According to Sunday World, former e.TV Scandal! actress and now DJ, Nomvelo Makhanya, has opened up about the tumultuous events leading to her departure from the popular show. In a revealing interview with the Access Genie podcast, Makhanya, affectionately known to fans as Lindiwe, shared the real reason behind her exit: she was written off after reporting her director and floor manager for being drunk on set.
“I was written off a week and a half after I had reported them and I got called into the office. The news was delivered to me, and it was made to seem like I was the one with the problem. Like I was the one with the issues. But I took it like a champ and held my head high,” Makhanya recounted.
Makhanya described her final months with the production as extremely tough. She stopped vlogging for her YouTube channel and promoting the show on Instagram because of accusations that she was wasting production time. “They found little things just to make it seem like it was a problem,” she explained. The atmosphere on set became increasingly hostile, with those she reported spreading rumours about her departure.
“A lot of the time, people in power always want to show you that they hold the trump cards. And when you start speaking up against their bullsh*t, they want to make sure that you struggle,” Makhanya said, revealing she was blacklisted in the industry. “They wanted to prove that they are bigger than me and they made me, it is a power thing.”
Despite her financial stability, thanks to her savings, Makhanya faced severe anxiety and suicidal thoughts after losing her job. “I was very suicidal just after I lost my job. I have extreme anxiety. I heard voices in my head that would constantly tell me that I deserved it,” she shared, highlighting the emotional toll of the experience. Having dedicated ten years to the show, the abrupt end was a significant blow.
In an ironic twist, Makhanya has found new success outside of acting. “What is strange is that I make a lot of money outside of acting now,” she noted, hinting at the unexpected opportunities that have come her way. Over the past 18 months, she has focused on healing and therapy, emerging stronger and more resilient.
Nomvelo Makhanya’s story is one of courage and resilience. Her decision to speak out against wrongdoing, despite the personal cost, is a testament to her integrity. Her journey from a difficult and hostile work environment to finding success and mental peace serves as an inspiration to many. By sharing her experiences, Makhanya hopes to empower others facing similar struggles, proving that even in the darkest times, there is hope for a brighter future.
