SABC1's Uzalo has finally found the replacement for embattled actress Omuhle Gela. Actress Fanele Ntuli, who plays Dr Zondo on Durban Gen, is said to be replacing Gela. She played Nomaswazi on the show and left the show high and dry after disagreements with the show's bosses. It was claimed that she was unhappy because she moved from Johannesburg to KwaZulu-Natal for the show, only to be given a contract that had different terms from what she and the production company had initially agreed on. Gela had joined the cast in May this year.

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DESPERATE FOR A REPLACEMENT 

A source close to the show has told  Zimoja that producers were so  desperate to find a replacement and to get an actress from Johannesburg would have been costly for them so the settled for Ntuli. Zimoja has learned that Omuhle's departure from the show apparently left chaos in the production. "Producers were under immense stress because they had just finished shooting Season 8, which ended in September and Omuhle had already shot most scenes for season 9," says one source adding that Ntuli will have to reshoot all Omuhle's scenes as they were busy with season 9 when Omuhle decided to walk off set. "Remember Omuhle had started shooting Season 9, so they needed to reshoot with the new person. They couldn't have two different characters as one person as that was going to be confusing, " says the source.

DISAGREEMENTS

Another source says producers had been following Ntuli  for some time following their disagreements with Gela. "She was their first option and luckily for them she agreed to join Uzalo," says the source. Zimoja first  broke Gela 's story when she walked off set following disagreements with the powers that be. Meanwhile, there is a rumour going around  that Gela was told that the show bosses were  going to re-cast her character because they were not happy with her acting.
Uzalo publicist  Nomfundo Zondi said Fanele is one of the actresses who have been shortlisted.
"let me confirm with the SABC will revert back,' she said.