Sdumo Mtshali's Alleged R1.4 Million Salary for The Polygamist Stuns Mzansi

• A viral Instagram post claimed Sdumo Mtshali earned R1.4 million across 22 episodes of Netflix's The Polygamist
• The figure works out to roughly R63,636 per episode, a number that left many South Africans shaking their heads
• Fans flooded the comments section arguing the acclaimed actor deserved far more given the show's global reach

A viral social media post claiming that Sdumo Mtshali pocketed R1,400,000 for his role in Netflix's breakout drama The Polygamist has set Mzansi alight. The alleged figure, which breaks down to approximately R63,636 per episode across 22 instalments, has many fans questioning whether South African actors are being fairly compensated for world-class performances.

The success of The Polygamist

The Polygamist was a successful South African drama series that attracted strong interest from viewers, particularly for its bold storyline and portrayal of polygamous relationships. The show quickly became a talking point among audiences and helped raise the profiles of its cast, while its dramatic twists and relatable family conflicts kept viewers coming back.

Read also

A-Reece's 'Scorpion Kings' performance called 'career suicide' by Moral Authority

What fans think Sdumo should have earned

Whether or not the figure is accurate, it triggered a passionate wave of responses from people who felt it fell far short of what the actor's performance warranted. The Polygamist drew enormous international attention, reportedly being dubbed into multiple languages to meet global demand. The post, shared by Instagram account @basscatalogue, did not reveal its source, and not everyone was convinced it was accurate.

@asandasizani fired back at the account directly, writing:

"Stop lying. Delete this immediately! @sdumo.mtshali."

Another user, @heycindii_, was similarly sceptical, saying:

"Why are you lying? It's the people who believe you that are worse. 😂😂"

@officialsvntn put it bluntly:

"Should be making at least 200k an episode as a powerhouse actor. Netflix has uncapped budgets."

@leighy_nayzulu echoed that frustration, writing:

"Incane kabi bandla. 😩😩 He shook the entire world lomuntu; the show had to be dubbed in so many languages coz the world was dying of FOMO."

Read also

Ringo Madlingozi's sultry Scorpion Kings Live dance moves leave Mzansi shook

@zweli_dube went even further:

"Give that boss R1,4m per episode; R63k is peanuts."

@cultabz wrote:

"Netflix made way more. Aowa mann. Justice for our actors and actresses. He should have made way more than this."

@deeanne.watson added:

"This show was internationally acclaimed. Pay the actors what they deserve, not cents."

@trustmelanga argued:

"Ngl, He deserves equity in the show! His performance was way too phenomenal."

@malitshiwo_africa expressed a broader concern about the industry:

"No money in SA acting; I give up. That's why they all end up poor."

Taraji P. Henson gave Sdumo Mtshali his flowers

Taraji P. Henson and Tasha Smith gave a warm shoutout to South African actor Sdumo Mtshali during a Netflix promotional interview.

The two Hollywood stars praised the cast of The Polygamist while promoting Tyler Perry's Why Did I Get Married Again?

Source: Briefly News