Duma Ndlovu, the creator of the popular SABC soap opera Muvhango, is quickly becoming known as the bad payer. Ndlovu and his production business, Word of Mouth, have recently made news for failing to pay its actors and staff members on time.
Once again, the soap opera’s cast and staff are irritated because they have not been paid since September, just before they went on a production break, according to Zimoja.
A source close to the production told ZiMoja that some cast and crew members are on the verge of losing their cars and homes because of the non-payment.
“We have been on a production break since September and have still not been paid our salaries from before we went on a break. We are not getting any answers, which shows that we work like slaves at the hands of someone respected in the showbiz industry,” the source said.
Another actor, who requested anonymity, stated that it appeared they would have a sad Christmas.
“We live in fear of losing our cars and homes since our banks consider us as bad payers. If no one is saying anything now from the producers of Muvhango, we may not get our December salaries too,”
Some of the top actors on Muvhango who made the soap opera popular, like Sindi Dlathu, have since left for greener pastures, like Mzansi Magic’s The River. Last year, the cast and crew of the soap opera downed tools after salary delays. In 2019, the cast and crew were not paid their two-month salaries, and they were told the SABC did not have money to pay them.
According to the source, some of Muvhango’s talented scriptwriters have also departed the Tshivenda soap opera to work on other TV programmes.
Actors are unaware of when they will return from their break.”We don’t know when we will shoot again, there is no straightforward answer from the top,” the person said.
