‘Generations,’ degenerating?

The fired cast of ‘Generations’ have called on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to stop condemning black talent to a life of poverty. Last Tuesday, in the presence of their lawyer, they held a briefing at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg to discuss their salaries and working conditions.Speaking out Sophie Ndaba, (Queen Moroka) demanded […]

The fired cast of ‘Generations’ have called on the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) to stop condemning black talent to a life of poverty.
Last Tuesday, in the presence of their lawyer, they held a briefing at the Market Theatre in Johannesburg to discuss their salaries and working conditions.
Speaking out Sophie Ndaba, (Queen Moroka) demanded consistency.
She said: “You can crush somebody when they have done something bad but you must also commend them when they have done something good. We are not here to crush; we are here to share facts. You can’t give someone 0 and 2 percent and someone else 20 percent.”
Paying tribute to fallen heroes in the entertainment industry, who the actors say have been victims of exploitation in the country, Patrick Shai (Patrick Tlaole), said this is not a bid to get more money and lead extravagant lifestyles but rather a matter of principle.
He said whether they get their jobs back or not the acting industry and the SABC will never be the same again.
Veteran producer, John Kani, likened the sacking of the cast members to the apartheid system.
South Africa’s Arts and Culture Ministry says it has been able to convince the SABC to reconsider firing actors and reinstate them.
The ministry said there’ll be another meeting to discuss the terms the actors must agree to in order to get their jobs back. The actors had formed the Generations Actors Guild (GAG) to improve salaries and working conditions of the 16 actors, as well as all actors at the SABC.
Last Tuesday, they told a press conference that the SABC and production company MMSV had violated their human rights by making their salaries public.
“What was said on Friday was unethical, it exposed us,” said actress Nambitha (Mawande).
“We are embarrassed because we are private individuals and we don’t want our private details in the public sphere.”
MMSV owner, Mfundi Vundla, had told reporters penultimate Friday that the soap opera’s actors received an average salary of R55,000 a month, and not “peanuts” as they had claimed.
Actors who were fired and part of GAG include Menzi Ngubane, who plays the character of ruthless businessman Sbusiso Dlomo, Patrick Shai (Patrick Tlaole), Sophie Ndaba (Queen), Seputla Sebogodi (Kenneth Mashaba), Winnie Ntshaba (Khetiwe Buthelezi) and Katlego Danke (Dineo Dlomo).
They said the broadcaster and MMSV had failed to deliver on promises them made to them during their strike last year. They were reportedly promised three-year contracts, which they had not received. They also wanted salary adjustments.
Vundla said penultimate Friday that the production company had a contract with the SABC and had to deliver.
“We have the responsibility to deliver episodes on time to live up to our contract,” he said.
For many Nigerian fans, like Ekene Amadi, the thought that they might not be able to watch their beloved series after a while, is sad. “The reason I pay for the N7, 000 DSTV bouquet is so that I can watch ‘Generations.’ I have watched it for the past six years and I’m absolutely in love with it. To hear that Queen was one of those sacked makes me feel very unhappy because she is my favourite character,” she said.
“I’m earnestly praying that the crisis is resolved and goes back to normal and even better,” Amadi added.