The 16 Generations actors, whose contracts were recently
terminated, addressed the media at a press conference held at the Market
Theatre in Johannesburg on 26 August. In their own words they expressed the
reasoning behind their collective stand-off with public broadcaster the SABC, and
the production company MMSV Productions, with which some cast members have
held a relationship for over a decade,.
The actors’ legal representative Desmond Brown outlined the cast members’
main concerns and maintained that their decision to withhold services was not
taken lightly. He attributed this as a reaction to the SABC and MMVP’s
unwillingness to negotiate.
“Prior to 11 August many attempts to negotiate were made, but downing tools
was the only way to force engagement about some of the concerns which were
brought about last year. We did not anticipate that the SABC and MMSV would
take such a hard stance,’ Brown commented.
The concerns which Brown referred to relate to the actors fees, royalties and
the general conditions mentioned in their employment contracts. Brown went on
to say that the power which the SABC and MMVP held was disproportionate and
that their mention of the average R55 000 salary was “absolute
nonsense.’
“We know the SABC and MMVP are flagrantly breaking the law. They are
colluding together to set salaries that are not market related,’ Brown added.
According to Brown, the actors along with MMSV and the SABC were invited by
the South African Minister of Arts and Culture to discuss the dispute on Monday,
25 August. “MMSV turned down the invitation, while the SABC arrived five hours
late, saying they didn’t know the meeting had been called,’ said Brown, who
added that the SABC was not willing to speak to the actors with their legal
representation present.
Cast member and celebrated South African actor Patrick Shai said that much of
what the SABC and MMVP had mentioned in their press conference, held on 22
August, was not true and added, “Lies have short legs – they can run very fast
but don’t cover a lot of ground.’
Shai went on to say that he believed the SABC was still practising principles
which were formed in apartheid: “The SABC cannot have conditions which
confine black artists to a life of poverty.’
He continued, “The landscape needs to change. This is not a cause fuelled by
greed, we want change – your children cannot grow up in this
environment.’
Sophie Ndaba, the longest-serving Generations cast member,
stated that she had always respected and been loyal to MMSV and executive
producer Mfundi Vundla, “I started at Generations when I was 20, I
grew up on Generations. I love Generations, there is
no way I would be the brand I am today without it. I am grateful to Mfundi and
to the production company that changed the face of television in South Africa.’
The actress added that the SABC’s involvement in extending their contracts to a
three-year term was appreciated and that she had welcomed their participation
in the matter. However, she believes cast members deserve more of a share in
the profits they earn for the SABC and that a regulation of rates was needed.
“We collectively make them the money that allows for their Christmas bonuses
at the end of the year,’ said Ndaba, “bonuses based on targets met by us. With
turnover of R500 million in profits, what’s R55 000?’
Actress Nambitha Mpumlwana added, “The situation has all of us heaving from
our guts – how a colleague had to be rescued because he had no medical aid. If
you have to rescue an actor because they don’t have medical aid, I say shame
on you.’
A major issue raised by the cast members surrounds that of royalties due to
them, and how this will be managed going forward.
“Royalties have been an existing part of contracts for 20 years but have not
been honoured, and this is something we are pursuing,’ said Brown, “We asked
the SABC for information to determine what the royalty amounts are and we got
sent a lot of documents covered in Tipp-Ex. We were told that our auditors can
go into a room, which is filled with all kinds of documents, and find what they
want.’
