Umndeni Star's 'Death' Retracted as Family Alleges Mistreatment by Moja Love
In a dramatic turn of events, the family of Flora ‘Mahlalentabeni’ Makena, the reality TV star from Umndeni, has announced that she is alive, just days after confirming her supposed death. This startling retraction comes after Mahlalentabeni was discharged from intensive care following a severe health crisis that her family initially believed had claimed her life.
The Makena family has expressed immense relief at her survival. However, their joy is overshadowed by profound fear for her wellbeing and serious allegations of unpaid wages and mistreatment levelled against broadcaster Moja Love. The channel has firmly denied these claims.
Nomvula Makena, Mahlalentabeni’s sister, recounted the harrowing experience that led them to believe the worst. "Her body was cold, and there was foam coming out of her mouth. That part traumatised us deeply, and we thought she was gone," she told Sunday World.
Now conscious but fragile, Mahlalentabeni has left her family shattered and in constant fear of another attempt on her life. "We are scared she would do something like this again. Even now, she keeps asking about the money Moja Love owes her," Nomvula revealed, highlighting the ongoing distress.
The family alleges that mounting financial pressure and alleged bullying linked to her work on Umndeni drove Mahlalentabeni to despair. According to Nomvula, her sister's distress peaked when she was not paid for her work while her co-stars received their salaries. "She was hurting because only Dabula and Maseko were paid," she said, suggesting a disparity in treatment.
The crisis came to a head on Christmas Eve. "My mother found her trying to kill herself. She had taken an overdose of pills. This was not the first time," Nomvula stated, underscoring the severity of Mahlalentabeni's mental state. The star allegedly faced a barrage of humiliating comments on social media after she voiced her frustrations. "People were sent to comment nasty things about our poor situation at home… She told me she did not deserve what they were doing to her."
The family further claims that when Mahlalentabeni pursued the unpaid wages, a senior figure at the channel told her that production had closed and advised her to “ask for your money on TikTok.” This alleged response has added fuel to their accusations of neglect and disrespect.
In a shocking claim, the family alleges that Mahlalentabeni suffered abuse during filming that was deliberately withheld from broadcast. "Maseko was abusing my sister, but they never aired that. They told us if we refused to shoot, we would be removed. She carried on because she is our breadwinner," Nomvula stated, suggesting a coercive environment where the family felt pressured to continue filming despite the alleged abuse.
Moja Love spokesperson Nonzwakazi Cekete has vehemently denied all allegations made by the Makena family. Cekete stated that Mahlalentabeni faced serious personal and mental health challenges unrelated to the channel, including domestic disputes and unexplained absences from shoots. The channel maintains that it is not responsible for the personal struggles the reality star is facing.
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