The top telenovela TV series Umkhokha: The Curse seems to be living up to its name. There seems to be a curse that has been ripping the Mzansi Magic drama series with actors leaving it in droves. Last week, ZiMoja reported that three top actors were fired from the show for being 'divas'. Apart from actors leaving the show, the future of the drama series looks bleak as the contract of the show is said to not have been renewed for next year. 

ANOTHER EXODUS

ZiMoja can reveal that the latest actress to exit the show is Sphelele Luthuli who plays the role of Nokubonga, who was the bride of the Mthembus in the drama. According to highly placed sources in the production team, the beautiful actress, who recently returned from a holiday in Dubai, was let go because producers did not know what to do with her character anymore. But ZiMoja has also learned that it was just an excuse to get rid of her. The source said this is part of a bigger plan to bring in new actors who are well-known and famous to attract more audiences and revive the show. "How come creatives who get paid to create characters do not know what to do with someone's character? That was just an excuse to get rid of her," added the source. An actor who left the show a while ago told ZiMoja that if you don't suck up to the producers, you are as good as gone. The source added: "Some of us who are not good at sucking up were written off. Unfortunately, that is the reality of the South African television industry. When you mind your own business and demand what you deserve, you are labelled a diva," the source said.. 

SHE LEFT ALREADY 

Another source said the Luthuli is done shooting and has already left the show. "It was a bittersweet moment. We are supposed to protect and groom young talent, not write someone off and tell them their character is boring as if they choose and write their script. That is just wrong,' said the source. In another dramatic twist of events, Umkhokha recently brought back its top actor Mbuso Khoza after he had left the show twice.

He plays the role of Maphalala, father of Nokubonga. Mbuso promised his fans that he wouldn't leave the show again upon realising how much they were fond of him. Mbuso played Maphalala in the first season of the show. When the show returned for Season 2 in 2023, there was confusion when his character was played by Langalakhe Zwane. Multichoice publicist Portia Hlongwane did not want to confirm if Luhuli left the show. " You are making it sound like a bad thing. If Sphelele is said to be leaving then, she is," she said.