Is SABC2 drama series ‘Muvhango’ coming to an end?

Actors of popular SABC2 drama series Muvhango allegedly staged a walkout from a production meeting in April due to a salary dispute with the producers of the show.

It has become a never-ending financial roller-coaster behind the scenes of the iconic Tshivenda drama series.

This time the actors are allegedly up in arms after they were told that they will not receive their salaries later in the year.

A source close to production told Sunday World that the producers were left gobsmacked after gatvol actors and crew walked out of a meeting in April.

The meeting, which was held at the show’s SABC studios, intended to inform the actors and crew that they will have to tighten their belts because they will not be paid in October, as the soapie negotiates the renewal of a contract with the public broadcaster.

The source said: “They have actors who are on permanent contracts with the soapie and get paid monthly salaries. These are actors like Muamela [Susan], Gabriel [Azwindini] and Dingaan [James].

“They get paid every month, even when we are on production break, so they have things they pay for like cars, houses, and school fees. So, when they were told that they won’t get salaries for October, they were not having it.”

The mole added that the actors felt blind-sided because they were told previously that their contracts will only end in October, and that they will get paid for that month.

“Now the new contracts that they [producers] want actors to sign state that their contracts will end in September instead, and that they will not be paid for October, which was not the case previously. So, they are refusing to sign the new adjusted agreements,” said the mole.

Another actor, who asked not to be identified, said they want executive producer and production house Word of Mouth Pictures founder Duma Ka Ndlovu to commit that he will pay them for October and then recover the funds from the SABC, as other production houses will be doing.

“We are the only ones affected by this, others at Skeem Saam and Generations: The Legacy never have issues when it comes to contract renewals.

“They [Muvhango producers] don’t want to take any responsibility for payments in case the negotiations with SABC do not cover actors’ pay for the month,” said the actor.

Muvhango, which has been on television screens for more than 27 years, was involved in another salary payment drama in January.

Its spokesperson Thanduxolo Jindela was sent an e-mail and had not responded at the time of publishing.

SABC publicist Vuyo Mthembu said the public broadcaster cannot comment on contract-related matters.

“The SABC is not at liberty to engage on contractual matters with producers via the media,” said Mthembu.

“It must be noted that contracts between the production house and cast and crew is not the responsibility of the SABC.”