Mfundi Vundla blatantly said he will never take back the 16 cast members he fired from one of the country’s most watched show, and he meant it.
“It’s finished and klaar. We are running a business here, there has to be resolve… we have to bring certainty to the production. We can’t be playing ping pong, ping pong. It is a final decision,” Vundla had been quoted saying.
Some said he will never keep to his word, but the Generations writer undoubtedly showed that he can.
Press conferences were held and fans of the show expressed their outrage through social media but Vundla said the cast members found Generations there and they will leave it there but the show will go on. And it turns out it will.
Sunday World reported that Vundla has replaced the 16 with the following:
– Connie Ferguson returns as Karabo Moroka
– Rapulana Seiphemo as Tau Mogale
– Manaka Ranaka as Lucy
– Letoya Makhene as Tshidi
– Asanda Foji as Simphiwe
– Ivy Nkutha as gog’Flo
– Musa Ngema as Mazwi
– Bohang Mthunzi as Angela Motene
– Andisiwe Dweba as Getty
– Denise Zimba returns as Mary
– Ronnie Nyakale resumes his role as Cosmo
– Thulisile Phongolo as Namhla
– Moopi Mathobeli as Smanga
– Vuyo Dabula as Gadaffi
– JT Medupi as Jonathan
– Lebohang Mthunzi as Angela Motene
This change comes after the 16 were axed following strike because of a wage and contractual dispute with the soap creators. The cast members had been in a dispute with the show creators and the South African Broadcasting Cooperation (SABC) for a year. The striking actors were demanding higher salaries, extended contracts and royalties from episodes that have been rebroadcast.
Vundla previously said the actors were making unreasonable demands and he was ready for the show to go on without them.
The 16 cast members fired are: Sophie Ndaba (Queen), Menzi Ngubane (Sibusiso), Seputla Sebogodi (Kenneth), Katlego Danke (Dineo), Thami Mnqolo (Senzo), Zolisa Xaluva (Jason), Winnie Ntshaba (Khetiwe), Slindile Nodangala (Ruby), Zenande Mfenyana (Noluntu), Thato Molamu (Nicholas) , Anga Makubalo (MJ), Mandla, Gaduka (Choppa), Patrick Shai (Patrick), Atandwa Kani (Samora), Nambitha Mpulwana (Mawande), Zikhona Sodlaka (Priska).
