Daily Sun (August 21 2014) - IT'S a cliffhanger worthy of South Africa's most popular soapie. Millions of faithful viewers hold their breath as they wait for the next startling revelation in the real-life Generations saga . . .
AS ACTORS AND NATIONAL OFFICIALS MEET TO RESOLVE WHAT SOME DESCRIBE AS A NATIONAL CRISIS.
By late afternoon, the office of Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa had confirmed that Mthethwa would be at the meeting. Mthethwa's spokesman, Sandile Mamela, said: "The minister is deeply concerned and is willing to participate in a process that would bring a speedy solution to the problem. The minister will be joined by several other stakeholders who are all intent on resolving this issue."
Communication Minister Faith Muthambi, Labour Minister Mildred Oliphant and SABC Board chairwoman Ellen Tshabalala are expected to attend. National co-ordinator of the ANC Youth League, Mzwandile Masina, told reporters yesterday they met the actors on Tuesday night.
Masina said the league was shocked by the treatment of the actors by the SABC. "The broadcaster had not fulfilled some of the terms negotiated in October," he said. "The SABC continues to refuse to pay agreed rates. They say they will embark on an investigation of the rates."
He dismissed this argument saying the SABC was running other soapies and therefore was familiar with rates. "We want to call on the SABC to rescind the expulsion of these workers with immediate effect. They must stop being the referee and the player at the same time," he said.
Masina said the league had undertaken to engage the political leaders in government to resolve the matter and make sure the actors get their jobs back.
"The league will make sure they are taken back on the conditions favourable to their livelihood," he said. During the meeting with the actors, Masina said the league came to realise the industry has not transformed.
"The most famous actors in the country are still battling to receive UIF, pension funds, housing allowances, car allowances, medical aid and all other benefits that decent work is supposed to provide," said Masina.
"They are unfortunately described as freelance workers and this is tantamount to labour broking.
Workers of Generations have restrictive clauses which prohibit their abilities to grow and maximise the life span of their acting careers."
Later ANCYL spokesman Bandile Masuku said during the meeting it emerged that the main source of the problem in the crisis was the SABC.
It was the broadcaster that had instructed the production house to fire the actors.
The SABC released a short statement yesterday saying it will hold a press conference tomorrow to clear the air on the matter.
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