I've been asking for days to be told that SABC3 plans to issue a statement on the troubled soap tomorrow (Wednesday). And while SABC3 and Isidingo are mum over on-set and actor issues, the on-air talent at Isidingo are not afraid to let their feeling be known with one actor calling the environment ''toxic'' and another one describing the set at Henley studios as ''a melting pot of anger and resentment''. The huge unhappiness stems from several actors who feel betrayed by the Endemol SA production after they have lost their permanent roles, with one saying with resentment, ''I've given them the best years of my life!''
Hlubi Mboya, Gugu Zuma, Don Mlangeni and Meshack Mavuso have become ''on call'' actors just like Tshepo Maseko last year who in all likelihood appear much less on Isidingo in future as their roles are presumably downgraded. I can exclusively reveal that erstwhile Isidingo actors are meanwhile finding a fertile future elsewhere like Milan Murray who has joined M-Net's new soap The Wild (I already broke the news last year about that other Isidingo alum Tumisho Masha who also joined the new soap that will be direct competition for Isidingo in the same timeslot from April).
But back to Isidingo. ''Some things are changing radically,'' says an on-set source, although it's difficult to tell whether it's actor dramatics or a real shake-up that's under way - SABC3 and Isidingo are not talking. The soap now pulls an average weekday audience of 895 000 viewers. ''It's just harsh,'' says another source. ''People are vulnerable and upset.''
