Vatiswa Ndara. Image: Instagram.com/Vatiswa Ndara

Vatiswa Ndara. Image: Instagram.com/Vatiswa Ndara

Veteran actress Vatiswa Ndara exits Muvhango and rebukes rumours

Vatiswa confirms finishing shooting Muvhango by the end of June, after an agreement was reached that she would be paid until August, when her contract ends.

Vatiswa Ndara. Image: Instagram.com/Vatiswa Ndara

Vatiswa Ndara. Image: Instagram.com/Vatiswa Ndara

Vatiswa Ndara has exited the fan-favourite SABC 2 soapie, Muvhango, after a year of production, as Ndara’s character officially reached the end of its road, and many have speculated that the dramatic exit stems from Ndara’s recent open letter, to the Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthethwa.

Ndara confirms that her exit from Muvhango is due to the end of her contract

Minister Mthethwa, received a six-page-letter from Ndara who detailed the mistreatment of artists in the film and television industry, and alleged Ferguson Films to be “slave masters”.

According to Tshisalive, Ndara has condemned rumours stating that she was booted off the show, for allegedly being “difficult and undermining other people’s authority”; and the veteran actress has confirmed that in March producers informed her they would “no longer need” her services.

Ndara finished shooting Muvhango by the end of June, as an agreement was reached that she would be paid until August, when her contract officially ended.

South African artists have backed Ndara up with their accounts of claims

Ndara’s open letter has however sparked a larger debate, surrounding the plight of artists in the film and television industry, as the nation has spoken out in a series of open dialogues and social media rants.

Marah Louw has been vocal about her struggles and took a jab at the African National Congress, by announcing that the “biggest mistake” was deploying politicians to be Ministers, as she was referring to Minister Nathi Mthethwa.

Marah has also revealed that in 2003, while playing Catherine on Muvhango, she was earning R65 000 a month, and the actress also took a dig at Shona Ferguson, after an alleged business deal was not completely secured because of financing and the lack thereof:

“And now Shona, a child, tells me that I am expensive”.

Fergusons have taken legal action after Ndara’s alleged claims against them

In an official statement from the Ferguson Films, Connie and Shona Ferguson have indicated that their company does not “reap financial benefits through repeat broadcasts” as earlier mentioned in Ndara’s six-page open letter.

The Fergusons further indicated that Ndara’s claims are “petty, unnecessary, and uncalled for”; and they describe their production company as “merely a middle-man” between the broadcaster and the artists.

“We are pretty much in the same boat as the artist. We do not own the shows, we produce under their commission, and therefore have no right or say in what happens with the show post final delivery to the broadcaster. Ferguson Films prides itself in producing quality shows, providing much-needed employment to new and old talent, contributing to growth in the industry.”

Ferguson Films