South African actress Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku has spoken out about the sexual violation experience by fellow cast member Bonko Khoza during a scene on Showmax’s Red Ink.
Nirvana revealed that this unfortunate incident happened in September 2023, and when confronted, Bonko admitted his fault by stating, “I take full responsibility for thrusting Nirvana.”
NIRVANA ACCUSES BONKO OF SEXUALLY VIOLATING HER ON SET
In a video posted on 17 May, the young actress shared email exchanges between Bomb’s executive producers, including Desiree Markgraaff, where Nirvana expressed her frustration about how her grievances were handled.
“Over time, I have quietly observed your verbal and written correspondence regarding the violation I experienced on your set,” she began.
“I have also observed the slow and deliberate isolation and estrangement from the people whose authority, sensibility, and protection I trusted most,” she added.
“You have heartlessly disemboweled my trust with velvet gloves and disdainfully betrayed my human dignity,” she wrote.
In 2024, Nirvana’s manager Michael Fisher emailed Bomb’s executives, Angus Gibson and Desiree, and stressed that they should have fired the offender, as such incidents generally lead to immediate dismissals.
“It is a global industry standard that upon the occurrence of such abuse, at a minimum, the perpetrator is fired immediately and that remedial measures are implemented for the victim. Absent such a measure, the responsible executive personnel is fired.”
“None of these measures have been taken; instead, Ms Nokwe-Mseleku, despite her graciousness, was subjected to empty promises further compounding Ms Nokwe-Mseleku’s trauma,” read the email.
NIRVANA CONSIDERS OTHER AVENUES TO SHOWACSE HER TALENTS
In a video posted on 16 May, Nirvana openly speaks about her unsavoury experiences in the local acting industry, stating that she is considering other avenues to showcase her talents.
She voiced her disappointment with the very unions that claim to protect artists’ rights, revealing that some people warned her that if she ever speaks out, she could kiss her career goodbye.
“I am never going back to acting. I will never put myself in a position where I am being told that my body is not mine,” she began.
She added, “I am never going to put myself in an ecosystem that isn’t sustainable. I am not going to waste my precious life just to be seen by millions of people across the continent, dare I say even the whole world,” she added.
“I’m being told I will never work if I speak out or if I report to those organisations,” she said.
Lastly, Nirvana, the daughter of the legendary Tu Nokwe, shared her unfiltered thoughts on the legacy of the company that has created iconic television shows such as Yizo Yizo, Jacob’s Cross, Isibaya, House of Zwide, and Red Ink, among others.
“I want you to know that Bomb’s legacy in my eyes will forever be a legacy of a culture who discards and preys on young black women like me, especially those of us who refuse to take it in the chin. A legacy of coddling violence and sexual predation,” she wrote.
