‘Generations’ soap shocker

This is no laughing matter. 16 Generations cast members were fired from their posts.

Show creator Mfundi Vundla, announced his decision to terminate contracts of the principal cast, following a contractual dispute – spanning from October last year – forcing main cast members to strike.

Vundla commented on the matter on a national radio station.

“We have been engaging with them since October last year… we and the SABC urged them to come back and record while dealing with outstanding issues but they refused and we let them go,” he said.

Commenting on whether they will take back the actors, he said,“It’s finished and klaar; we are running a business here, there has to be resolve…we have to bring certainty to the production; we can’t be playing ping pong, ping pong. It is a final decision.”

It is yet to be seen if this is truly a final decision as the fired cast members are still willing to be on screen characters for the most watched soap in Mzansi, according to their legal representative Desmond Brown.

“We are looking into a quick way to resolve this issue rather than going to court; we don’t want to close avenues for discussion but if all else fails, we will go to court,” said Brown.“All the cast is asking for is to be treated fairly and get what they deserve”.

The cast has been trying to negotiate new contracts since last October and has been working without contracts since.

“We had already agreed on a three-year contract, reduction of hours from 12 hours a day to 10 hours and a salary increase,” asserted Brown.

Vundla said the demands were unreasonable.

“Out of the 20 highest paid actors in the country, 12 of them are sitting on Generations,” commented Vundla.

An article in a Sunday newspaper reported that these actors were demanding a salary increase from R16 000 to R30 000 a week.

According to Brown, Vundla is not allowed to boot the cast.

“They [the cast] have been rendering their services since October under an agreement that they will be given proper contracts that were agreed upon, but the SABC is the one holding up the whole situation because the production agreed to the terms, but the SABC does not respond to our correspondence,” he said.

The shake-up news came as a surprise to most making it the number one trend on Twitter.

Celebrities went atwitter expressing their views on the matter and this tug-of-war ruffled a response from TV soap Scandal actress Florence Masebe.

“It explains why entertainers (black) die paupers; because they have absolutely no cover or parity income,” she tweeted.

Sport and Recreation Minister Fikile Mbalula also tweeted: “You can’t just dismiss people en masse when they demand more pay. This is super exploitation.”

Although some fans have openly showcased their distaste with others going as far as urging the show creators to cancel the soap; Vundla said the show will go on.

“We have plans to continue with Generations. Generations lives…they [fired cast] found Generations in existence, there were other actors before them and there will be others in future,” he said.

The 16 cast members fired are:

Sophie Ndaba (Queen), Menzi Ngubane (Sibusiso), Seputla Sebogodi (Kenneth), Katlego Danke (Dineo), Thami Mnqolo (Senzo), Zolisa Xaluva (Jason), Winnie Ntshaba (Khetiwe), Slindile Nodangala (Ruby), Zenande Mfenyana (Noluntu), Thato Molamu (Nicholas) , Anga Makubalo (MJ), Mandla, Gaduka (Choppa), Patrick Shai (Patrick), Atandwa Kani (Samora), Nambitha Mpulwana (Mawande), Zikhona Sodlaka (Priska).

How much do you think these TV stars should earn per month?