by Thinus Ferreira
Quizzical Pictures doesn't want to say what happened to him but according to insiders an actor has now been removed from SABC2's Lithapo set following sexual harassment complaints from one actress currently working on the Sesotho drama series as well as a former cast member.
It's not yet clear whether the actor has been fired from Lithapo, who can't be named and who has been warned before about problematic behaviour.
UPDATE Thursday 23 July 2020 - 18:00 - See the update below at the end of this report.
Earlier this week the Lithapo actress Lorraine Moropa (23) decided that she has had enough and took to social media to describe how she was allegedly constantly being sexually harassed by the actor on the Quizzical Pictures set.
After her, the actress and YFM DJ Altovise Lawrence, responded that the actor allegedly perpetrated the same sexual harassment behaviour in interactions with her on the same set.
Lorraine Moropa wrote that "Being constantly sexually harassed by a male senior at a workplace can not and should not be tolerated".
"Imagine working with someone who undresses you from how he looks at you. Someone that grabs his genitals on a set while looking at your ass or grabs your ass and laughs it off in front of a crew (yes my cases have always been in the presence of my colleagues). That to me is worse than a slap in the face."
"This is a father, who also happens to speak highly of their daughter whom by the way, is practically my age and also in the industry. I wonder if he would appreciate his daughter coming home with half the stories I have to go home and tell my mother due to his actions," Lorraine Moropa wrote.
"I did not sleep my way into any role and I refuse for my process to get into this industry and cement my name just for it to be tainted by an someone who has zero self-control or respect for us as professionals in the industry. Enough is enough."
Altovise Lawrence said that she "stands in solidarity with Lorraine Moropa who has had the courage to come out and say that she has been sexually harassed by an actor on set. The same man that sexually harassed her has sexually harassed me too on the very same set".
"I’m sorry I didn’t speak out when it happened Lorraine Moropa. But, I’m saying something now. What happened was disgusting and it can’t continue. I believe you. I support you. I’ve got you, sis."
The actresses received an outpouring of support from women in South Africa's TV and film industry ranging from Rami Chuene, Portia Gumede, Didintle Khunou, Dineo Langa, Thuso Mbedu and Florence Masebe to Rosie Motene.
After Quizzical Pictures on Tuesday in a statement said that it is "dealing with the issue", the production company in a follow-up statement on Thursday says that "Quizzical Pictures has resolved the issue on the Lithapo set".
Quizzical Pictures doesn't want to use the words sexual harassment and isn't willing to say how it resolved "the issue".
"The actress concerned is comfortable with the outcome," says Quizzical Pictures. "We would like to thank the cast and crew for their patience. Quizzical Pictures remains committed to creating a fair and respectful workplace for our cast and crew."
About the sexual harassment, Lorraine Moropa in a statement on Thursday says "this was the second reported incident caused by the same man who I had reported earlier this year".
"I have had discussions with Quizzical Pictures in which they have assured me of their intention to remedy the situation. I have been informed on the steps that they will be taking against the actor in question and I am happy with those steps."
"I wish to stand with all South African women when I say that enough is enough, and we will not be silenced."
"We will keep reporting these cases until we are taken seriously and until there are real consequences for perpetrators of sexual harassment and sexual violence in our communities. It is unacceptable that women should feel unsafe in their places of work or in their homes."
"I hope to encourage other women in the industry to do the same. We cannot fix the system until we expose the people who are creating it as well as those who benefit from protecting it."
"I hope my example will give other women the courage to come forward with their stories. We need our collective power to bring the perpetrators to justice," says Lorraine Moropa.
UPDATE Thursday 23 July 2020 - 18:00 - "Quizzical Pictures would like to announce that following the allegations of sexual harassment on the production Lithapo, we have taken a decision to remove the actor from the production with immediate effect. He is no longer part of the production and the story is being rewritten," says producer Harriet Gavshon in a statement.
"Quizzical Pictures deeply regrets the hurt that this has caused and would like to thank the actress for her bravery and speaking out against it."
"We take sexual harassment very seriously and will not tolerate any form of misconduct in our productions."
"We reiterate that this goes against our values, we subscribe to the Sister Working in Film and Television (Swift) and Independent Producers Organisation (IPO) code of conduct. All cast and crew sign declarations against sexual harassment as part of their contracts and Quizzical Pictures run sexual harassment workshops before any production begins."
"We endeavour to take swift action against any sexual harassment or act of misconduct whenever it manifests itself on our productions. We call upon all our cast and crew to come out and report any form of misconduct they may experience on all our productions."
"We stand in solidarity with all women in our society who have experienced this act. We equally condemn any act of harassment against all women in our society."
"We would like to thank the cast and crew for their patience while this matter was being dealt with. We remain committed to making our sets safe for all our cast and crew and have undertaken to review all our systems in this regard," says Harriet Gavshon.
ALSO READ: Alleged ongoing sexual harassment allegations on SABC2's Lithapo prompts investigation as Quizzical Pictures removes but doesn't fire problem actor from set.
