A group of Uzalo actors are fuming following non-payment for their brief acting roles on the popular SABC1 drama series.
The actors told Sunday World this week they have been working for months without any compensation.
Uzalo, known for its gripping storylines and talented cast, relies heavily on the hard work and dedication of extras to bring authenticity to the story.
These individuals work tirelessly, often behind the scenes, to enhance the show’s aesthetic appeal.
However, they now find themselves at the centre of the controversy, as the agency responsible for their hiring appears to be withholding wages.
Speaking to Sunday World, a source, who refused to be identified, said: “We are a group of actors working as extras on the Uzalo series.
“We were hired by a casting agency called Mageza, which is owned by Ncami Mageza. Her role is to get extras for Uzalo.
“There are more than 50 of us and we all have not been paid. Some of us started working for her as early as March, while others only started work two months ago, but none of us have been paid.
“We tried to talk to her [Mageza], asking when she will pay us, but she became rude and refused to give answers.
“For this reason, we engaged Uzalo management and asked them to intervene.
“The meeting yielded no results because Mageza did not attend it.”
Another actor revealed that the extras have no written contracts with the casting agency.
“I’ve been working as an extra for three months and I have never signed any contract,” said the actor.
“Everything was done verbally. When she [Mageza] needs me to be on set, I’d receive a call to go on set.
“I guess the absence of a written contract made us easy targets for her.”
Sunday World reached out to Mageza and Uzalo spokesperson, Nomfundo Zondi, but both had not responded at the time of publishing.
