Veteran actress Pamela Nomvete has spoken out about alleged ill-treatment at the hands of the production company behind SABC1’s new series, Agent. She and co-stars Kay Sibiya and Robert Mpisi shot the series on the island of Mauritius over December and January but, according to the actress, things were difficult on set and everything that could go wrong in a production did.
“There were issues with accommodation, payments, times and attitudes – you name it,” she says. Not at liberty to disclose the name of the production company due to contractual agreements, Pamela says it is time actors take a stand against ill-treatment from producers, directors and agents.
“The minute you complain you are labelled a diva but actors need to take ownership of their craft and not be apologetic about it.” A production employee who chooses not to be named says her December payment was delayed. “We were supposed to be paid in December but we received our money in January. The entire production is disorganised.”
Pamela says this sort of treatment is not new and many actors complained about not being paid. She feels it’s time to blow the whistle. “I was evicted from one of their apartments I was living in while shooting the show, then I was in a hotel and then I had to move into a house with a man I did not know – that is when I had to put my foot down.”
Pamela returned to the local industry in 2016 after a long break. “Since my return the only company that has paid me on time has been Mzansi Magic. Everyone else has been late.”
In the near future Pamela believes a dialogue between actors, producers, and directors is crucial. “The people behind the camera need to respect the people in front of the camera because acting is not a hobby but a career,” she says.
