What they're doing is painful': Uzalo' actor gatvol of being disrespected by viewersSimosibucayi Buthelezi says he's not the character he portrays on Uzalo' and is demanding respect from viewers that meet him while using public transport.
by Rae Seleme
24-08-2021
in SA TV and Film
Uzalo' actor Simosibucayi Buthelezi as Screwdriver. Image via Facebookpage @Screwdriver
Actor, Simosibucayi Buthelezi, who plays the role of Screwdriver on Uzalo says portraying the role has upset his life.
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The actor told the People's Paper that he deserves respect and he's had enough of people treating him like an uskhotheni (low-life). The actor says he uses public transport and that fans disrespect him when they meet him in the taxi.
So Screwdriver named his child Automatic #Uzalo pic.twitter.com/I50VdHPvit
T A J A R O (@Jaro_325) June 10, 2021
UZALO FANS APPARENTLY BULLY SIMOSIBUCAYI BUTHELEZI Simosibucayi Buthelezi says viewers bully him and accuse him of misusing his salary because he doesn't have a car. He says when he gets into a taxi, some people throw painful remarks at him and some even laugh at him.
I don't have a car so I use public transport to travel. They don't understand that ngisahlanganisa (I'm still building my life) and at this point, he said.
I don't have things that show I'm working, he added.
#Uzalo Screwdriver is the winner of #SdakiweChallenge pic.twitter.com/48yX8HOkY0
Thulani Mlangeni (@ThulaniMlangen6) August 10, 2021
Simosibucayi Buthelezi also stated that viewers assume that he's misusing his salary because he appears on TV but doesn't live the high life. The actor, however, says he refuses to get into debt to please viewers and will continue living an ordinary life until he can afford a car.
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As much as I want to be taken seriously, I'm not going to get into debt. What they're doing is painful.
PLAYING SCREWDRIVER I m falling in love with Screwdriver character Wow
His an great actor
Simo Buthelezi Appreciation Post #Uzalo pic.twitter.com/cSzNLDJDTh
IG:Joy-Zelda (@joy_zelda) August 24, 2020
Simosibucayi Buthelezi says even children disrespect him because they assume he's as young as they are even though he's a father of two. The father of two daughters says he draws comfort from the fact that he plays his role so convincingly that some fans can't differentiate between him and his character.
In 2019 I started having lines and that was the start of great things. It was hard because I didn't have lines. But playing an extra who works in a busy place like a panel beater helped me a lot.
ALSO READ: UZALO: Tonight's episode, Monday 23 August 2021 - E121 S7
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What they're doing is painful': Uzalo' actor gatvol of being disrespected by viewersSimosibucayi Buthelezi says he's not the character he portrays on Uzalo' and is demanding respect from viewers that meet him while using public transport. 
