Thuli Phongolo thought her acting dreams were being cut short when the “Generations 16” was axed in September 2014, but a higher power had bigger plans for her.

The 27-year-old actor became a household name as Namhla Diale when a revamped Generations: The Legacy premiered in December 2014. But a few months before producer Mfundi Vundla infamously fired the 16 original cast members – including Sophie Ndaba, Katlego Danke and Winnie Ntshaba – Phongolo was cast to join them...