by Thinus Ferreira
The casts of the transgender reality series Becoming on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) and reality show The Queens of Mzansi on SABC1 have reportedly been dumped and replaced without them being told by the productions they appear in.
City Press reports that the cast of Becoming, produced by Connect TV's Basetsana Kumalo and Kopano Gelman, had no idea and got no warning that they were being jettisoned and are getting replaced.
Becoming featured Yaya Mavundla, Gugu Kumalo and Ramazon Ngobese, with two of them who heard the news when the newspaper told them.
Kopano Gelman declined to comment and directed media queries to Mzansi Magic. Mzansi Magic publicist Irvin Pooe asked that questions be emailed to him but didn't respond by the time the City Press report was published.
Meanwhile SABC1 has allegedly decided to can the broadcast of reality show The Queens of Mzansi, after only broadcasting 10 of the 26 episodes which were filmed, although the SABC says it only bought 10 episodes.
The Queens of Mzansi had Paloma "Lolo" Mlunjwana, former Miss SA Teen Lucky Mthembu, Siphelele Petunia Makhaya, Ntombifuthi Mthembu, and Samkelisiwe Mhlongo in the cast.
Cast members told Zimoja the problems with The Queens of Mzansi started in October after they complained about not being paid on time.
"Our problems began in October when we raised issues with payment. We were not paid on time and when we complained about our payments we became bad people. They were supposed to inform us that they are cancelling than having to just dump us just like that," one of the cast reportedly said.
The SABC in a statement said that The Queens of Mzansi was only commissioned for 10 episodes.
"The SABC can confirm that Kinsman Redeemer Productions was contracted for the licence of 10 episodes of The Queens of Mzansi. The SABC is not in anyway involved in the talent acquisition process of licensed programmes."
"The SABC can further confirm that all 10 episodes of The Queens of Mzansi were broadcast and the contract therefore reached its full term."
