'Generations' actor Menzi Ngubane has bent his own rule about not talking to the media about his personal life, in an effort to finally put some of the rampant rumours about his health and personal life to rest.
Ngubane, known for his role as villainous businessman Sibusiso 'Ngamla' Dlomo in the soapie, is suffering from a kidney disease, and says that all the irresponsible reports about his health has caused him a lot of grief.
Ngubane decided to meet up with Drum magazine to set the record straight.
"A lot of newshounds have been having a field day writing about me. A lot of hurtful things were written about me and the people close to me," Ngubane told the publication.
These hurtful things include rumours that he passed away after being hospitalised in 2011, had a kidney transplant, divorced his wife Lerato, and has been initiated as a sangoma, all of which Ngubane insist is nonsense.
First addressing falsifications about his health, the actor confirmed that he is suffering from a kidney disease, which he says he is keeping under control with medication and regular dialysis.
"I feel fabulous. The treatment is delicate, alright, but as long as you watch what you eat and drink and take heed of what the doctors say, you'll be okay," Ngubane explained.
He also rubbished claims that he's had a kidney transplant, a process which he says is complicated and tricky, and made even more difficult by his fame.
"There are various things you have to consider. Blood type is very important, but there's a whole host of things to consider as well. You know, a curious raft of do's and don'ts," he said.
"People have approached me offering to donate a kidney. Touched as I was by the gesture, I had to be careful. When a kidney is donated it must be a genuine act of kindness. You don't want to be caught up in a situation where you're held to ransom because someone gave you a kidney. You know, a situation where the donor calls you and you're expected to pick up the phone, and then they make all sorts of demands and say, 'By the way, you have my kidney'. I'm trying to avoid that.
"I'm on the hospital's transplant list, so it's just a matter of time. Health wise I'm doing very well. I go for check-ups every month and the doctors are impressed with my progress."
But it seems that rumours about his apparent initiation as a traditional healer is among those which hurt him most, with Drum describing how "tears fill his eyes" as he addresses them.
"I can't begin to tell you about the pain those rumours caused me and my family," lamented Ngubane, who thinks the rumours were started by the traditional beads he had to wear during the 'Generations' storyline which saw him imprisoned.
"I'm still shocked at the news that a sangoma in Pretoria confirmed I was one of his initiatives. I have no idea why he would say that. There was no training in Pretoria," he added.
"You will remember that Sibusiso was in prison at the time. He got the beads from his uncle who said they would help him while he was in prison. I haven't the foggiest idea why wearing ubuhlalu (traditional beads) on set would make people believe I'm a sangoma.
"In Emnambithi, where I come from, people always grope around my wrists and neck for ubuhlalu. Every time I meet people, that's the first thing they do. They're always shocked when they find nothing, shrieking 'akathwasi!' (he's not training to be a healer).
"A calling to be a healer is not something I would hide from people."
In conclusion, Nguma also rectified the mistaken idea that he uses social media, saying: "Some people actually think they're communicating with me on Facebook, but I'm not on any of the social networks. Whoever created those accounts is not me. It's really sad and hurtful."