Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency:  Newsflash

A South African actress has reportedly been fired for becoming pregnant with the publicist for the show she was on saying she was “unable to continue with her role due to her personal ailments.”

Sphelele Mzimela is best known for playing Mazaza in Channel SABC1’S most-watched drama series ‘Uzalo’.

According to local media, Mzimela, who comes from the town of Mendeni in the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, was dismissed when producers discovered she was pregnant.

TV bosses were reportedly angry that she fell pregnant at an important time for her character on the show.

Her role has since been given to another actress called Mpume Ngwenya who made her debut on the show last week, according to reports.

An unnamed source told local media: “Sphelele made a wrong choice to fall pregnant when her role in the show is big at the moment. It is going to blow people away, the way tables are going to be turned by her in the show.

“She was not supposed to fall pregnant, even if she was madly in love or had a stable boyfriend.

“This industry needs you to be calculative when it comes to family planning.”

Another source said: “The signs that Sphelele was pregnant started showing during the shoots. She would vomit right in the middle of the shoot and that will force the entire cast to start all over again.”

The show’s publicist Nomfundo Zondo told local media: “The character of Mazaza is an integral part of the captivating Uzalo storyline and remains key in keeping the viewers glued to the screens.

“Unfortunately, Sphelele Mzimela, who played Mazaza, was unable to continue with her role due to her personal ailments.”

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