Soap stars living in fear
Fight brewing as Hlaudi Motsoeneng warns Muvhango creator not to “defy the SABC” over stars’ new contracts.
|||While viewers are entranced by the soap opera that is Muvhango, the real drama is happening backstage.
It’s a story of two headstrong authority figures who are on a colision course, and a cast of underlings who are fearing for their livelihoods.
The main protagonists in this real-life sopa opera are SABC boss Hlaudi Motsoeneng and Muvhango creator Duma Ndlovu.
Whispers of discontent from the Muvhango set have revealed that many of the soap’s top stars only have one-year contracts. This is in defiance of an order by Motsoeneng that all actors receive a three-year contract.
According to a Sunday tabloid, the actors are fearful of challenging Ndlovu, claiming that he “doesn’t take criticism lightly” and rules with an iron fist. As such, none were prepared to report the matter to the SABC.
Motsoeneng, however, did not mince his words when asked for comment.
“Duma can't defy the SABC. There's no way. If you do business with us, you will do what we want you to do as an organisation.”
Muvhango publicist Amanda Ngudle called for patience.
“Our current contract with the SABC was signed in August 2014. We could not have signed three-year contracts with our actors when our own three-year contract was already in procession when the verbal promise was made to the actors. It doesn't make legal sense,” she said.
Tonight Reporter