Lead Generations: The Legacy actress Connie Ferguson is leaving the popular soapie, the show has announced.
The soapie's publicist Gaaratwe Mokhethi announced Ferguson's departure in a statement, the ANN7 website reports.
“It is with great disappointment that we have to announce the departure of the much-loved Karabo Moraka played by the talented Connie Ferguson from Generation: The legacy. Connie is working on a couple of projects that need her undivided attention she has then asked to be released from her contract.”
“Karabo is one character that set tongues wagging and her exist scenes will be no different fans need to stay glued to Generations: The Legacy weekdays at 20:00 on SABC 1 to see how Karabo’s controversial story unfolds.”
Ferguson’s initial run on the show lasted 16 years before she announced her departure in April 2010 to persue other professional endeavours, the first of which was a role on M-Net soapie The Wild which included a producing role alongside her husband Shona Ferguson for the drama series Rockville.
Generations: The Legacy’s creator Mfundi Vundla had nothing but praise for Ferguson regarding her departure from the show.
“Connie was a significant figure in the construction of Generations: The Legacy. I will eternally be grateful for that and her contribution to the growth of our industry,” he said.
In 2014, Ferguson showed fierce loyalty to the show that made her a houshold name when she announced that she was returning, after 16 core cast members were fired following a bitter pay dispute and strike action.
Ferguson told Drum magazine that she was approached to return to the soap in the week that the disgruntled actors held a press-conference to air their grievances.
“I don’t want to speak for him, about how exactly he felt, but what I saw was a man hurting to the core,” Ferguson said of Vundla.
“I was there at the beginning of Generations... I respect its legacy. It would break my heart if it were to be remembered for the way it ended. So if there is something I can do to change that, I will.”
Ferguson was also aware at the time that some of her former co-stars might label her a traitor for signing up after they had lost their jobs.
“I understand all too well that people are quick to judge what they don’t understand. In all likelihood, such people will resort to name calling. . . I will be singing Christina Aguilera’s Keep on Singing My Song the whole time. The beauty of growing up is the wisdom that comes with it. I don’t feel the need for outside validation. My inner voice is louder than outside noise. I refuse to sit back and let Generations die an ugly death.”
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IOL and Tonight Reporter