Sibonile Ngubane as Uzalo's Khathaza
Is it true that Uzalo star Sibonile Ngubane has been fired from the show?
TVSA asked Uzalo who say: "No," - meaning the reports about his firing are fake news.
According to the show's publicist Marang Setshwaelo, the character of Khathaza will be leaving the show soon (
in January) because his storyline is at an end and not because Sibonile's been fired.
Earlier this week
Isolezwe reported that Sibonile's been fired, with no reasons given.
This from Marang...
"Sibonile Ngubane is one of South Africa's most accomplished and talented actors, and he breathed life into the character of Khathaza. It is no exaggeration to say that with his fellow cast members, he electrified the storyline, and kept audiences coming back for more.
The storyline, to be clear, always had a beginning and an end - we knew when we started, how and when Khathaza would make his exit - any implications that he was fired from the Uzalo production are mischievous and a talent of Mr. Ngubane's caliber deserves much better.
Once again, we thank him for being part of the Uzalo family, and for sharing his towering talent with us."
The terrible thing about this particular piece of fake news is that it has direct implications for the actor and his career.
It's in multiple stories on the internet now - one even says he's been "kicked out" - and even if the word "allegedly" has been used, it sows the seed that there's a problem with Sibonile in some way or that the show is heartless and brutal towards its actors.
It could have a directly negative impact on Sibonile's career e.g. casting directors who come across the news while researching him for a role might have second thoughts about casting him - or not cast him at all!
It presents him in the wrong light and undermines his professionalism and livelihood.
This incident follows on recent reports that Giyani was cancelled when it wasn't.
It was a telenovela, which has a beginning, middle and end
and the SABC are assessing whether or not to give it a second season and yet reports claimed that it's been canned.
This type of twisting of the truth is exceptionally problematic because it damages people's careers both in front and behind the cameras.