Muvhango's top actors NOT fired; acotrs demanding better contracts and the SABC's Hlaudi Motsoeneng ordering them fired all part of an April Fools' Day joke.

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.

Aspiring actors conned in fake SABC2 Muvhango auditions; Venda soap warns about bogus auditions luring people with the aim to exploit them.

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.