By Rorisang Modiba
- Uzalo’s cast and crew have downed tools after going without pay for over two months, with filming stopped until salaries are paid.
- The production company says it is in a serious cash crisis and is in talks with the South African Broadcasting Corporation to solve it.
Uzalo, the country’s most popular soapie with more than 5.7 million viewers, has come to a sudden stop.
Actors, crew and extras have stopped working after not receiving salaries for over two months. The popular KwaZulu-Natal-based drama has been at the top of TV ratings since its debut in 2015.
The production company, Stained Glass Productions, has admitted to having “serious cash flow problems” and says it cannot pay salaries on time. More than 30 actors are employed on the show, not including crew and extras.
One of the main actors, who has been with the show since it began, said the situation was deeply upsetting.
“It’s very discouraging. How do we pay our bills? We have been waiting for more than two months. This is all we have, so we have to wait. We never thought we wouldn’t get our salaries,” the actor told Sunday World.
Stained Glass says it is in talks with the South African Broadcasting Corporation to resolve the crisis quickly. The company also thanked staff for remaining professional under the circumstances.
This is not the first time Uzalo has been hit by money troubles. In 2023, more than 50 extras stopped working after going unpaid for months.
Pictured above: The Uzalo cast.
Image source: @uzalo_sabc1
