Uzalo actors Nompilo Maphumulo and Menzi Biyela to exit SABC1 soap with season 9's debut in 2023.

by Thinus Ferreira

Actors Menzi Biyela and Nompilo Maphumulo, known for their characters of Pastor Gwala and Nosipho have been let go by Stained Glass TV and their characters will exit Uzalo with the debut of the ninth season of the SABC1 soap in early 2023.

The Stained Glass TV production and SABC1 say the actors have been let go from the series and that their characters will exit the soap when season 9 starts next year. 

"We want to take our hats off to the stellar performances of Nompilo and Menzi over the years," says Thuli Nhlapo, SABC1 acting channel head. "Their portrayal of the characters, Nosipho and Pastor Gwala, will forever be embedded in the hearts and minds of our viewers."

King David Mukwevho, Uzalo series producer, says "We are incredibly honoured to have worked with such talents".

"Nompilo has been an integral part of Uzalo since season one, she has brought us a remarkable rendition of Nosipho that the fans will never forget, and Menzi's portrayal of Pastor Gwala has been nothing short of exemplary. Our viewers love them, and so do we. We wish them all the best in their future endeavours."

With SABC1 on its second acting channel boss in a year with Thuli Nhlapo, questions swirl over what's happening with the channel's management.

by Thinus Ferreira

South Africa's biggest TV channel by reach, the South African public broadcaster's SABC1, is on its second acting channel head in a year with Thuli Nhlapo currently holding the reigns as acting SABC1 channel head.

There's as yet no indication of when the SABC will appoint a permanent new SABC1 channel head.

Thuli Nhlapo quietly replaced Jerry Baily as acting SABC1 channel boss, who in turn was quietly appointed as acting SABC1 channel boss to fill the gap after Phumzile Zonke quit as SABC1 channel boss a year ago.

Months before the Covid pandemic started, Phumzile Zonke in his last public appearance before South Africa's press in August 2019, told the media that SABC1 is finding itself in a precariously bad position but doing the best with the little money it has.

"Look our situation is dire but that does not mean we have to fold our arms. A lot of our viewers, whom by the way surpass most of our rivals, rely on us to produce, curate and unleash productive content," Phumzile Zonke said at the time.

"Our strategy as the whole team is to work with the little we have in our coffers but at the same time this launch, after a while, means that we're ready to engage with stakeholders."

That was the last time the media covering South Africa's TV industry heard from him. Phumzile Zonke quit as SABC1 channel boss to head up Black Swag Productions since April 2021. 

Jerry Baily took over in an acting position, after which Thuli Nhlapo took over and is currently in an acting position to steer SABC1.

Last week media were invited to a very badly organised SABC1 media event. 

Scheduled for 11:00 but by 12:00 showing no signs of starting, media who were all left waiting without any communication or told what's going on, left the amateurly run event in droves. Many are openly wondering what exactly is going on at SABC1 and what happened to the channel's management.