A lot of fighting and injustices: Nozuko Ntshangase on the state of showbiz

After almost a decade in the entertainment industry, Nozuko Ntshangase reflected on her expectations and experiences. 

During her recent interview on Access Genie Podcast, the actress said while she was grateful for the opportunities she received over the years and the growth that came with them, she wished the industry was not so full of injustice.

“When I started working in the industry it was not what I expected . I didn't think there would be a lot of fighting, a lot of injustices. I didn't expect to find the industry in this state,” she said. 

“I didn't expect the bad side. I didn't expect to find that in most cases actors are overworked and underpaid. I didn't expect the conditions actors had to work under. I thought it was Hollywood. I get shocked all the time.” 

Nozuko said she understood the industry has been in a constantly developing state and it's far from being at “Hollywood level”, but the underpayment was discouraging. 

Nongelo “Nox” Chiume, son of the late actress Connie Chiume, also recently shared the same sentiments when addressing the minister of sport, arts and culture at his mother's memorial. 

Nongelo reflected on how his mother was deemed successful but constantly fought for artists' rights as a fearless activist. 

“If as a country, as a people, we want to preserve the legacy of such icons, as you have heard from previous speakers, mama was passionate about cultural exchange.

“Our lives as Africans have not transformed. [It's] worse in the creative sector. The national department of arts and culture has 21 agencies, we need to ask ourselves, as a sector, do those institutions speak to us, speak to our development, speak to our economic transformation?”