South African actress Luyanda Zwane has opened up about the traumatic experience she says led to her departure from the popular telenovela Sibongile & The Dlaminis, alleging that a fellow cast member threatened her with a gun while they were travelling to set.
Also see: Luyanda Zwane opens up about why she left ‘Sibongile and the Dlaminis’
Speaking on the Read the Room podcast, Luyanda shared details of an incident she claims occurred during the filming of the show’s first season, when she was just 19 years old and starring in what she described as a major television production watched by millions of South Africans.
Luyanda Zwane’s disturbing encounter
According to Luyanda, cast members who lived in the same area were transported together to set. She alleged that during one early morning trip, she asked a fellow actor not to play music in the vehicle because she wanted to mentally prepare for a demanding filming day.
Luyanda claims the situation escalated dramatically when the cast member allegedly pulled out a firearm and pointed it at her after she made the request.
“I needed silence in the car because I had a lot of scenes to shoot that day,” Luyanda recalled during the podcast interview. She alleged that after asking for quiet, the individual responded by threatening her with what appeared to be a gun.
@starpromosLuyanda Zwana speaks o. How a she was violated with a gun 😳😳😳♬ Never lose – Yellow Hippie
Reporting the incident
The actress said she immediately reported the incident to production and informed her talent agency because she no longer felt safe. However, she alleged that the response she received from production was dismissive and left her feeling unsupported.
Luyanda further claimed that she was later informed that the firearm involved was not real, although she maintained that the threat itself had a profound impact on her. She said her mother, who is a police officer, encouraged her to take the matter seriously regardless of whether the weapon was genuine.
Also see: ‘I sacrificed my dreadlocks for a lead role in a telenovela,’ reveals Luyanda Zwane
The decision to leave
Despite agreeing to mediation efforts, Luyanda said she requested that she no longer share transport with the individual involved. According to the actress, the arrangement was short-lived due to budget constraints, prompting her to make the decision not to return for a second season of the show.
The actress also alleged that the working environment became increasingly difficult after the incident, claiming that she faced ridicule and pressure to remain silent about her experience. She previously spoke publicly about what she described as bullying and intimidation within the television industry, saying young women are often discouraged from advocating for themselves.
Life after Sibongile & The Dlaminis
Luyanda officially announced her departure from Sibongile & The Dlaminis in 2024, stating at the time that she had chosen not to renew her contract after completing her season one obligations. Her role was subsequently recast for the show’s second season.
At the time of publication, neither the production company behind Sibongile & The Dlaminis nor the individual accused by Luyanda had publicly responded to the allegations she made during the podcast interview.
Also see: Nsikelelo Mthiyane replaces Luyanda Zwane on ‘Sibongile and the Dlaminis’
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