City Press reports that a dramatic story is playing out behind the scenes of the popular SABC2 Tshivenda soapie Muvhango.

Last week, actors downed their scripts for the second time in three months after their salaries were not paid. This came a few weeks after Word of Mouth Pictures, the production house responsible for the soapie, fired CEO Mandla KaNozulu for the alleged mismanagement of millions of rands. A support staff member at Muvhango’s Joburg studios reported that the cast members were called to a meeting on Tuesday and were informed about the production’s money issues. “Everyone was informed that there is no money and therefore we cannot be paid this month. We were told that our salaries will be paid later and there is a delay once again because the SABC had delayed paying the company and that affected our salaries,” the staffer stated. The cast and crew members apparently failed to show up for work after the staff meeting. “We are not working this week because no one has been paid. The cast members from Venda left and no scenes have been shot because our salaries are not in,” an actor indicated. The actor went on to say: “We have asked them to inform us in time when there are [money] issues because it can’t be that we are always informed at the eleventh hour. We need prior notice so that we can make proper arrangements for our families and our other financial commitments.” In November, it was reported that the cast and crew were only told on payday that they would not be paid because there was a payment delay on the SABC’s side.

• Read the full original of the report in the above regard by Julia Madibogo at City Press (subscriber access only)

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