Zolisa Xaluva and Zikhona Sodlaka set the record straight on their controversial exit from Generations 16, challenging producer Mfundi Vundla's claims about royalties and misrepresentation.
Image: Instagram/@947joburg
Former "Generations" actors Zolisa Xaluva and Zikhona Sodlaka have spoken out following recent comments made by producer Mfundi Vundla about the "Generations 16” saga.
In a recent radio interview on 947 with Thando Thabethe, the two actors challenged what they described as a misleading version of events surrounding their 2014 exit from the SABC soapie.
One of the main issues raised was the long-running narrative around royalties. Xaluva rejected claims that the group had been pushing for new royalty deals.
“When he says that we wanted royalties from him, that is a total misrepresentation of the truth,” he said.
He explained that their contracts already included a clause entitling them to a share of the show’s earnings.
“There was an existing clause in the contract that says a percentage of what is earned by the show, whether it’s through advertising or selling it overseas or however they generate income, that percentage belongs to the 16 of us.
"The conversation was not about letting us get royalties; we already had royalties,” he said.
The pair also addressed claims about an alleged on-set incident involving the late Menzi Ngubane, which Vundla previously described as disruptive.
In a previous interview with Thabethe, Vundla explained that the situation escalated after a strike linked to royalty disputes. According to him, tensions reached a breaking point during an incident on set involving Ngubane.
“In the middle of the scene, whilst the scene is being shot, Thato Molamu walks into the scene. This guy is an actor. He just walks into the scene and whispers something in Menzi’s ear. Menzi drops everything and walks out,” Vundla said.
Sodlaka questioned that version of events, saying, “It sounds like such a scripted show. You listen to it, it’s just a perfect narrative - walks in, whispers, even the jingle that you’re using sounds like a horror movie.”
Xaluva further defended Molamu, saying the situation had been misrepresented.
“He didn’t whisper anything to Menzi; Menzi was far away from where Thato was. No one spoke to Menzi and said, ‘Menzi, stop mid-scene. That didn’t happen,” he said.
The actors also revealed that they had taken a formal route before the strike, working with legal counsel for about a year to address both contractual and payment-related issues involving the SABC and the production company.
The fallout led to the exit of 16 cast members, including well-known names such as Anga Makubalo, Atandwa Kani, Katlego Danke, Mandla Gaduka, Menzi Ngubane, Nambitha Mpulwana and Patrick Shai.
As the situation escalated, the matter reached beyond the set. The group engaged with the ANC Youth League and even travelled to Nkandla to meet former president Jacob Zuma, where they presented a list of concerns.
According to Xaluva, there was little progress.
“So 10 months later, only one thing was covered, which was the general working conditions,” he said, adding that salary concerns and promised three-year contracts were not resolved.
The pair also rejected the claim that they were fired, maintaining that they made the decision to walk away themselves.
Xaluva suggested the outcome was about more than just their situation, saying the broadcaster’s response was meant to send a broader message within the industry.
“Here’s why they were happy to let us go,” he said, adding that other productions were watching how the situation would unfold.
Their response comes after Vundla revisited the saga in a recent interview, where he maintained that he had to prioritise the show and meet his contractual obligations.
Vundla said the incident made it clear that the cast was unhappy, particularly around the issue of royalties. However, he maintained that the responsibility for royalties did not lie with him.
“Royalties are paid by the broadcaster, number one. I don’t own the show. It’s owned by the broadcaster. Basically, they wanted me to fight the battle, and I refused.
“My point was, you are actors, you go fight your battles. I have my own battles to fight as a producer. I have a contract, I have to deliver to the SABC,” Vundla said.
He added that the strike placed him in breach of his contractual obligations, which forced him to take action. Vundla also made it clear that protecting the show was his priority and that he was not going to let anyone mess with his dream.
“So I said, I’m not going to be in breach. So you get out of here. You’ve walked out. You have four days. I gave them a deadline to return to work. If you don’t return to work, it’s all over. They didn’t turn up. And that’s it,” he said.