When South Africa’s Most-Watched Soapie Hit Pause Over Pay: What’s Really Behind Uzalo’s Silence
I’ve always seen Uzalo as more than just a soap – it’s part of our daily rhythm. So when I heard that filming quietly stopped, I couldn’t help but feel a knot in my stomach. And then I learned why: unpaid salaries. Let’s take a brief walk through what happened—straightforward, sincere, and full of empathy for the people who bring that show to life.
Earlier in 2018, on August 25, payday came and went. But the cast and crew of Uzalo waited... and waited. The salaries didn’t arrive. That’s when a difficult yet powerful choice emerged: production was paused. It wasn’t a dramatic protest—it was a clear signal from the people who pour heart into those stories.
Stained Glass Pictures, the production house behind Uzalo, confirmed that filming would pause until pay was received. They weren’t taking sides—they were trying to keep things running. The crew was offered a choice: continue working under uncertainty or take leave until pay was sorted. Many chose to stay, hoping for a swift resolution. Their dedication spoke volumes. (The Citizen, Political Analysis, News24)
Meanwhile, the SABC—the show's broadcaster—was in a tough spot. Debt had stretched to hundreds of millions, and budget constraints were biting hard. The broadcaster simply didn't have the cash to pay production on time. (News24)
Behind the scenes, Pepsi Pokane, an executive producer at Stained Glass Pictures, said they’d held production as long as they could while waiting on SABC payments—and they expected things to be resolved within a week. That was a testament to both goodwill and financial strain. (News24, Political Analysis, Mzansi365.co.za)
By early September, things shifted. SABC finally paid up—at least to the production company—and filming resumed. It was a relief for everyone involved. (TimesLIVE, OkMzansi)
Looking back, this wasn’t an isolated incident. Earlier in 2023, background actors—often extras—spoke up that they weren’t paid for months. Many didn’t even have written contracts, making them vulnerable. Imagine working every day, showing up on set, and never seeing a paycheck. (The South African, Nehanda Radio, TiEM NEWS, The Congenial)
These events lay bare how fragile parts of our creative industries can be. When salaries don’t arrive, lives are disrupted—rent goes unpaid, meals go bought, fuel money vanishes.
This isn’t about blame. It’s about understanding the reality: South Africa’s biggest soap faced a cash crunch behind the scenes. And the people who make that world come alive—actors, technicians, extras—felt the impact most deeply.
Even as fans, we want our shows on time; we forget there’s a complex machine behind each scene. We should remember these are real lives, not just characters on screen.
TL;DR: Uzalo paused production in August 2018 because cast and crew weren’t paid. SABC’s financial crunch was the root cause. Filming resumed when payment was made. And stories of unpaid actors resurfaced in 2023, showing it’s not a one-off problem.
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Tags: Uzalo, SABC, South Africa, film industry, unpaid salaries, soap opera, production pause
Let me know what you think—this gentle, realistic storytelling could prompt readers to linger, empathize, and ultimately—come back for more.
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Additional Sources
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Production halted after salaries didn’t arrive on August 25; crew chose to pause until paid (The Citizen, Political Analysis, News24)
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Highlight of SABC’s financial woes, debt, inability to pay producers (News24)
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Filming resumed once SABC made payment to Stained Glass Pictures (TimesLIVE, OkMzansi)
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Earlier reports (2023) of unpaid extras, lack of contracts, long-term non-payment (The South African, Nehanda Radio, TiEM NEWS, The Congenial)
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