A NEW drama series, Umkhokha TV screens on Sunday, 3 October.
But its lead actors, Mbuso Khoza and Sibonile Ngubane, have come under fire from the Shembe Nazareth Church.
This is because Shembe members believe the drama is based on their church and the infighting over its leadership.
They argue the church in the series uses the same uniforms, props and sitting arrangements as their church and this is making a mockery of their church.
Church members expressed their disappointment on various social media platforms.
Shembe church spokesman Thokozani Mncwabe said he has seen highlights from the drama.
“As the church, we are not happy about it. According to the highlights, the drama mimics all the Shembe protocols, he said.
“This is not allowed. We respect our religion and its leaders but this is making a mockery of it. A committee has already been set up to deal with this.”
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Church member Bongisiwe Mgabhi told Mbuso on social media that the props in the drama were only used in their church.
“I’m not happy at all but I also understand it’s your job,” wrote Bongisiwe.
A member called Gabela told Mbuso he would not get blessings.
“This show will definitely not expose the entire truth about our church, instead it will mislead people,” wrote Gabela.
However, Mbuso said people must not jump to conclusions.
He told Daily Sun: “It would be pointless to comment on this because people have not watched the entire production. I suggest they watch it until the end before coming to a conclusion.”
Show producer Mandla kaNozulu said it was not based on the Shembe church.
“For us, the reaction has been amazing. We didn’t expect the show to attract so much attention before the first episode,” he said.
“This series is not about Shembe. It’s about a fictional church. Therefore, there was no need to ask for permission from the Catholic Church, Zion Church or Shembe because it is not about them,” he said.
Umkhokha will air on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161) every Sunday at 8pm.
