I think that the actuator will still operate as to the best of my knowledge it is the inertube that rotates to open the wastegate. I may be wrong but i believe it it just ti insure it does not come loose. try moving the link arm or removing the clip and disconnecting the arm and turn the plate.
just my 2cents but i could be wrong
Id like to bring this up again as i was looking at my turbo today and noticed this weld.
Thinking i had just found another kiwi bogan trick, i tried to find out about it, in the process i answered my own question
I can confirm that on the S15's T28 this weld is meant to be there, James S15 has got it right as the weld is holding the tube in place, using a small mirror you can see that the tube and the bracket that rotates are not hard fixed there is a gap between them, to test this i got a large flat screw driver and forced the waste gate open, It turns so this weld is not preventing the actuator from opening. Dont grind it off