adminJOHANNESBURG – Sixteen fired Generations actors this week told their side of the pay dispute saga which has seen them forcibly retire their acting duties for a week. The group of sacked actors who call themselves The Generations Actors Guild collectively made their voices heard on the pay dispute at a Press conference held in Johannesburg on Monday. Some broke down while they described what they called apartheid working conditions.
Sophie Ndaba, the longest standing Generations cast member at 21 years, said forming the guild was not about seeking attention. She refuted reports that she was the ring leader, saying all 16 had decided to come together after realising they had been short-changed in salary negotiations.
“What we are doing is not designed to destroy Mfundi Vundla (Generations executive producer). I would not be where I am if it wasn’t for him.
“Everything has been done with a sense of respect but what is wrong is wrong and what’s right is right.”
Ndaba added that although the SABC had approached them with the intention of facilitating the negotiation process, their actions had proved otherwise. She said Generations chief operations officer, Hlaudi Motsoeneng had promised them three year contracts at the beginning of the year, however, he reneged on this when MMSV got in contact with him. One year contracts were decided upon, without consulting the actors, alleged Ndaba.
“Every year for the past 21 years, I’ve had to wait to be told that my contract has been renewed.”
She added that the actors were calling for fair remuneration as the show is carried by all of them.
“We can’t be compared to shows that started two years ago. We are not appreciated as actors who actively contribute to growing Generations into the brand that it is. All we ask is for a share of the pie.”
Zikhona Sodlaka who has spent a year with the drama, shared her views on the saga, saying the show’s executive producer Mfundi Vundla was in effect, a lame duck and worked for his fellow Generations creators, Elsje and Friedrich Stark.
She alleged that there were separate rooms for black actors and ones for white actors. A teary eyed Sodlaka could not finish her speech as she burst into tears, in the midst of explaining how Vundla spoke ill of her colleagues.
Menzi Ngubane, who is one of the senior cast members spoke of unjust treatment. He explained how even though he suffered from a kidney disease, he had to continue working.
He said after seven weeks of being hospitalised, he received a call sheet summoning him to work, two days after his release from hospital. Several cast members became emotional as Ngubane spoke.
Nambitha Mpulwana who has over two decades acting experience said the actors found it hard to meet their day to day expenses.
Mpulwana said after tax, agents fees, medical expenses and retirement funds were deducted, they were effectively left with nothing.
Patrick Shai, who joined the cast about two years ago said the actors were not concerned with living luxurious lives.
Instead, they wanted to be paid according to the industry standard and in line with what the Generations brand pulls in through advertising and it being licensed to over 20 countries around the world. The Generations brand was worth an estimated R500 million in 2007 with a thirty second segment going for over R200,000 today.
Creating a legacy that would inspire generations to come was one of the goals of establishing a formal union lamented Shai.
“The SABC needs to account for the millions that are collected from licensing deals each year. Hlaudi Motsoeneng says he is not accountable to us but he is indeed accountable to me and you as the public. He improves his own salary but will not improve ours.”
Dr John Kani expressed his support for the axed Generations actors saying if SABC and production houses want professionals they should engage and negotiate with the artistes. – TimesLive
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