This troubling news just in... Harriet Manamela has been booked off on extended sick leave and won't be playing Meikie Maputla on Skeem Saam for the remainder of Season 12.
It ends on 28 June this year and Florence Masebe will be replacing her from mid-May.
Both the SABC and Skeem Saam producers PEU Communications have described Flo as stepping in temporarily so this is a hopeful sign that they expect Harriet to recover.
As you'll see, Flo's arrival happens a month and a half after Harriet's last scene so it clearly took some time for the decision to be made.
Their statement:
The character of Meikie to be temporarily replaced
Due to unforeseen circumstances, the character of ‘Meikie Maputla’ played by Harriet Manamela will be replaced until the end of season 12.
The decision came about after Harriet Manamela needed to be placed on sick leave for an extended period of time. Manamela’s last scene for the season will air on the 5th of April 2024.
From the 15th of May 2024 the character of ‘Meikie Maputla’ will be played by Florence Masebe.
Harriet has portrayed Meikie for 12 and a half years, since Season 1.
We wish her a full recovery.