A devastated Mbatha revealed last year how heartbroken he was after ETV announced that they were canning their long-term soapie; Rhythm City which Mbatha had just joined.
“I am sad and heartbroken about it. However, I will not carry it with me the whole way up until the end. So, I have decided that I am going to make the most of the last months I have on the show, performing even 10 times better than now.”
Fans of Mbatha are excited and relieved to hear he just secured this leading role after he apparently declined to join Clive Morris upcoming novella, The Estate.
Here were some of their comments:
“He is a great actor, congrats to him.”
“He’s been gone honeng vele. Congratulations to him.”
“I think this show will be aired on eExtra. Congratulations to him.”
“Crush yaka.”
ETV shocked Mzansi last year when it revealed that it was cancelling its contract with the show after 13 years though the show is still pulling more than 3 million viewers on the channel.The channel’s managing director; Marlon Davids said in a statement: “ETV continues to look forward to fulfilling its mandate of producing exceptional and relevant local content, and the production has successfully achieved its part of the obligation throughout the past 13 years. Rhythm City has secured its place in ETV’s history books, and a legacy mark has been made. We want to extend our gratitude to the entire production staff, crew, and cast for their incomparable craft.”
While some actors are already securing jobs, others are worried about their finances, as in the case of Rhythm City actress, Itumeleng Bokaba who opened about the anxiety of getting her car reposed due to her current financial issues.
The actress admitted o Instagram, that she almost lost her car because of her finances. The actress stated in a video:
“I was able to escape the heartache of a repossession and ruined credit score. The reason I’m sharing this with you guys is because I want y’all to know the realities of what the pandemic has done to everyone.
Too many people suffer depression from losing material possessions because they are embarrassed or shocked it could happen to them. Life is unpredictable and you have to be strong and resilient and keep your inner peace. So strength to you in whatever you may be going through.”.