Hlaudi Motsoeneng who triggered the Generations' stars demands for better contracts and salaries in June when he publicly announced that South Africa's biggest TV soap and most watched TV show is getting three year contracts from now on, is now directly becoming involved in trying to get production resumed on the soap.
Generations hasn't filmed a new episode in 5 weeks after a tense, ongoing, actors-producer stand-off for better and longer term contracts.
The famously matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the acting chief operating officer (COO) of the SABC, is now directly micro-managing the Generations debacle as well and trying to find a way through the actors' contract revolt which is shaking the SABC and focusing attention on South Africa's TV industry and the way television production structure deals with TV talent.
The SABC is now at loggerheads as well and also became embroiled in the tense tiff between Morula Pictures and creator Mfundi Vundla which produces Generations, and the 12 actors collectively refusing to show up for work or sign contracts if their call for longer 3 year contracts, better terms and a clause that they can't be written out and replaced, are not met.
"We have agreed to give them 3 year contracts, but we still want to reserve the right to write out an actor if we feel that there is a dramatic need to do so, or if an actor is not performing," says Mfundi Vundla.
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"The SABC would like to indicate that it has intervened in the process and Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the acting COO, is now leading the process," says SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kgangayo. "We believe that there is progress and the parties have started talking to each other. We hope to resolve this issue soon."
The SABC is now highly concerned that the ongoing impasse is going to damage the brand of the SABC's biggest money-spinner and most watched programme on South African television.
The contract conflict has marred Generations' 20th anniversary and could see 12 actors wiped away from the show when the characters are either replaced by new actors or written out if a deal can't be reached very soon.
Twelve 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) - are steadfastly refusing to sign new contracts which they believe are not fair and not fair to them for what they've put into the show.
The cast members are completely resolute and banding together, similar to the cast of Friends in America, demanding better contractual compensation and terms for all.
Generations urgently needs to resume production to not only make up for lost time, but also to stockpile and rebuild its usual lead of buffer episodes, as well as ramp up additional episodes to ensure an end of the year break which increasingly seems unlikely as the rest of the TV industry shuts down for Christmas celebrations.
According to insiders the SABC is now placing pressure on Morula Pictures to get a deal done, and fast. The SABC is also looking at the possibility of finding a new production company to take over production of Generations in the place of Morula Pictures.
A tense meeting last Thursday between Morula Pictures and the actors' representation came to nothing according to sources. Insiders say the SABC has placed pressure on Morula Pictures to grant better contractual terms to the actors, but the production company remains resolute that it wants to be able to let actors go as needed, despite having received a three year pick-up from the SABC.
"He [Mfundi Vundla] makes the show for us. Generations is made for the SABC and is an SABC1 property. That property is now getting damaged and steps are being taken to find a speedy resolution. Generations is the crown jewel of the SABC and a proud legacy show for SABC1," a highly-placed insider told TV with Thinus.
"We will not allow anything or anyone to inflict damage. Generations is two decades old and the broadcaster looks forward to many, many more years of Generations on television. Whatever happens, viewers can be assured they will continue to see Generations on SABC1. This nonsense will be over soon," said the source speaking on condition of anonymity.
