Lillian Dube: The industry celebrates 'short skirts and g-strings' and not legends like Joe Mafela

Veteran actress Lillian Dube has lambasted the entertainment industry for neglecting legends like Joe Mafela while he was still alive.

Lillian spoke to TshisaLIVE on Sunday, just hours after news of Joe's death emerged in a car accident, and said that she felt like the industry had sometimes forgotten her and Joe.

She said that neither of them were invited to the SA Film and Television Awards (Saftas) this past weekend.

"I asked him how he could go on a cruise while the Saftas was on and he said that he was not invited. I was not invited either. We spoke about the industry and how we were being marginalised and not being given enough respect for what we've done. We need to be honoured while we are still alive not forgotten," she said.

She also explained that actors were often expected to work long hours with very little benefits, only to be forgotten in their hour of need.

"There are no such thing as medical aid and pension funds in the industry. When you are no longer popular or needed by the industry you are often left out on your own. The industry does not look after its own," Lillian added.

She said that it was time that the industry stopped glorifying "short skirts and g-strings" and start honouring its legends.

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"How can the industry celebrate short skirts and g-strings while we have legends like Joe Mafela? The focus is not on the right things. These are people who are pioneers and who have set the trail for many South African artists," Lillian said.