAL WHAT was once an only maledominated industry is slowly becoming fair play for all. We take a look at females at the helm of South African production companies. Rethabile “Retti” Ramaphakela: Co-founder and creative director at Burnt Onion Productions Award-winning TV producer, writer and director, Rethabile cofounded Burnt Onion Productions with her siblings Katleho and Tshepo Ramaphakela in 2010. The company started off in her bedroom. Behind the camera, Rethabile has created and written successful popular comedy series that include the award-winning
mockumentary series Check-Coast, Thuli noThulani, Bedford Wives, My Perfect Family, Seriously Single and their Netflix offering How To Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, with season 2 in the pipeline. With excellent taste and flair, award-winning all-rounder Rethabile, brings her distinctive creative genius to the table. In 2019, Rethabile was named a “producer to watch” from Africa at the MIPTV market in Cannes. Minnie Dlamini-Jones: Owner of Beautiful Day Productions South African sweetheart and current Homegrown TV presenter, Minnie Dlamini-Jones made waves when her production
company produced Becoming Mrs Jones, a three-part reality series, documenting her marriage to Quinton Jones. The show was a record-breaking success, with the highest ever viewership for Vuzu Amp. Beautiful Day Productions is a traditional production company that is not afraid to adapt to new trends. Kee-Leen Irvine: Co-founder of Rapid Blue, former managing director and current executive producer Rapid Blue has over the years produced some of the most riveting shows on TV such as M-Net’s Shark Tank, Dancing With The Stars and The Bachelor SA.
