Muvhango's top actors have not been fired from the SABC2 weekday soap, saying fake reports that surfaced saying that the SABC ordered the top cast to be jettisoned like SABC1's Generations for wanting better contracts were part of an April Fools' Day joke.
On Friday, 1 April, breathless media couldn't wait to report or bother to first verify before reporting a social media announcement on Muvhango's Facebook page that Word of Mouth Productions fired the Venda soap's five top actors, Sindi Dlathu (Thandaza), Siyabonga (Dingaan) Khumalo (James), Gabriel Temudzani (Azwindini), Maumela Mahuwa (Susan), and Buhle Samuels (Matshediso).
According to Muvhango, the actors demanded a re-evaluation of their contracts and had "nasty words" with executive producer Duma Ndlovu.
According to Muvhango, the SABC's chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng then told Muvhango producers to fire all the actors similar to what the SABC did with SABC1's Generations, with Muvhango saying the soap was "not going to be held ransom by a few actors".
On Monday Muvhango said no actors were fired after Duma Ndlovu got frantic phone calls from viewers and even the cast members.
"No-one had warned me and I did not know what was happening," said Duma Ndlovu.
"It is back to business at the SABC studios where cast and crew are running around with scenes for the day," says Muvhango PR manager Amanda Ngudle.
