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- Ochre Moving Pictures has spoken up following actor Nomvelo Makhanya's allegations of a toxic work environment at Scandal!
- Makhanya made the allegations on social media, adding there was an 80 - 90% chance she would have killed herself.
- She exited the soap opera last month after 10 years.
After coming under fire for an alleged toxic working environment by its former actor Nomvelo Makhanya, Ochre Moving Pictures, the production house behind etv's Scandal! has come out to clear the air.
This is after the actor took to social media after growing tired of "catching all the smoke" about her recent exit from the long-running show. During a live on TikTok, Makhanya said leaving the show was not her choice, adding that she was glad as the work environment was toxic and would have reportedly led to her suicide.
"e.tv Scandal! production was unaware that the workplace had become a toxic environment for the actor or any actor for that matter," the production house said. "As a production, we've always communicated an open-door policy for all our cast and crew for any matter or situation... professional or personal."
The production company said, to their knowledge, they had a "great run for 10 years" with Makhanya and appreciated the work she put in on her character.
In the video, Makhanya said her exit from the show was "God's plan", adding that she wanted to leave the show.
"I've been wanting to leave; I've been wanting to leave that place. For me, it had been something I'd been praying about [and] when it finally happened, it really felt like God removing me from a really toxic, toxic environment."
In a November interview with News24, Makhanya said leaving Scandal! was a decision that she and the production made. She added that "it also just felt like it was time".
At the beginning of her journey with the show, Makhanya said she always hoped she could be there for 10 years. She said she felt God had granted her precisely that when she reached the milestone.
She further said it was "time for growth and greener pastures". Makhanya said she wanted to grow and do other things, namely singing and returning to school to enhance her cooking skills.
Makhanya also admitted it was a "very, very rocky road".
READ MORE | It's the end for Scandal!'s Lindiwe, but Nomvelo Makhanya is just getting started
Leading up to her exit, Nomvelo's character, Lindiwe, fell pregnant with her and her husband Nhlamulo's first child, fell abnormally ill and discovered she had a chronic illness. As her condition worsened, she was forced to choose between their baby's survival or having an abortion. She ultimately decided to take the risk of keeping the baby and fighting to the bitter end.
