“He told me he owned me and that he would destroy my acting career. I was shocked because this is someone who has been in the industry for so long. He has opened doors for many people, yet now he was threatening my career and my future.”
Duma Ndlovu’s Attempts to Sabotage Her Departure
During her notice period, Zuma alleges that the writers of Umkhokha: The Curse deliberately assigned her character an overwhelming number of scenes, making it nearly impossible for her to leave.
Five days before her final day, she was informed that she had over 200 scenes to shoot. Despite this, Zuma left the production as planned, only to be called back the following Monday.
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“They insisted I return to discuss the matter, but when I arrived, it became clear they didn’t want to pay me for the additional work. I was told to either shoot the scenes for free or forget about my role in The Lion King in Canada. They even claimed they weren’t accepting my resignation.”
Angel Zuma details the abuse at Word of mouth set-Image Source@Instagram/AngelzumaShe further alleged that the production company contacted The Lion King team and falsely claimed she was still under contract. This led to her receiving an email from The Lion King advising her to complete the scenes before joining their production. Ultimately, Zuma shot the 200 scenes over three gruelling days.
Injuries and Neglect on Set
Zuma also shared a harrowing account of an injury she sustained on set. She shared that the production company did not care to give her sick leave.
“I tore a muscle and was put on sick leave for two weeks. But they couldn’t wait — they called me back to work. I wasn’t even compensated for getting injured on duty. The set was a danger zone — people were getting injured, but they simply didn’t care,” she said.
She claimed that such mistreatment was common for actors on Umkhokha: The Curse, with the production team asserting ownership over their careers.
“They told us that they owned us. That’s why you never see their actors in other productions or even in advertisements,” Zuma added.
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Industry Reactions and Calls for Accountability
The South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) has expressed deep concern over Zuma’s allegations. Jack Devnarain, the Chairperson of SAGA, stated that while the claims are shocking, they are not entirely surprising given the lack of regulation in the creative sector.
“SAGA is appalled by Zuma’s allegations of professional misconduct and abusive working conditions on the set of Umkhokha. The allegations demand attention and a thorough investigation by Word of Mouth Pictures,” Devnarain said.
Devnarain also revealed that SAGA receives daily reports of misconduct, contractual breaches, and even criminal activity within the industry. The organization encourages performers to speak out and take formal action to bring about transformative change.
“We urge performers to become activists for industry transformation. Social media is a powerful tool for exposing abusive conditions, but formal complaints must be lodged with government authorities to ensure accountability and regulatory reform,” he added.