14/08/2025
Former Uzalo actor Glen Gabela asking for Help
A recent video of veteran South African actor Glen Gabela has gone viral. In it, he appears visibly distressed in his modest home surrounded by a dusty bedroom, a mouldy fridge filled with water bottles, and an almost empty cupboard. He tearfully addressed viewers, saying:
“I don’t need to be rich, I just need to live a decent life.”
He appealed to the public and followers to support him, explaining that he simply wants a dignified life.
Gabela gained widespread recognition in the 1980s for portraying young Shaka in Shaka Zulu. He later appeared in popular local productions such as Yizo Yizo, Doubt, Hopeville, and My Brother’s Keeper, among others .
However, the real downturn came when his role on the hit soap opera Uzalo as Pastor Mdletshe was abruptly terminated at the end of Season 4—despite being initially assured it was a permanent position .
Following this, his bank accounts were frozen, his car was repossessed, his apartment was locked up and he now reportedly depends on a government social grant for survival.
Gabela shared that since being dropped from Uzalo, he has not seen his daughter, last having contact in 2018. His ex-wife, who passed away without resolving matters, apparently influenced their daughter to distance herself from him . The emotional toll has been profound.
Going further back, Gabela recalled being underpaid for his role in Shaka Zulu: he was verbally promised R40,000 but received only R7,000—and was even sent home on a bus, despite being flown in, if he didn’t board . This era exemplifies ongoing challenges around fair compensation in the industry.
Despite these hardships, he continues to run film and acting workshops, using minimal resources and struggling to secure funding .
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