South African actress Eve Rasimeni has publicly spoken out about her experiences working on the now-cancelled SABC 2 telenovela Pimville, making a series of serious allegations about the treatment of cast and crew during the production.
Rasimeni, who portrayed the character Moghele in the drama series, shared an emotional statement across her social media platforms detailing what she described as months of hardship before the production was halted. Her post included photographs of meals allegedly served to cast and crew, which she claimed reflected poor working conditions on set.
According to Rasimeni, the cancellation of Pimville left hundreds of employees facing severe financial and emotional distress. She alleged that more than 300 cast and crew members remain unpaid following the suspension of production and said many workers were left without support after filming stopped.
The actress further claimed that production leaders, including Rashaka Muofhe and Brenda Muofhe, failed to provide answers or assistance during the crisis. She alleged that those affected were left to fend for themselves while waiting for outstanding payments and clarity about the future of the production.
Among the most serious claims in her statement were allegations that cast and crew members were intimidated into remaining silent about their experiences. Rasimeni said workers feared speaking publicly because they were allegedly warned they could face blacklisting or other consequences within the entertainment industry.
She also described what she claimed were unsafe working conditions on set, alleging that 17 people suffered food poisoning during production. In addition, Rasimeni said the financial strain caused by unpaid wages had devastating consequences for some workers, including evictions, mental health struggles, dependence on antidepressants, a reported mild stroke, and the loss of a child.
Following her public comments, Rasimeni revealed that she received a cease-and-desist letter from attorneys representing Brenda and Rashaka Muofhe. The legal correspondence reportedly states that her allegations are false, defamatory, reckless, and unsupported by credible evidence.
Despite the legal warning, Rasimeni has maintained her position. Sharing the letter on Instagram, she insisted that she would not be silenced and said that speaking about her own experiences could not be considered defamatory. She also stated that she has yet to receive payment for her work on the production.
The controversy follows the South African Broadcasting Corporation’s announcement on May 25 that Pimville had been discontinued because of unresolved contractual obligations and breaches involving Bakwena Productions.
Meanwhile, Rashaka Muofhe has denied allegations of financial mismanagement, describing the accusations as part of a malicious campaign aimed at damaging both his personal reputation and the company’s business interests.
As the dispute continues, the allegations remain contested, with no court ruling having determined the claims made by either side. The matter has drawn widespread attention within South Africa’s television industry and has reignited conversations about labour conditions, accountability, and worker protections in the entertainment sector.
