You're reading it here first.
Generations on SABC1 will resume production on Wednesday morning following a break of 5 and a half weeks of South Africa's most watched TV soap, following an agreement - in principle - on Tuesday between 12 Generations cast members bargaining collectively and the production company Morula Pictures on three year contracts.
The cast and the production company will all resume with making Generations and negotiate other terms by the end of March 2014, giving a breather to the soap finding itself engulfed in crisis since cast members demand greater equity in and better contracts from the show.
The winner is South Africa's TV industry, where actors have for the first time in the history of the country's mostly amateurly run industry proven that TV talent is as intrinsic and as important to a show's success as other production elements.
ALSO READ: SABC1's Generations cast stay-away stalemate: "Connie Ferguson showed there can be life on TV after Generations."
Production on Generations will resume on Wednesday after Morula Pictures, the SABC and the legal representation for the 12 Generations actors met today to agree to a 3 year contract, and to negotiate other terms before the end of March 2014.
The temporary reprieve helps to stave off a complete collapse of the soap which would have seen SABC1 either running out of available episodes, or the cast being fired and replaced by unknowns impacting ratings.
I'm told by sources that heated discussions and intense pressure from all sides led to Morula Pictures and the 12 Generations actors agreeing in principle, for now, on new 3 year contracts for the cast after Morula Pictures was granted a three year contract extension by the SABC.
Within the next 3 months both sides will have to agree on the finer points - mostly around the cast wanting 3 year contracts not to contain clauses which could see them be dismissed or "written out" after a year or two years.
Cast members feared that 3 year contracts with clauses would be the same as one year extensions, whereby they could be shown the door if characters were written out or replaced.
Generations creator Mfundi Vundla believes fixed three year contracts infringe on the creative freedom of South Africa's biggest TV show in the sense that characters cannot be written out in dramatic storylines if needed, or be fired if actors are not performing or clicking with viewers.
Mfundi Vundla, the SABC and Mzamo Attorneys met today and agreed upon 3 year contracts for the cast so that production can urgently resume on Generations.
The temporary deal was made since the soap - which is the SABC's biggest money spinner and income generator as the most watched programme - is falling incredibly behind on available episodes in stock. The problem is worsened with the upcoming Christmas holiday and annual industry shut down for the festive season looming.
The 12 Generations cast members - Sophie Ndaba (Queen), Katlego Danke (Dineo), Anga Makubalo (MJ), Menzi Ngubane (Sibusiso), Zenande Mfenyana (Noluntu), Mandla Gaduka (Choppa), Winnie Modise (Khethiwe), Maggie Benedict (Akhona), Thato Molamu (Nicholas) Zolisa Xaluva (Jason), Thami Mngqolo (Senzo) and Slindile Nodangala (Ruby) - will receive a 3 year contract and get back pay for October.
Morula Pictures and the SABC - which has now intervened on a high level in the process - will review the proposed pay rates of the actors as well.
Morula Pictures and the actors, with the mediation of the SABC, will have to come to an agreement before the end of March 2014 on the finer sticking points such as the clauses making the cast unhappy.
In a statement the SABC's famously matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng who've who've started to intervene last week in the tense conflict (after he told Generations cast members at a party in July that Morula Pictures was granted a three year contract extension by the SABC), says that the SABC is "happy" that "this matter has finally been laid to rest".
"The uproar in the media around this issue, once again re-affirmed the public's love of our property," says Hlaudi Motsoeneng.
He said that the SABC will, where need be, "assist as a mediator when issues arise between production houses tasked with producing our properties, and cast members."
After brazenly telling the Generations cast members off and saying "nobody is bigger than Generations", Mfundi Vundla strikes a muted and friendlier tone in the statement, saying, simply, "we look forward to delivering the best entertainment to our audience."
The past weeks Mfundi Vundla has been furious and extremely vocal in his public disdain of the Generations cast members daring to make contract ultimatums and the ongoing stay-away which crippled the longrunning show, and also marred its 20th anniverary.
Desmond Brown representing the 12 Generations cast members says "clearly there is light at the end of the tunnel now".
