Dineo Langa feels a sense of betrayal because when she asked for the time off, they agreed then a letter of severance arrived during the lockdown,”. The Queen is owned and produced by Connie Ferguson and her husband Shona Ferguson.
Cindy Mahlangu, who plays the character of Siyanda, and Zenande Mfenyane, who plays Goodness Mabuza, are also on their way out for various reasons according to the media. But insiders said it was Dineo Langa’s exit that was going to ruffle feathers because she was leaving under controversial circumstances.
The Queen’s showrunner, Lauren Nell, confirmed that Langa was released to shoot a movie. Nell said that scripts had to be rewritten to accommodate her request. “She was scheduled to return in April, but due to the lockdown everything has changed.
All cast and crew contracts end at the end of May,” said Lauren Nell. But sources close to the production said the producers changed their mind after giving Dineo Langa the green light to shoot her movie, and they instead ordered her not to come back after the lockdown.
They said Dineo Langa interpreted the letter to mean that she was no longer part of the soapie as a result of the three m o n t h break she was granted. “How do you do that to an actress who simply wanted to expand her portfolio with a role in a movie? What should other actors do when offered roles? “Do you see what this is? “The Fergusons go up and down in their expensive cars – and we wish them well – but why can’t an actor succeed outside their fold? I don’t understand this,” said another source.
In a leaked letter last week, the Fergusons asked actors if they could work for free as part of their response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lauren Nell said Zenande Mfenyane was shooting with The Queen before lockdown, but had decided to take some time off work until further notice “due to personal reasons”. The Media reported last month that Zenande Mfenyane was on her way out because she was allegedly pregnant. The actress denied the pregnancy and that she was leaving the soapie.
About Mahlangu’s future at the Mzansi Magic soapie, Lauren Nell said: “The character of Siyanda comes in and out to serve specific story arcs. She was still shooting with The Queen before lockdown, and will return to complete her arc.” However, Lauren Nell could not confirm that all the three actors will be part of the soapie’s new season, which is to be confirmed after contract negotiations between the Fergusons and MultiChoice. The mass exodus at The Queen started with the exit of Rami Chuene, who played the popular character of Gracious “T-Gom” Mabuza.
