'Generations' cast axed

19 August 2014 - 01:59 By Andile Ndlovu
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The Generations cast. File photo.
The Generations cast. File photo.
Image: Gallo Images / Sunday Sun / Sipho Maluka

The SABC yesterday sacked the striking actors on its money-spinning soapie Generations after they refused to back down on their demands.

The long-running pay saga came to a head yesterday when the Generations Actors Guild released an open letter in which it cited fears that its members would join the many actors before them who had been "living and dying in a state of poverty, tragically, never managing to earn what is their due, despite being associated with a number of successful projects".

The cast complained that, despite the show's popularity, the actors were paid less than others by the SABC. They also want to be paid royalties and syndication fees for episodes broadcast in other countries.

But the public broadcaster announced that it had decided to sever ties with the stars, including Patrick Shai (Patrick Tlaole), Sophie Ndaba (Queen Moroka), Menzi Ngubane (Sbusiso Dlomo), Nambitha Mpumlwana (Mawande Memela), Winnie Ntshaba (Khethiwe Buthelezi), Thami Mngqolo (Senzo Dlomo) and Katlego Danke (Dineo).

Expecting an uproar from the show' s more than 7.4million viewers - the next most popular soapie on local TV is SABC2's Muvhango, with 4.3million daily viewers - the public broadcaster said "measures have been put in place to ensure the future of Generations ".

The channel has about six weeks of episodes in the bag.

The actors later issued a statement acknowledging the letters of dismissal and saying they would "examine legal options".

The announcement caused shockwaves on social media, especially on Twitter. Some of the tweets read:

  • @MsAphelele: "I don't watch #Generations but I'm saddened by this ... because actors don't want to be exploited you fire them? No ways bafethu. NO WAYS!!
  • @foreverSbu: "Half the Generations cast fired ... that show is a sketch on-and-off camera."
  • @MsCougar21: "# Generations just shot themselves in the foot. Foolish!"
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