E.tv drama rocked by claims of sex misconduct

AMANDA Phakathi‚ a young actress who claims to have worked as an extra on upcoming e.tv drama Imbewu‚ has spoken out on alleged sexual misconduct on set.

She was also allegedly sworn at by a male crew member and said she had been made to feel something was wrong with her.

“You people treat extras like nobodies,” she said on Facebook.

“I will make sure I gather up a team of extras and boycott Imbewu and get the media involved too.

“The way extras are treated there is disgusting! Those male crew are perverts as well.”

Amanda tagged director Duma Ka Ndlovu‚ who is responsible for creating shows including Muvhango and Uzalo.

She said she felt “violated and unsafe‚” after a male crew member allegedly swore at her for mistakenly banging a door.

“When the shoot began they called me in to be an extra for the scene.

“The men there (part of the crew I think) kept pointing at my legs and laughing. I felt so uncomfortable . . . as if there was something wrong with me.”

Ka Ndlovu responded: “Amanda‚ I responded to your post and requested that you send me an e-mail.

“I have not heard from you. If you are to be taken seriously you need to give the production an opportunity to look into your allegations.

“We take allegations of this nature seriously. We can’t take this any further without you approaching the production and substantiating the complaint so that steps could be taken.”

Ziyanda Mngomezulu‚ e.tv’s general manager of local production, said: “eMedia Investments takes a zero-tolerance stance on sexual harassment and abuse‚ in any form‚ and views all allegations of this nature as very serious.

“The moment the channel became aware of this allegation‚ it initiated an investigation with the production company of Imbewu: The Seed.”

She said numerous attempts by the production company to reach Phakathi had apparently been unsuccessful.

Attempts to reach Ka Ndlovu for additional comment were unsuccessful.

Imbewu is a drama series set in KwaZulu-Natal and stars the likes of Leleti Khumalo‚ Thembi Mtshali-Jones and Mpumelelo Bhulose. The show is set to hit TV screens on April 16. – TshisaLIVE