JOHANNESBURG – Actress and singer Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku, who plays Sihle Biyela in 'Outlaws' and is the daughter of legendary singers, Bheki Mseleku and Tu Nokwe, has publicly accused a co-star of sexual assault during the filming of a sensitive scene.
While declining to name the production, Nokwe, known for her role in the popular television series Skeem Saam, detailed a harrowing experience where professional boundaries were allegedly violated, leaving her feeling deeply traumatised and betrayed.
The incident occurred during the filming of a scene depicting a rape victim, a context Nokwe highlights as requiring extreme sensitivity and careful planning. She meticulously outlined the pre-filming discussions and agreements with her co-star regarding physical and emotional boundaries.
"The parties involved clearly understood the sensitivity of the scene and we had extensively discussed and reaffirmed the physical, emotional, and psychological boundaries in place, as well as precautionary measures and aftercare to ensure the safety and wellness of both actors performing the scene as well as the crew," she explained.
"My physical and psychological boundaries were: no simulation of the act of rape. Under no circumstances is my co-star to thrust his pelvis into mine. The rape could be implied in a close-up? it was rehearsed that he would push me over the car bonnet lay on my back to whisper in my ear then come out of the frame, which was on a close-up of my face screaming and the scene would end there."
Despite these clear agreements, Nokwe alleges that her co-star violated these boundaries during filming.
"It is unfortunate that her co-star violated physical boundaries, emotional as well as psychological too. We shot many variations of the scene. During my close-up, in the most vulnerable and compromised position, after my co-star came out of the frame and he took it upon himself to thrust his pelvis into mine," she stated.
She further emphasized the thoroughness of the consent process: "To emphasise how extensively these boundaries were clarified, I took the initiative to conduct a thorough consent exercise, to clearly define my red zones and my green zones – areas he could touch and areas he was absolutely not allowed to touch," she said.
"My pelvis is one of them. I asked him what his red and green zones were. And he said, 'I'm fine with everything. Just don't touch my d*ck.'"
The immediate aftermath of the incident, Nokwe describes, was deeply unsettling.
"I felt uncomfortable and unsafe due to actions that crossed my personal boundaries," she said.
The response from production management, she alleges, was inadequate and dismissive.
"More so, the disappointment in hearing the management reiterate to me his statement saying, 'I just got carried away' and to me 'I take full accountability for what I did. But it's a tense scene, and a tense set so have grace Nirvana.'" This response, she says, contrasted sharply with initial promises of mediation and written apologies.
"Initially, leaders acknowledged the situation with commitments to address it appropriately through mediation meetings and written apologies. However, these promises were followed by silence, leaving the issue unresolved," she explained.
The experience, Nokwe says, has profoundly impacted her.
"It is disheartening to see that my request for a simple remedy of therapy and a written apology, which was later agreed upon, was met with hostility, gaslighting, and intimidation, ultimately leading to inaction. This situation reflects broader challenges within our industry and country and highlights the importance of addressing these issues to preserve our collective humanity."
She further revealed that she filed a police report, navigating a frustrating process that included being redirected to multiple police stations, and encountering officers who lacked a clear understanding of sexual assault.
Nokwe's account highlights the vulnerability of actors, particularly in scenes depicting sensitive subject matter, and the crucial need for robust safety protocols and effective mechanisms for addressing complaints of sexual misconduct within the South African film industry. Other veteran actresses like Leleti Khumalo have also publicly revealed that they will never take part in any scene that involves kissing as it is only her husband who has the right to kiss her.
