Nikiwe Actors Take Legal Action Over Unpaid Salaries

Actors from the discontinued e-TV telenovela, Nikiwe, are outraged after being paid a mere R400 each as December salaries, leaving many in dire financial situations.

According to Zimoja the unpaid salaries, totaling hundreds of thousands of Rands, have become a significant challenge for some actors. It has led them to struggle to put food on the table during the holiday season.

The actors received a message from Parental Advisory Productions, the telenovela’s production management co-owned by Thomas Gumede and Lungelo Radu. The message stated that they would not receive their December salaries.

The letter explained the financial challenges faced by the production, mentioning disputes with the channel and unexpected debt.

Despite this explanation, the actors are not backing down. Feeling betrayed and powerless due to the company’s unresponsiveness, they are pursuing legal action against Parental Advisory Productions. One actor questioned the adequacy of receiving only R400 from a salary exceeding R20k, expressing frustration over the lack of communication and understanding from the production company.

Several actors, who chose to remain anonymous, expressed disappointment over the situation. They emphasized their determination to continue legal action until they receive the full amount owed.

This incident has sparked a broader conversation about the precarious nature of the entertainment industry, with calls for greater protection and support for those working in the field. Some actors advocate for the intervention of unions in such situations.

e-TV PR manager, Thapelo Ramatsui, clarified that the channel terminated the contract due to the poor performance of the show. He also affirmed that the production company had been paid. As of the time of publishing, Parental Advisory Productions had not commented on the matter.