Kagiso Modupe’s SAFTA speech divides cast members still seeking payment

by Limpho Nonkonyane

Co-owner of Bakwena Productions and actor Kagiso Modupe’s South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTA) speech leaves cast members and crew divided as they are still awaiting payment for their roles in the BET: Pound4Pound.

Kagiso recently won a SAFTA under Best Supporting Actor in TV Comedy in the Netflix series Yoh! Christmas and went under fire for not paying his cast and crew from another production he was working at.

According to news publication, DailySun, the movie executive producer was exposed for not paying the cast and crew in the BET production, adding that, the show featured stars such as Enhle Mbali, Mduduzi Mabaso, Gabisile Tshablala, just to name a few.

In response to these claims made by the cast and crew, co-founders of the production company Rashaka Muofhe and Losing Lerato actor Kagiso Modupe said:

“The series was filmed in a short space of time, and we were all booked for different times. Most people were booked for five weeks. We were then told we would get paid on 25 September. On 24 September, the managing director and executive producer of Bakwena Productions, Rashaka Muofhe, sent a message to our WhatsApp saying payroll would open on 25 September. He further said final payments would be cleared by 30 September.”

While Kagiso continues to go back and forth with the cast and crew regarding their failed payments, ZiMoja adds that his recent speech and the award ceremony rubbed people the wrong way.

During his acceptance speech, Kagiso spoke on how he has helped create over 2000 jobs and feed communities through his film production, adding that, he was one of the only people to pay royalties.

Speaking to the entertainment publication on his speech, a cast member from the BET series said, “For someone who is a non-payer, I would have not made such a speech. It was arrogant and just distasteful.”

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