Women’s rights groups in South Africa have called for proceeds from a reality television show featuring Reeva Steenkamp, whom Paralympian Oscar Pistorius is accused of murdering, to be donated to charity.
The first episode of Tropika Island of Treasure was broadcast last night on South African state television, SABC, despite the death of the 29-year-old model and contestant in a shooting at the athlete’s house on Thursday.
“If this programme is to be aired it should help the cause of women and children suffering from violence,” Stubbs Maluleke, from South Africa’s Sonke Gender Justice Network, said. “It would be very short-sighted of the producers to refuse.“
Despite criticism of exploitation in some quarters, and the production company’s failure to consult Ms Steenkamp’s family, the celebrity challenge programme filmed in Jamaica in November was shown in a prime-time slot last night.
Samantha Moon, executive producer of the show and owner of the Johannesburg production company, Stimulii, said her firm was “in no way seeking to exploit” the model’s murder and that airing the programme was the best “tribute” to Ms Steenkamp. At the same time, however, Mrs Moon was charging news outlets $3,000 each to broadcast a short clip from the television show – with at least a dozen networks buying rights.
A Cape Town-based group calling itself “RIP Reeva” condemned the decision: “Let’s be honest, the only reason SABC and the producers are going ahead with the broadcast of this show is because of the increase in exposure and viewership they’ll be getting.