WATCH | Mfundi Vundla talks about firing ‘Generations’ cast after 2014 walkout

Mfundi Vundla's 'Generations' is celebrating 32 years on air through 'Generations: The Legacy', the reimagined version of beloved the soapie

Mar 14, 2026 - 13:00
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WATCH | Mfundi Vundla talks about firing ‘Generations’ cast after 2014 walkout

Generations producer Mfundi Vundla has finally broken his silence after the notorious firing of the whole cast of the soapie 12 years ago.

The 79-year-old is doing interviews as the soapie celebrates 32 years on air. It has not only been popular in South Africa, but in Africa as a whole.

Vundla was speaking to Thando Thabethe on her 5FM show when she asked him about the events that led to the whole cast of the first instalment of Generations being fired.

“I’m shooting a scene with Menzi Ngubane, and right in the middle of the scene, while the scene is being shot, Thato [Molamu] walks into the scene… whispers something in Ngubane’s ear. Menzi drops everything and walks out,” starts the Generations producer.

“It becomes clear that the issue is that they’re not happy with the fact that they’re not getting royalties.”

“And my response is… that’s a legitimate issue, but there’s no line item in my budget that says ‘actor’s royalties’. Royalties are paid by the broadcaster… I don’t own the show. It’s owned by the broadcaster, so the onus with royalties lies with the broadcaster,” said Vundla.

“So basically, what they were doing, given my name and maybe my stature, they wanted me to go fight their battle, and I refused,” continued Vundla.

‘Fight your own battles as actors’

“Why did you refuse, baba?” Thabethe asked him.

“You are actors, you go and fight your own battles. I have my own battles to fight as a producer… I have a contract I have to deliver to the SABC, and them being on strike puts me in breach of contract,” Vundla responded.

“So I said ‘I’m not gonna be in breach’… I gave them a deadline to return to work… they didn’t turn up, and I said, ‘Well, bye.'”

“I created a show that I was extremely proud of. It’s my dream. Nobody’s gonna mess with my dream… ” Vundla continued.

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