Sophie Ndaba during a press conference held by the Generations stars that were fired recently at the Market Theatre in Newtown, 26 August 2014. Picture: Neil McCartney
Recent viewership figures from the South Africa Audience Research Foundation show a decline of 200 000 weekly viewers from the end of July to the time the actors downed tools in August.
In that time frame, Generations viewership dropped from 7 461 000 to 7 291 000. These numbers coinciding with the week the 16 actors started withholding their services from the popular local soapie.
Figures from the impact the dismissal of the 16 may may have had, are unavailable at the moment.
Saga drags on
This week the actors met with the SABC and their production company, with the meeting facilitated by the minister of Arts and Culture, Nathi Mthetwa.
A meeting that apparently proved futile with the SABC allegedly refusing to meet actors with their legal representitives.
On Tuesday the actors told a press conference that the SABC and production company MMSV had violated the human rights by making their salaries public.
“What was said on Friday was unethical, it exposed us,” said actress Nambitha Mpumlwana who plays the role of Mawande in the soapie.
“We are embarrassed because we are private individuals and we don’t want our private details in the public sphere.”
MMSV owner Mfundi Vundla told reporters on Friday that the soap opera’s actors received an average salary of R55,000 a month, and not “peanuts” as they had claimed.
Actors Guild Formed
The actors have since formed the Generations Actors Guild (GAG), to improve salaries and working conditions of the 16 actors, as well as all actors at the SABC. They include Menzi Ngubane, who plays the character of ruthless businessman Sbusiso Dlomo, Patrick Shai (Patrick Tlaole), Sophie Ndaba (Queen Ndaba), Seputla Sebogodi (Kenneth Mashaba), Winnie Ntshaba (Khetiwe Buthelezi), and Katlego Danke (Dineo Dlomo).
They claimed the broadcaster and MMSV had failed to deliver on promises it 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.
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