Former Skeem Saam Actor Thabo Masoga Pleads for Donations to Undergo Surgery
Former Skeem Saam actor Thabo Masoga has made a heartfelt appeal for public assistance to help him undergo eye surgery.
Masoga has been diagnosed with a cataract in his left eye and needs R15,000 for a surgical procedure.
Speaking on the Sunday World Engage podcast this week — which is set to air on Saturday via the publication’s YouTube channel — Masoga shared that he’s open to help from anyone willing to assist.
“I’m asking for assistance, even just to find a surgeon who can perform the operation. The cost is around R15,000,” he said.
Also Read: Fall From Grace: Skeem Saam Actor Thabo Masoga ‘Ananius’ Now A Security Guard
From Fame to Financial Struggles
Masoga, best known for playing Ananias — the landlord of Big Boy and Leshole Mabitsela on Skeem Saam — has faced a series of financial setbacks over the years.
Recently it emerged that he now works as a security guard at a bank in Zebediela Plaza, Limpopo.
While he dismissed reports that he lost his apartment, he confirmed that he is currently renting it out to tenants for income.
“The five cars are gone. I’m only left with an Opel Corsa, which I don’t drive for spiritual reasons. I sold two cars to fund a project worth R800,000, but I never got paid a cent.”
“The Industry Uses People”
Masoga also opened up about the exploitation he says he endured in the entertainment industry. He alleged that he once wrote scripts for Skeem Saam, despite not being officially hired as a writer, and that some of his concepts have appeared on television — without credit or compensation.
“This industry uses a lot of people. I’ve seen stories I wrote show up on screen, just filmed in another language or setting to mask the origin. But I won’t mention names because I don’t want to fight anyone.”
According to Masoga, many of the ideas seen on screen today are not original.
“Ninety-nine percent of the stories are from scripts that were submitted years ago and are now being recycled by current producers,” he claimed.
A Return to His First Love: Community Work
Despite the hardships, Masoga maintains a grounded outlook. He says working as a security guard is more than just a fallback — it’s a return to where he began his professional life in 1989.
“When they cut my acting contract, it was easier for me to come back home. I’ve always been involved in community building. I worked as a security officer until 1998 and only retired in 2014 when my role on TV became popular,” he explained.