Award-winning actor Bonko Khoza has broken his silence over serious sexual assault allegations made by actress Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku, denying wrongdoing and insisting investigations into the matter found no evidence to support the claims.
In a public statement Khoza said he supports victims of sexual violence but rejected allegations that he violated Nokwe-Mseleku during the filming of Red Ink in September 2023.
“I stand by victims of sexual assault; however, (I) deny that I sexually assaulted, thrusted upon or committed any misconduct in respect of Ms. NokweMseleku and the production,” he said.
This follows emotional social media posts by Nokwe-Mseleku, who accused Khoza of crossing agreed-upon physical boundaries while filming a violent assault scene.
The actress alleged that despite prior discussions around consent and choreography, Khoza thrust his pelvis against hers during filming after she had explicitly stated she was uncomfortable with such actions.
“My co-star violated physical boundaries, emotional as well as psychological, too,” Nokwe-Mseleku said in one of the videos shared online.
The actress also shared screenshots of emails, recordings, and audio clips relating to the incident, saying the ordeal traumatised her and permanently altered her relationship with the entertainment industry.
“I’m never going back to acting. I will never put myself in a position where I am being told that my body is not mine,” she said.
Khoza, however, maintains the scene was professionally handled and rehearsed beforehand with all relevant parties present.
“The incident pertains to a fully clothed violent stunt scene, which was discussed beforehand and choreographed and rehearsed with Ms. NokweMseleku, director of photography, the director, and stunt-coordinator,” he said.
He added that a stunt double had been offered to Nokwe-Mseleku before filming, but she declined.
“Every action I performed on set that night was strictly in line with the script, the choreography agreed upon with the directors and stunt coordinator and under the supervision of senior production personnel.”
According to Khoza, more than 12 crew members, including the director, producer, stunt coordinator, and camera crew, were present during filming, and none reported behaviour resembling the allegations later made against him.
The actor further revealed that meetings were held with production executives, agents and senior crew members after the complaint surfaced.
“In this regard, on 30 November 2023, representatives from Red Ink Productions, MNET, SWIFT, senior crew members, and both mine and Ms. NokweMseleku’s respective agents viewed the unedited material.
“All parties confirmed that no thrusting, sexual misconduct, or criminal behaviour occurred. The footage simply did not support the allegation,” he said.
Khoza also disclosed that Nokwe-Mseleku later opened a criminal case against him with the South African Police Service in May 2024.
“I became aware early last year that the police investigated the matter, and after considering the facts, the authorities did not prosecute the matter,” he added.
Despite denying the allegations, Khoza acknowledged the seriousness of sexual violence and said concerns raised by performers should always be treated with care.
“The concerns raised by Ms. NokweMseleku deserve proper attention, more so knowing that we live in a society that is plagued by sexual violence,” he said.
However, he described the allegations against him as “false accusations” that had deeply affected his family and career.
“The past two and a half years have been deeply painful. Being falsely accused of a sex crime is devastating for anyone,” he said.
“My integrity, my career, and my role as a parent were all placed under a cloud because of an allegation that has been disproven by footage, by witnesses, and by the legal process.”
Khoza reiterated that he will continue defending himself through legal channels while advocating for safer working environments within the entertainment industry.
“I remain committed to safe, respectful, and professional working environments for all performers,” he said.
The Star
masabata.mkwananzi@inl.co.za