In a series of tweets on Monday actress, Keke Mphuthi who worked with Ferguson Films has come out tongue-lashing about the treatment, she allegedly received from the company while she was pregnant. She also claims to have a recording between herself and CEO Shona Ferguson when they held a meeting that she will not be fired.
Keke Mphuthi, a South African actress best known for her lead role as Lesego in the 1Magis drama series Unmarried, also owned by Ferguson Films. She also played Princess Dipuo Kwena on The Throne season 1.
To Keke Mphuthi it was all thanks to God that the Fergusons are finally exposed.
“Finally you all don’t even know half the trauma I went through because of the Ferguson’s. I was pregnant and even before then I was earning below the minimum on two productions I played a lead role on. Then I find out they’re trying to get me blacklisted,” alleges Keke Mphuthi.
“Nobody knows how much I’ve gone through because of people that simply don’t care about your well being. I almost lost my kid due to stress caused by them through December. I wasn’t even paid out my full contract. Nor did I shoot my scenes till the end.
“Instead, they gave their firing task to their showrunner after having a whole meeting Le Shona (which I have recorded by the way )that I won’t lose my job because I’m pregnant.
“He (Shona) expressed how they as an agency claim me and that my job was safe… Most importantly ensuring that I’d have my place when I get back after 6 weeks. I was paid till Feb only and yet the contract ends May 2019. I was so confused, highly pregnant and now without a job. After I had already gotten a new place to stay and sorting out life as my pregnancy came as a surprise,” says Keke Mphuthi.
Keke Mphuthi alleges that after Shona found out she was pregnant he fired her on the spot, which was a message relayed to her agent. She says later the message turned into ‘no you are not fired instead we’ll use the story as a way to tell the Bakwena storyline’.
The actress who also played Mrs. Mnisi on Skeem Saam season 6 says that she is in possession of a 28-minute recording of the meeting she had with Shona that confirmed her stay as opposed to being shown the door.
“We are considering legal action against the author of the letter and we are not going to answer any further questions at this time,” said Brendan de Kooker from De Kooker Attorneys – representing Ferguson Films.
MGOSI.co.za