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They promised us R50k each': Mnakwethu' participants speak out

12/10/2022

They promised us R50k each': Mnakwethu' participants speak outThree Mnakwethu' participants are accusing the producer of failing to pay them for being on the reality series, as per the agreement.

by Nokuthula Ngcobo

12-10-2022 17:41

in Entertainment

Three Mnakwethu' participants are accusing the producer of failing to pay them for being on the reality series, as per the agreement. Image via Twitter @zanele_zaza

Polygamist and TV host Musa Mseleku's reality series Mnakwethu is embroiled in a payment scandal.

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Season one participants Bheki Langa and his wives Makhosazane MaShelembe Shelembe and Hlengiwe MaSithole Sithole are accusing the producer and owner of the show, Nthabiseng Thomas, of taking advantage of their financial situation - Sunday World reports.

ALSO READ: I'm back in poverty': Mnakwethu' wife MaShelembe needs help

AGGRIEVED MNAKWETHU' CAST MEMBER WANTS HIS MONEY According to Bheki, he joined the Mnakwethu through another cast member whom he did not name.

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The agreement was that, each of us would be paid R50 000. I became suspicious when they refused to give us copies of the contracts, Bheki said.

ALSO READ: Only 2% of men are monogamous': Mseleku defends Mnakwethu'

He further alleged that the only payment he received was R12 000, which he claims he had asked for as an advance payment to fix his car.

I only received R12 000 instead of R50 000. I received that money because I needed to fix my car and so I asked them to pay me in advance, otherwise I wouldn't have been paid.

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ALSO READ: Yebo and bye': Mnakwethu' guest throws Musa out of house

The polygamist explained that they only had a verbal agreement indicating that he'd be paid the rest of the money after the show.

But they never paid. I did not ask them because we had an agreement and I expected them to fulfil it.

It's been a year already and there's no sign of payment. I am aggrieved because they used my plight to gain viewership. If I had the money, I'd be suing them for taking advantage of me, Bheki continued.

ALSO READ: He said I'd be paid R2k': Mnakwethu' polygamist gets exposed

BHEKI'S WIVES SPEAK OUT Bheki's wives, who were at loggerheads during Mnakwethu season one and Mnkawethu: Ever After, also expressed their unhappiness with the producer.

ALSO READ: Mnakwethu's' MaShelembe has broken up with Bheki Langa

I was also suspicious when they took all the paperwork with them. I have no doubt that they made a lot of money through our own episodes, but we gained nothing from it, said MaSithole who said she did not follow up at the time because she was heavily pregnant.

I don't understand why I never received the money because I had an agreement with them. I am not happy because my life was exposed for all to see, but in the end I gained nothing but stress. My life has become harder, I'm [even] struggling to buy food and nappies for the baby, MaShelembe was quoted as saying.

Attempts to get a response from the Mnakwethu producer failed.

MASHELEMBE ASKS FOR HELP Last month, MaShelembe, who was the favourite wife between the two wives on Mnakwethu, appealed to anyone who could help her out of her financial state.

ALSO READ: Mnakwethu' wife MaShelembe robbed of R20k by baby shower organiser

According to the Daily Sun, the reality TV contestant is back to selling alcohol but business is not booming. This is after viewers showered her with love and donations in 2021 when her husband introduced his second wife to her at a time she was heavily pregnant.

I'm actually starving and I have no other income except from this business. In 2021, I had two baby showers, which I really appreciate.

After the baby showers, Isolezwe reported that MaShelembe's lawyers, Rajaram Mvulane Attorneys, were demanding that one of her baby shower organisers, Nomfundo Mathonsi, pay her back a total of R20 940 from the donations which she had aLehedly stolen.

Hundreds of people donated money to me but I never received a cent. I was referred to lawyers to assist me but I've never heard from them, Daily Sun quoted as saying.

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