After production and casting delays filming starts on Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story for BET Africa; Kelly Khumalo out; 6-episode biopic-series now set for broadcast in November.

After a production and casting delay filming has now started in and around South Africa's Gauteng province on Viacom Africa's Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story, now set to air on BET (DStv 129) in November, with Kelly Khumalo that is gone and no longer attached to the project.

Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story is the first in a new format of African star biographical TV retellings that Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa) is trying to do for the South African and sub-Saharan African market, closely following the established mold of what A+E Networks has been doing with biopics for its Lifetime channel about American pop culture stars.

Originally set for broadcast in September, production and casting delays behind-the-scenes since April has seen the 6-episode Ochre Media produced Viacom-project pushed back to November 2019.

VIMN Africa isn't announcing the cast yet but Kelly Khumalo is no longer attached or involved with the project. It's not clear whether Kelly Khumalo was fired or decided to quit the production. It's unclear if she was replaced and by whom, or whether her role needed to be replaced.

Kelly Khumalo's manager in a statement says "When she is ready she will tell her side of the story".

Fatima Beckman, VIMN Africa spokesperson, was asked why Kelly Khumalo is no longer involved and why she decided to leave and told TVwithThinus that Viacom Africa has no comment beyond announcing that filming has started.

A set visit is taking place for some media on Monday, 14 October, in Johannesburg.

Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story will recreate the rise to fame and untimely death of the bisexual kwaito singer, nicknamed "Madonna of the Townships" whose meteoric rise was cut short when she died aged 29 in a car crash in October 2006 when her vehicle hit a tree.

The artist who tried acting in-between a personal life and career filled with alcohol, drugs, partying and scandalous tabloid gossip, made appearances in South African TV soaps in guest roles ranging from Muvhango and Generations to Backstage.

The Lebo Mathosa Story will take viewers on a journey to the 1990s at the beginning of the South African kwaito revolution from the start of her fame as a member of the kwaito group, Boom Shaka, before pursuing a solo career, with various different-aged actresses portraying her through different stages of her life.

"BET Africa can confirm that the cast for Dream: The Lebo Mathosa Story has now been finalised and production, which is on schedule, has commenced across story relevant locations in and around Gauteng," says Monde Twala, the vice president for MTV, MTV Base and BET at VIMN Africa.

"This new biopic format for BET Africa is a celebration of black excellence which proudly portrays an authentic South African legacy story of African female talent."

LOOKING FOR LEBO. BET Africa doing an open casting call looking for actress to play iconic 'Madonna of the Townships' singer in the 6-episode The Lebo Mathosa Story produced by Ochre Media.

Viacom Africa has commissioned a local TV series of 6 episodes, produced by Ochre Media, set for broadcast in September 2019, to tell the biographical story of the late kwaito singer Lebo Mathosa, nicknamed "Madonna of the Townships" whose meteoric rise to fame was cut short when she died aged 29 in a car crash in October 2006 when her vehicle hit a tree.

The bisexual bottle-blonde artist who tried acting in-between a personal life and career filled with alcohol, drugs, partying and scandalous tabloid gossip, made appearances in South African TV soaps in guest roles ranging from Muvhango and Generations to Backstage.

Now Viacom Africa's BET Africa (DStv 129) is doing an open casting call, looking for an actress to portray the life of the former "wild child" Lebo Mathosa in a biographical series that will tell the story of how "a young, shy and ambitious girl transformed herself into a powerhouse in the music industry at the height of the country's social transition".

Auditions for The Lebo Mathosa Story will take place only in Johannesburg, on Sunday 31 March at Sky Rink Studios at 132 Main Street, Marshalltown from 08:00.

The series is looking for a young "Lebo Mathosa" wannabe aged between 10 and 14 years, as well as someone between 20 and 30 to portray the older Lebo Mathosa leading up to the point of her untimely death.

The Lebo Mathosa Story is a collaboration between BET Africa and the Lebo Mathosa Foundation.

"Bringing Lebo Mathosa's biopic to the streets and screens of South Africa is an example of BET's commitment to celebrating black excellence and culture," says Monde Twala, vice president for Youth, Music and BET at Viacom International Media Networks Africa (VIMN Africa).

"Lebo was a pivotal voice of her generation and her legacy continues to inspire. It's about time we share her untold story with audiences across the continent."

The Lebo Mathosa Story will take viewers on a journey to the 1990s at the beginning of the South African kwaito revolution from the start of her fame as a member of the kwaito group, Boom Shaka, before pursuing a solo career.