The Real Housewives of Durban (RHOD) has found itself in the spotlight following claims of inadequate payment for its cast members. Slindile “Slee” Ndlovu, who was part of season three, recently revealed that appearing on the show left her in a worse financial position.
Speaking on The Spotlight podcast, she claimed that while she was compensated, the money she received barely covered her expenses.
“As cast members, we were expected to portray a certain lifestyle. For example, we had to buy our own make-up, host parties, and purchase our own clothes,” she explained.
“We all did the show with the understanding that it was a platform to build ourselves as brands and gain exposure. However, everything came from our own pockets. We spent our own money to maintain the look, buy make-up, and host events. I funded myself.”
Ndlovu went on to say that when she compared her expenses to what she was paid, it felt like she was only receiving “petrol money.”
She even admitted that financially, she was better off before joining the show.
However, the show’s executive producer, Sam Kelly, responded to the claims, clarifying that cast members were not being paid a traditional performance fee. “
ROD is an unscripted reality series, so while the cast is compensated to cover basic costs, participants aren’t paid performance fees like in drama series or films,” Kelly explained.
“All terms are shared and agreed upon upfront, and we’re grateful to everyone who has shown up, shared their lives with us, and helped make the show a success.”
Ndlovu also shared that she had left her regular job to be on the show, hoping it would be financially rewarding, but instead, she struggled to keep up with the lifestyle expected of a reality star.
“I was away from my daily job, but I wasn’t making any money. There was no income, yet I was constantly spending money,” she said.
