As extras and potential extras have now had threats made against their lives if they dare to speak out about their horrifying experiences, the South African Screen Federation (Sasfed) says it demands a full investigation of MultiChoice and M-Net's second season of Shaka iLembe after allegations of background performers who were treated like slave labour by casting agencies for the Bomb Productions show.
Extras and potential extras say they've now been threatened if they speak out about the horrible living arrangements and treatment they've been subjected to since the beginning of May.
Bomb Productions employed over 8 000 people for the first season of the show - a number that is set to increase for the second season which will feature big battle scenes as a young Shaka amass a massive Zulu army.
The second season of Shaka iLembe, currently in principal photography in Johannesburg, is mired in scandal after revelations that the base camp has allegedly been surrounded for weeks by tent camps filled with people living in squalor here as well as a house in Kempton Park, hoping to get "roles" as background performers.
Bussed in at their own cost from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga and paying "rent", while some managed to appear in filmed scenes, many have been hoping in vain to snag a role as an extra in Shaka while they've been struggling to find food to eat or accessing basic ablution facilities.
Lerato Taba, national coordinator of Sasfed - an umbrella body that represents production companies and South Africa's independent film and television industry - says extras on MultiChoice's prestige series for its Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) channel "may have been exposed to discriminatory conduct by certain casting agencies".
"Sasfed is opposed to all forms of mistreatment. It is for this reason that we call for a full investigation by relevant authorities into the matter. We also call on anyone with information to come forward and assist with the investigation."
MultiChoice and M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel only issued a terse statement earlier this week, nothing that "MultiChoice has been made aware of unauthorised camps
established by casting agencies near the shooting locations for Shaka iLembe season 2" and that "these camps, housing hundreds of extras in unsafe and
closed quarters, are not sanctioned by MultiChoice or any official partners
associated with the series".
MultiChoice said "The unauthorised camps identified
are in direct violation of these standards and pose serious risks to
participants. We strongly advise all extras and potential participants to
only engage with verified and legitimate casting agencies affiliated with our
production."
MultiChoice and Mzansi Magic didn't respond to specific questions posed in a media query made on Tuesday.
The Randburg-based pay-TV operator was asked whether it and Bomb Productions are now changing casting agents.
MultiChoice was also asked whether Bomb Productions and M-Net did due diligence in terms of extras casting for this season, and if so what it was; whether there are safety officers on set and if they were aware of what was happening and at these camps, and what MultiChoice makes of people who have now been threatened with their lives if they speak out about their experiences.
Bomb Productions in a statement said "We are extremely concerned by this and have launched an urgent investigation into the alleged agencies, as well as informed all who supply extras to our productions that any found to be contravening the code of conduct will not be engaged with".
According to the production company, while its legal and fact-finding investigation remain ongoing "Bomb received reports of a makeshift campsite housing many people claiming to work for Shaka iLembe and launched an immediate investigation discovering people had been invited by Becky Casting with a promise to work on Shaka Ilembe".
"Bomb has never requested or authorised this. Our investigation found people had paid Becky Casting for accommodation but were living in what we deemed an unsafe and undignified makeshift campsite. Bomb management acted swiftly, demanding Becky Casting address the worrying situation and disband, we also informed the local authorities."
"Bomb has a 20 year professional track record of commitment to creating as many employment opportunities as possible, paying people decent industry-accepted rates and paying on time. Anyone jeopardising this is reckless."
"We are thus deeply aggrieved by the scurrilous behaviour of casting agents for tarnishing the reputation of Bomb and this important historical project, which creates employment for so many."
The South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) says it continues to get calls and messages from people who say they were exploited and received "several verified reports that hundreds of background extras brought to Johannesburg from KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga to work on Shaka iLembe are being forced to pay their agent rent and have only had a few days' work in three weeks".
"Needless to say, the agent will still take their commission from the actors' earnings. The actors are not being fed, have no per diem, and they feel that the agent has abandoned them."
"SAGA is in communication with the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) and we have submitted an affidavit that will help them determine the way forward. We won't stop fighting for a safer and fair industry where exploitation no longer exists".
A veteran producer not connected with the show told me "it looks as if there won't be any repercussions as the victims are frightened of being blacklisted if they officially speak up. For once there needs to be real repercussions for all concerned - including the producers who did not do due diligence".
"These poor extras are now sent back to KwaZulu-Natal with no money and more out of pocket than they were before. This shouldn't be. There are safety officers that should be on set but they are mostly not used as broadcasters and streamers are cutting budgets and have no line item for safety officers. Where does the bucks stop?"
