She is naming and shaming just some of the alleged indecent acts that happened to her behind the scenes of TV productions. Actress Brenda Ngxoli is not concerned about the repercussions or possibly being ‘blacklisted’ from show business for speaking her truth. The mom of one has come out to expose a veteran actor who was formerly in the military David James (51) of racism.

RACISM CLAIMS

Brenda says she has been called a diva, for knowing her worth, but being called the K-Word while working on the set of Yellowbone Productions was gut-wrenching. "Hey Jou Ka**ir meit. He said to me on the set of Sew The Winter to My Skin. If anything happens to me or my child. David James is his name," Brenda claimed in one of her social media posts. In another post she said: "Many years later, I still remember, I stood alone then as I cried on set, and reported it to the AD and Xolani Qhubeka, the Director gave me an ice-cold cream soda. Even today I’m still standing for my truth." She goes on to say that she is not perfect herself but asked why her name gets dragged to the point of no employment while some thespians miss flights, rock up late for work, never know their lines, costing production millions and still get glorified.

THE LEGAL ROUTE

Many people have shared words of comfort with Brenda and advised her to take legal action. "The damage had been long done. They are anxious. I am on the defence guard and so the cycle continued. For I always tried to avoid conflicts. One time, makeup department complained that I don’t talk when I’m on the chair." She says over the years, she has chosen silence and learned to just apologise. She added that she is dedicated to her work that she often refers to herself self as an acting soldier. "Yet rumours are often spread to the extent one production performed drug and STD tests on me. I later learned I was the only one who’d been tested. My results for both were negative."

AN APOLOGY

David owned up to using the K-Word on Brenda and explains his side of the story in a statement. "Travelling back from set one night we were engaged in a discussion in the cast vehicle about the political era and setting of the script, our respective characters, and together we reflected on racial epithets. The next morning there was mutual banter between Ms Ngxoli and I, both of us using some of these pejorative phrases (which included the K word), in mutual understanding of our facetiousness," he said in a statement. He added that production called a meeting at the time to address a complaint raised Brenda. "The meeting included the producer, director, assistant director, Ms Ngxoli and myself. After a comprehensive discussion surrounding the specific events I related above, I realised my conduct was seen as offensive and inappropriate. I immediately and unreservedly apologised to Ms Ngxoli and the producers. After the discussion, Ms Ngxoli and I shook hands, and I apologised once again for the hurt she had felt. I have a comprehensive record of the notes taken at this meeting and I have no doubt Ms Ngxoli also has copies," he added. David said he deeply regret any hurt Brenda felt and that he is sorry the incident still haunts her seven years later.

SPEAKING OUT

In another incident, she calls out actor Ezra (Mabengezela). "Remember how ya’ll seemingly sided with Ezra when I said he had fondled my thighs during a scene," she ranted. "In that scene where I was doing a traditional dance by the fire. He said my feet make him horny. The producer’s response was, ‘Ezra says you made moves on him.’ I never signed any contract or non-disclosure and continued working in good faith. Like most actors, we accept a lot out of fear of being branded difficult. I am going to speak more... Stay tuned... Besikwa MacG izolo (I was on MacG’s podcast yesterday)," she said. "I have not yet gotten to how we were travelling up and down that mountain in small cars. Changing in gazzibos, eating bad catering. They tried to Shut me up before. Not this time around. Too many suffer in silence for fear of being ganged up upon," she added. "I don’t want anything from anyone. I am telling my truth! Qha ke Qwaba!" Efforts to reach Ezra and Yellowbone Entertainment were unsuccessful. 

NOT QUITE

However, two sources who worked with the actress on the production ‘Sew The Winter to My Skin’ have revealed to ZiMoja that Brenda provoked racist slurs from David James. “She is not as innocent as she makes herself out to be. She was the one who used to make racist comments to David every day,” the source reveals. “She would make these jokingly, and he would leave it, and laugh it off. Until one day he hit her back. Granted, yes, racism is wrong, but she had it coming. Hence, they both apologized to each other at the time. So, racism is acceptable when coming from a black person? Brenda must not start her nonsense, she just looking for attention.” Another source says she should not be entertained. ”Aowa! Brenda! She was the one making moves on Ezra, constantly chasing after him. Brenda is playing the victim so people will feel pity for her being unemployed," the source says. "Yes, no one wants to work with her because she is a problem. She is the queen of self-sabotage. To get the job on the production, friends called Yellowbone begging they hire her, and guess what? they regret it because she started her sh*t again on set. This is nothing new, it’s aligned with her brand.”