SABC, Generations face growing backlash from celebs

Cape Town – An angry backlash is growing against the SABC and the Generations producers from South African actors and celebrities voicing their opinions following the firing of the Generations cast on SABC1 on Monday.

The former Generations actor and now Hollywood star Fana Mokoena, who played Doctor Mandla Sithole during the 1990s, criticised the dismissal of the actors, saying it is an industry wide problem.

Mokoena said that actors need to stand together in general, to be represented by a solid actors' representative body.

TV and radio presenter Mark Pilgrim said on Twitter that he would much rather have the money from his TV licence that he has to pay to the SABC go towards actor's salaries, instead of the huge salary of the SABC's chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

I'd much rather my (now due) TV Licence go towards actors salaries instead of huge salary of matricless SABC boss Motsoeneng. #Generations

— Mark Pilgrim ? (@MarkPilgrimZA) August 19, 2014

On Tuesday 702 radio talk show host Redi Tlhabi said "basically there will be no soapie without these people."

"Why is it that a soapie star from another part of the world will become a multi-millionaire from their acting? Do we treat our actors with the same respect?

"We've had stories of South African actors dying as paupers like Henry Cele in Shaka Zulu, now being shown on SABC3 again. We're told he died a very, very poor man. Are we in 2014 – what is this about?"

e.tv's Scandal! soap actress Florence Masebe said on Twitter: "Still watching the Generations drama unfold. Hoping political statements are guided by true concern for industry issues vs point scoring".

Still watching the Generations drama unfold. Hoping political statements are guided by true concern for industry issues vs point scoring.

— Florence Masebe (@FloMasebe) August 19, 2014

SABC2's Muvhango drama queen Rami Chuene chimed in on Twitter: "The most popular show without the popular stars? The longest running show without the longest serving actors? The most income generating show without incoming generating actors?"

The biggest running show without the biggest actors? #BringBackOurGenActors

— Rami Chuene 1st Lady (@ramichuene) August 19, 2014

Longest running show without longest serving actors? #BringBackOurGenActors

— Rami Chuene 1st Lady (@ramichuene) August 19, 2014

Most income generating show without income generating actors? #BringBackOurGenActors

— Rami Chuene 1st Lady (@ramichuene) August 19, 2014

South Africa's minister of sport, Fikile Mbalula, also chimed in.

"You can't just dismiss people en masse when they demand more pay. This is super exploitation. We can't associate ourselves with exploitation. This can't be right. I can feel it in my blood. Somebody somewhere is getting away with murder. No ways. The Generations situation can't be okay.

"Let’s speak out and put a stop to this. Those who say actors are not vulnerable, they don't know the industry. It's for this very reason that they can't be dismissed like this," said Mbalula on Twitter.

TV and radio presenter Zuraida Jardine said on Twitter that South Africa's actors need to be paid their worth and be treated well. "It's time. Fair is Fair! Networks need to start celebrating actors too".

Our actors need to be paid their worth & treated well. It's time. Fair is Fair! Networks need to start celebrating actors too. #generations

— Zuraida Jardine (@ZuraidaJardine) August 18, 2014

"I wonder if a mine boss or a corporate CEO spoke about workers like Mfundi Vundla or the SABC do about actors on Generations," remarked radio host Gareth Cliff on Twitter.

I wonder, if a mine boss or a corporate CEO spoke about workers like Mfundi Vundla or the SABC do about actors on generations...

— Gareth Cliff (@GarethCliff) August 19, 2014