Till later, Generations

Fired cast from the South African soapie, Generations.

THE announcement by South African Broadcasting Corporation’s (SABC) that their most successful soapie, Generations, which has been showing on TV for more than two decades will go off screen on October 1 has been received with mixed feelings by local viewers. Generations which had become a permanent feature on the entertainment diary for many viewers will stop screening after 16 of its main actors were fired for industrial action last month demanding “Hollywood wages” from MMSV Productions and SABC.

It is reported that the filming of the popular soap stopped on August 11 when the principal actors started withholding their services demanding higher salaries and a cut from the R500 million royalties the soapie earns. In a statement, the actors said they were “unshaken” in their resolve to secure their demands. These include a reduction of work time to 10 working hours a day, provision of social benefits, an end to inconsistencies in remuneration, payment of royalties, and better working conditions.

SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago was quoted early this week in South African media saying, “There are no new episodes . . . Generations will be off air until December.”  The broadcaster has since replaced the soap with drama, Skeem Saam Season 3 as MMSV is reportedly working on rebuilding cast and script. Some local followers of the soap who had become addicted to it have expressed mixed feelings over the developments.

“The soap opera had lost direction and taste just like what our own soap Studio 263. Hope when it returns it will be a rebranded soap,” said Mavis Mashayahanya of Avondale. Another self-confessed Generations addict Rutendo Machingura said she was disappointed by the development. “SABC must realise that as much as these people provide entertainment to our doorstep, they have lives to live, families to support and they should take them seriously. The company is making money and it should translate into fortunes to the entire crew,” she said.

“These have been some bad days as far as television viewing is concerned. However, it’s good that concerned parties are working on bringing my favorite programme back on air in December.”  However, Bernard Mwale said he was not going to watch Generations again unless they bring back his favorite actors whom he described as the soul of the soapie.

Emilia Bhaureni of Westgate said there was nothing special about the fired cast as they can be replaced. “Many companies make billions of dollars, but their employees don’t earn a lot. What is so special about actors that would make them think they should be paid “Hollywood” salaries? They should not compare themselves with actors from other shows,” Bhaureni said.

He said the actors should apply for acting roles in those countries if they want to be paid more than they use to earn. As of October 1, the soap opera will not appear on SABC’s programming schedule until December 2014. – Nkosana Zulu