BREAKING. Ugly Betty's Vanessa Williams set to join the cast of Desperate Housewives as the latest housewife with a secret.

From MODE to Wisteria Lane? Word from the American TV industry is that Vanessa Williams is joining the cast of Desperate Housewives, shown in South Africa on M-Net and SABC3, from the seventh season.

Vanessa Williams is known for her role as editor Wilhelmina Slater in Ugly Betty, also shown on M-Net as well as SABC3. Vanessa Williams who visited South Africa and Cape Town in December, is set to join the cast as a new regular later this year as a housewife with a big secret.

UPDATE Wednesday 19 May 00:44 - Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry just spoke to TV Guide magazine. ''I'm a big fan of Vanessa's work and I'm so excited that she'll be moving into the neighborhood next season to cause trouble in all the ladies' lives. But don't expect Vanessa to be at the center of next season's big mystery.''