Latest news with #ShakaZulu
News24
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- News24
Former Uzalo actor Glen Gabela pleads for work opportunities amidst financial struggles
We see them on television and assume that they have everything going for them. However, the reality in South Africa is that several veteran actors and actresses are coming forward to share their financial struggles and seeking support. Glen Gabela is yet another great actor who is pleading for work opportunities. His outcry has sparked a broader conversation about the film industry. People are debating what's behind these struggles: poor personal financial decisions, or systemic industry problems like underpaying stars. Read more | 'Muvhango wasn't just a show, it was us' - Actress Masutang reflects as soapie ends In a viral video posted all over social media, the legendary Gabela, known for his roles in the 'Shaka Zulu' series and the popular SABC 1 soapie 'Uzalo,' where he played Pastor Mdletshe, is seen tearfully pleading for help, showcasing his difficult living conditions, including a nearly empty fridge with only bottles of water. He reveals in the video that he's struggling to make ends meet and to survive after years of unemployment. 'I just want a decent life, like everyone else. That's why I'm reaching out. I want to engage with people and help grow the film industry, so upcoming performers don't end up like us. I want their lives to be better, and I don't want them to face the same struggles we do,' he said. He added that 'All veteran actors, when they pass, you hear about how they struggled. Almost all of us, by the time we reach this age, we become beggars. It's painful for me, because begging is very difficult for me; I just need help to live a decent life. I don't need to be rich.' Glen Gabela (uMfundisi uMdletshe's) living situation broke my heart. Glen was hospitalised after suffering from a heart... Posted by Thulile Gambushe on Wednesday, August 13, 2025 In March, Glen was a guest on the 'Voice with Palesa' podcast hosted by Palesa Madisakwane, and he spoke about his job loss from 'Uzalo,' his financial struggles, and his strained relationship with his daughter. On the podcast, Glen revealed that for Shaka Zulu, he only got paid R7000 instead of the R40 000 he was promised. He mentioned that losing his job on Uzalo due to a breach of contract led to a series of devastating events, including his bank accounts being frozen, his car being repossessed, his apartment being locked, and his daughter becoming distant. He also claimed that the reason behind his contract termination was that the writers had run out of ideas for the character, despite the initial agreement being that Pastor Mdletshe would be one of the permanent cast members. 'I don't care even if they'd call me back at Uzalo, I will never work with them again. It messed up my life. When they breached that contract, my life went all the way. My bank froze all my accounts, the car I had with a loan from the West Bank got repossessed, and my apartment was locked with everything I had. And the last time I saw my daughter was in 2018,' he said. Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture Gayton McKenzie has since promised to reach out to him after being tagged on X (formerly Twitter) asked to intervene. 'Thanks, will follow up and revert back today. This is extremely sad,' he re-tweeted the post. Thanks, will follow up and revert back today. This is extremely sad. — Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) August 14, 2025
TimesLIVE
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
'I don't need to be rich, I just need to live a decent life' — destitute actor Glen Gabela cries out for help
Veteran actor Glen Gabela is destitute and struggling to make ends meet. Glen, who is popularly known for his portrayal of young Shaka Zulu in the acclaimed 1986 miniseries Shaka Zulu, his role in Yizo Yizo and Uzalo, among others, shot up trends lists on Thursday after a video of him in tears at his home was shared. The viral video showed a dusty bedroom with his accolades, a mouldy fridge filled with bottles of water and his almost empty cupboard. Glen pleaded with his followers to pledge towards his wellbeing. 'I want a decent life. I want to live decently like every normal person, which is why I make these attempts to engage with people. I've grown the film industry so the young and upcoming performers don't end up like us. I want their lives to be better, I don't want them to live the life we live.. 'You listen to the stories of top actors when they pass [away], you listen to the stories told and how they struggled. Almost all of us, when we reach this age, we reach a stage where we ... it's a pity I am not able to ask for help. It's hard for me to ask for help. That's all I need, just to live decently, I don't need to be rich, I just need to live a decent life.' Watch the video below:
TimesLIVE
20-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Power plays and peril: here's why ‘Shaka iLembe' S2 is essential viewing
The gripping story of Shaka Zulu and the birth of this iconic king's great empire continues as the second season of the award-winning drama Shaka iLembe returns to Mzansi Magic. Inspired by history, season 2 sees Shaka (Lemogang Tsipa) moving beyond the ascent of a warrior to the complex reign of a monarch. He's at the threshold of power, where the fight for the throne becomes a perilous struggle to keep it, and the vision for a unified nation is threatened by enemies both seen and unseen. This new season expands on the foundational conflicts and character arcs, offering a portrait of a leader and his kingdom at a turning point. Here are five reasons Shaka iLembe season 2 is essential viewing: 1. The rise of a legend reaches new heights Season 2 brings us back to the moment Shaka returns to the Zulu to claim his rightful place as king, only to step into a snake pit of danger. Hidden between the smiling faces are rivals plotting his death. He has to turn his people around to support him, but how? 2. Love, loyalty and ruthless betrayal Meet the woman who captures Shaka's heart, but will he let her in? Watch as alliances are tested. From Queen Nandi's (Nomzamo Mbatha) brilliant strategies to Mkabayi's (Dawn Thandeka King) secret spy network that watches everything from the shadows. 3. Shaka's inner world unfolds Season 2 dives into Shaka's spiritual journey to become king. The journey is accompanied by his dreams, visions and sacrifices, including the bold decision not to marry. We explore the mind and soul of a man driven by destiny but haunted by loss. 4. Power plays and crumbling alliances Return to King Dingiswayo's (Thembinkosi Mthembu) isigodlo as he faces betrayal from those closest to him. See him cross paths with Zwide (Wiseman Mncube) and his sons, as the brutal power struggle between kingdoms explodes into war, culminating in the battle that brings the mighty Ndwandwe tribe to their knees. 5. Epic cinematic storytelling like never before Sweeping landscapes, large-scale battles, and a cast of unforgettable characters make this season even more cinematic than the last. Shaka iLembe season 2 is not just a historical drama, it's a full-scale, emotionally charged epic. The season ahead is not just about the making of a legend, but the weight of it. It explores the sacrifices required for unity, the personal cost of power, and the enduring spirit of a people forging their legacy. It is a profound South African story, told with the scale and depth it has always deserved. Don't miss the next chapter of Shaka iLembe Catch fresh episodes of the second season of Shaka iLembe on Sundays at 8pm only on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) and DStv Stream. Missed an episode? Catch the repeat on Fridays at 9.30pm or view it on Catch Up.
