Aspiring South African actors who wanted to audition for roles in SABC2's Muvhango were conned through fake auditions and lured to hoax venues in Newtown, Johannesburg, the Lesotho Sun Conference Centre and Pacofs in Bloemfontein on various dates, none of which were real auditions associated with the Venda weekday soap of the public broadcaster.
Muvhango publicist Amanda Ngudle says Muvhango never planned, nor organised any auditions for any of these venues or dates where several people showed up and where some agencies even sent talent to.
Amanda Ngudle warns aspiring soap actors to be alert for bogus auditions which aims to exploit people.
The fake Muvhango auditions advert included the names and contact details of SABC2 publicists to enhance its perceived credibility although SABC2 staff said they were unaware of any auditions at these venues for the soap.
The auditions advert claimed that open auditions would be held for a male character called Njabulo Chabeli who is a lawyer between 30 and 40, who needs to be Sotho and Zulu speaking.
The scammers also called for a young female to be cast named Carol Chabeli in her late 20s or mid-30s who is Sotho speaking.
