Bookstores allegedly refuse to sell Vatiswa Ndara’s book because of the names in it

Award-winning actress Vatiswa Ndara is reportedly struggling to get her book titled Unfiltered: My unglamorous odyssey in the World of South African Entertainment into bookstores.

She announced the release of the book in September last year. Her first book, I Am Because of You, was released in 2017.

According to Zimoja, the former Muvhango star has been sidelined in the entertainment industry since she publicly accused production houses (The Fergusons) of exploitation and criticised the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture.

A source told the publication that Vatiswa “has been selling and promoting the book on her own and through her own connections… She is no longer taking acting gigs. She said she made this decision after the industry did her bad”.

The actress also confirmed to the publication that bookstores want nothing to do with her book.

“You can order from me at the moment. I don’t think anyone wants anything to do with it because of the names in it… At this point, I feel comfortable when people quote from the book – I think I’m tired of the misquoted,” she said, adding that she no longer takes media interviews.

ALSO READ: Vatiswa Ndara confirms ‘Muvhango’ exit

Suicide attempt

During an interview on King David’s podcast, the actress revealed that she tried to take her life after she was allegedly fired from the SABC for laying a sexual assault complaint against a colleague back in 2019.

“I took Jeyes Fluid, Handy Andy, pills and Jik. So you can imagine when the contents wanted to come out. I knew this was going to do it. There was no way I was going to survive with all these pills and everything I drank. I remember that day I cleaned the house. I cleaned before I did all this so at least people come to a clean place.” 

Vatiswa and the Fergusons’ drama

In 2019, Vatiswa wrote a letter to the then Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, accusing the Fergusons of exploitation. She was not happy with the contract offer that the production gave her.

“Minister, this is the only remuneration (R82 500 after-tax) that I will receive after five weeks. My understanding is that both the channel and the production house, on the other hand, will continue to reap the financial benefits through repeat broadcasts, licensing deals, and repackaging of the show – they will continue raking in insurmountable figures, long after I have been paid and while I am not even guaranteed a job after that five weeks,” part of her letter stated.

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