Pay fallout dogs Mavuso ’ s play
ACTORS, PUBLICIST CRY FOUL
VETERAN actor Meshack Mavuso is embroiled in a pay dispute with actors and his service providers.
Mavuso was given R350 000 by the department of arts and culture to stage the play One Square
Mile at the Soweto Theatre, celebrating 100 years of Alexandra, but he is yet to settle his debts.
Disgruntled publicist Ngcebo Mdima said the cast of “approximately 23 members is not yet paid ” by Mavuso ’ s company, Xquisite Productions.
Mdima said he was owed R13 000. He only got a deposit of R10 000 six months after the show.
“He said he will give me money as soon as government has paid him. The department authorised the payment but [he] had to wait for money to reflect [in his account]. We are still waiting for it to reflect,” complained Mdima.
“None of the actors got paid a cent. They did their part and I also got him on various TV shows, [in] newspapers and [on] radio shows.”
Mdima regretted working with the former star.
“Worst of all we see him in pictures living the life while he owes people.
“I am not going to take him to small claims court or anything like that. I just want him to pay us what he owes.”
Lead singer and dancer Nondumiso Madlala said she was not paid.
She said: “It ’ s been going on for months. To be honest, I don ’ t even know what is owed to me anymore. I was expecting R8 000.”
She also did not plan to take legal action against him.
Departmental spokesperson Lisa Combrinck confirmed that Mavuso got the money. “The department of arts and culture paid an amount of R350 000 in total, spread in three tranches, to Xquisite Productions in August 2013, March 2014 and June 2014.”
Contacted for comment, Mavuso wanted to be given the names of the complainants.
“That ’ s nonsense, it ’ s just that we need to pay the balance. When I met with Ngcebo I told him that I run an NGO. It depends on funding. When I met him, there were no newspaper reporters. Chief, thank you very much.” He then hung up the phone. In a subsequent call, after it was explained to him that the department confirmed he was paid, Mavuso said: “Ngcebo must deliver first. I paid him R10 000 and told him to give us newspaper [coverage]. He did not and he did not get the rest. I want to know the names of the actors who say they were not paid. I don ’ t owe Nondumiso.”