TimesLIVE
15-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
'Shaka iLembe' Season 2: Cast reflects on filming and the impactful soundtrack
The much-awaited second season of Mzansi Magic's hit show Shaka iLembe is back on Sunday. The cast lit up the gold carpet on Thursday night at Montecasino for the premiere of the first episode. TimesLIVE caught up with them to hear what it was like filming season two and why the soundtrack plays such a powerful role in telling the story of Shaka Zulu. TimesLIVE
The Citizen
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Ofentse Tsipa: The ‘global mama' on being a South African on Kenya's The Mommy Club
Ofentse is the older sister of Lemogang Tsipa, who plays King Shaka Zulu in the series iLembe. South African life coach Ofentse Tsipa is part of the cast on Kenya's The Mommy Club which recently launched on Showmax.. Picture: ofentsetsipa/Instagram Not many things prove one's global citizenship more than being a South African, married to a Dutchman with French ties, and living in Kenya, raising multiracial kids. 'I like to call myself a global mama because we are raising global citizens. My children are growing up with a blend of cultures. We focus on being pan-African and global, aligning our values while adapting to different traditions,' says Ofentse Tsipa. The Kenya-based South African life coach is part of the cast on Kenya's The Mommy Club, which recently launched on Showmax. ALSO READ: 'I'd love to see them find common ground' — The Mommy Club reunion host Ntombee Ngcobo-Mzolo A global citizen Tsipa has Setswana and isiZulu roots, and says these are equally embraced in her household as they are in her husband's background. 'We are 100% a multicultural family!' she says. 'For example, we celebrate Christmas the Dutch way but also honour Zulu practices.' She says her work as a life coach has supplemented her parenting style. 'My coaching practice has shaped my motherhood journey in the best way possible. The biggest lesson has been to learn to feel my feelings and be present,' expressed the mother of two. 'This has helped me walk alongside my kids, seeing them as equals – real human beings with their own thoughts and feelings. Forget the old-school 'children should be seen and not heard' mindset! In my house, my kids are both seen and heard.' She is an advocate of the Montessori method, a child-centred approach to education that emphasises self-directed learning and exploration through hands-on activities. 'I am a Montessori mom, so I have trained my nannies in the Montessori method – following the child's interests and respecting their individuality.' She hopes that one day, when her kids search for her on the internet, they will find inspiration and admiration. 'I want them to see a legacy of helping people become the best versions of themselves, of authenticity, and of loving life as it is while growing,' said Tsipa. 'Even though being human means striving for more, I also want them to feel contentment with where they are. I hope they find something peaceful, wholesome, and calm – something that makes them proud to say, 'That's my mom'.' ALSO READ: Lemogang Tsipa on 'deep-found respect' for Shaka Zulu after filming S2 of 'Shaka iLembe' Shaka Zulu's 'sister' Tsipa is the older sister of Shaka iLembe actor Lemogang Tsipa, who portrays the character of Zulu King Shaka. Lemogang appears on the sixth episode of The Mommy Club NBO. The reality TV franchise has grown in popularity over the years. Season 3 of South Africa's The Mommy Club was the most-watched reality series of 2025 so far on Showmax. Its Pretoria-set spinoff, The Mommy Club: Van Die Hoofstad, recently set a new Showmax record as the most-watched Afrikaans series since the African streamer's relaunch last year. The Mommy Club: Sugar & Spice, set in Durban's Indian community, is the second South African edition. The Mommy Club: Tanzania marks the franchise's expansion into East Africa and is currently available to stream on Showmax. Tsipa says the original South African The Mommy Club and The Mommy Club: Sugar & Spice are her favourite reality shows of all time. NOW READ: 'It's time to put everything on the table': The Mommy Club ladies ready for explosive reunion
