You were not fired for speaking about our bullsh!t: Scandal reveals why they fired actress Nomvelo Makhanya

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Johannesburg – The popular South African soap opera, Scandal!, finds itself at the centre of a brewing controversy, with former actress Nomvelo Makhanya alleging she was axed for reporting misconduct on set. Makhanya, who portrayed the beloved character of Lindiwe Ngema, claims she was blacklisted after reporting her director and floor manager for being drunk at work.

The production company, however, vehemently denies these allegations, stating that Makhanya’s departure was amicable and that they were unaware of any misconduct reports.

"The production team states that it is unaware of these allegations, and to the best of the team’s knowledge, the departure was an amicable one," said Yithi Media, the company managing the show's public relations.

This stark contrast in narratives has ignited a firestorm of debate, with fans and industry insiders alike weighing in on the accusations. Makhanya, in a recent interview with the Access Genie podcast, detailed her experience, painting a picture of a toxic work environment where power dynamics allegedly played a significant role.

"I was written off a week-and-a-half after I had reported them, and I got called into the office," Makhanya revealed. "The news was delivered to me, and it was made to seem like I was the one with the problem. I was the one with the issues. But I took it like a champ and held my head high."

Makhanya, who left the show over 18 months ago, described her final months with the production as "extremely tough," alleging that she faced retaliation for speaking out.

"A lot of the time, people in power always want to show you that they hold the trump cards," she said. "And when you start speaking up against their bullsh*t, they want to make sure that you struggle. I was red-listed for a while. That basically means you do not work. The minute you show up, they already know who you are because they have been told. They wanted to prove that they are bigger than me, and they made me; it is a power thing."

Makhanya's allegations, if true, raise serious concerns about the prevalence of power abuse and retaliation within the South African entertainment industry. Her story echoes a growing sentiment amongst actors and crew members who have spoken out about the challenges of navigating a system where power dynamics can often be skewed, leaving those in vulnerable positions susceptible to exploitation and silencing.

Scandal's production company's denial, however, raises further questions. Their claim of being unaware of the misconduct reports begs the question of how such a serious allegation could have gone unnoticed, especially considering the potential impact on the production.

The lack of transparency from Scandal! has further fuelled speculation, leaving many to question the veracity of their statement and prompting calls for a thorough investigation into the matter.


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