Weekend Breakfast withRefiloe Mpakanyane

Actress Vatiswa Ndara has written an open letter addressed to the Minister of Sport, Arts and Culture Nathi Mthethwa detailing the exploitation she has experienced as an actor in the country.

She was set to continue her lead role in reality series iGazi that airs on DSTV produced by Ferguson Films but has chosen to quit.

Ndara has made shocking allegations of actors being abused and treated unfairly by production houses in South Africa and made mention of Ferguson Films for exploiting actors.

Bongani Bingwa chats to the actor to give more insight into the letter.

GOOD MORNING 🙋🏽‍♀ 🇿🇦

AN OPEN LETTER TO MINISTER OF SPORTS, ARTS & CULTURE @NathiMthethwaSA + @asandamagaqa#actor #acting #actorslivesmatter#DiaryOfAMadFrustratedActor#StopExploitingActors#TheShowMustGoOn#IAmAnActorSA#SouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/o2auq7FckZ

— Vatiswa Ndara (@theVati_Can) October 7, 2019

She says she made it clear in her open letter she is referring to the whole production industry.

The Ferguson Films Production Company are just contributing to a rotten system that had already existed. I wasn't expecting much from the first season of iGazi and it was a huge success.

— Vatiswa Ndara, Veteran actor

She says she expected that the budget would be more for the second season, however, she was told that there was no budget.

We were offered even less for season two, I almost walked away. I remember Shona calling me telling me there is no budget and offered me R5,000 per call. I took it because sometimes we think with our stomachs.

— Vatiswa Ndara, Veteran actor

Ndara is calling for transparency from production companies as well as TV Channels.

There should be transparency, in this is what we made and this is what we can now offer as a budget for the next season. I am more upset with myself that I have allowed this to happen for so long hoping that the next gig will be better.

— Vatiswa Ndara, Veteran actor

Listen below to the full conversation: