Yolanda Pani Blasts ‘Imxinwa’ Producers for Failing to Pay Her Since Last Year: “It’s Exhausting”

• Yolanda Pani has accused Imxinwa producers of failing to pay her for her role in the State Theatre production, which ran from 31 October to 8 November 2023
• The actress said that writer and director Zusakhe Ngqame is allegedly spending money on international trips while cast and crew remain unpaid
• This follows similar non-payment issues in the Mzansi entertainment industry, including the Queendom cast saga
• Briefly News spoke to Yolanda Pani about how the lack of payment for her role has affected her personal and professional life

Up and coming south African actress Yolanda Pani has put the producers of Imxinwa on full blast for failing to pay what they owe her since last week.

The issue of exploration in the Mzansi entertainment industry is affecting actors and actresses from all walks of life. There was an uproar last year when reports about the cast and crew of the star-studded show Queendom failed to receive their payments. The show was even put on hold as the issue tried to be resolved, to no avail.

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Veteran actress Rami Chuene even shared her two cents on the Queendom payment saga. Fast forward a few months later, another actress, Yolanda Pani, has come forward with her story of how she has not received payment for her role in the State Theatre production Imxinwa.

According to ZiMoja, the actress participated in a state production written by Zusakhe Ngqame and Lindokuhle Mdlozini and directed by Zusakhe Ngqame. Per the report, the show was in theatres between 31 October and 8 November last year. The actress claims that she never received any payment for her role in the production since the show ended.

Yolanda Pani gives her side of the story

Speaking exclusively to Briefly News, Yolanda Pani said the issue of not receiving payment for her role affected her professional and personal life. She said:

"The lack of payment from the director has had severe personal and professional consequences. As a freelancer, my next meal and rent depend on my next paycheck. When I didn’t receive payment for my work on Imxinwa, I was forced to move out of my rental and return home during the December holidays. Professionally, this experience has eroded my trust in creatives and made me question the integrity of contractual agreements. I’m now actively seeking representation to protect myself from similar situations in the future."

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She also noted that she will take legal action against the directors if they do not fulfil their promises to her.

"Although I haven’t taken legal action yet, the director did reach out to the Imxinwa group chat after my TikTok video went viral, promising to pay us by the end of the week. I made it clear that if payment isn’t made by then, I will pursue legal action, as I will not wait any longer."

Imxinwa director allegedly living large

The fuming actress also revealed that Imxinwa writer and director Zusakhe Ngqame is living his best life and taking international trips before paying the cast and crew. She said:

"All he knows is going out on trips and not paying our money. We worked for our money and deserve to be paid."

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Source: Briefly News