HE WAS S'GUDI, 'SNAYSI. Veteran actor Joe Mafela (75) dead after car accident in Johannesburg; 'I've never known a nicer man than Joe,' says actress Lilian Dube.

The veteran South African actor Joe Mafela has died. Joe Mafela was 75 and passed away on Saturday night dying at the scene of a car accident on a Johannesburg highway.

The actor, born in 1942 in Sibasa, Limpopo, and most famous for his comedy role in the SABC sitcom 'Sgudi 'Snaysi ("Is Good, is Nice") in life received three Lifetime Achiever Awards - in TV, for stage, and for comedy.

The legendary Joe Mafela died after being involved in a car accident in Johannesburg on Saturday night.

Joe Mafela was currently playing the role of Tebogo Moroka on Generations The Legacy on SABC1 produced by MMSV Productions.

According to police Joe Mafela was involved in a car accident just before 22:00 on Saturday night on the M1 between the Oxford and Houghton Road off-ramps when an Isuzu double cab bakkie and the white Ford Figo that Joe Mafela was driving, was involved in a car crash alongside a construction zone.

Joe Mafela was declared died on the scene of the accident and he was the sole occupant of the Ford Figo. The driver of the Isuzu double cab bakkie was not injured.

Police is investigating and no arrest has been made at the moment. The police said a charge of culpable homicide is being investigated.

Police said Joe Mafela's death could also be the result of an existing medical condition.

Besides his comedic work, Joe Mafela was a producer and director as well as an ad agency creative director in later years, as well as a Zulu singer, producing and releasing several Zulu-language albums.

Joe Mafela who could speak all of South African's 11 languages, became the first black assistant director in South Africa and in 1974 Joe Mafela appeared in South Africa's first all-black movie made in South Africa, Udeliwe.

It was however his role as the constantly scheming S'dumo in the 78-episode Zulu SABC sitcom 'Sgudi 'Snaysi - at a time that the Apartheid-era SABC would only show him on TV2, its channel for black viewers - that catapulted Joe Mafela to stardom and made him a household name and endeared him to millions of viewers with repeated rebroadcasts over decades.

It's here where Joe Mafela developed a strong professional relationship with Roberta Durrant from Penguin Films that saw him become Penguin Films co-owner and going on - and up - to not just produce but also appear in further Penguin Films produced TV projects.

Joe Mafela's other long-running and stand-out TV role - also in a Penguin Films produced production for the SABC - was for instance as Jabu in the lawyer office set sitcom Going Up.

He did a type of "retake" decades later when he starred in an almost similar kind of role as in 'Sgudi 'Snaysi and Going Up as Sol in e.tv's Madam & Eve sitcom in 2000, also produced by Penguin Films.

In 2004, in a show that was before it's time and a send-up of his famous persona, Joe Mafela returned to post-Apartheid SABC for a short-lived TV comedy, Fela's TV, in which a cleaner at a fictional TV broadcaster - although clearly depicting the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters - at night time "stole" the airwaves and swopped his bucket and mop to broadcast a TV show.

Joe Mafela was the creator and singer of the "It's good, good, good, it's good, it's nice" TV advert jingle of the fast food outlet Chicken Licken in 1986.

Joe Mafela received the Lifetime Achiever Award in 2015 a the 5th Annual Comics Choice Awards, saying that it meant he had "done a good job during the years. Whatever was demanded of me, it means I really produced".

Besides his lifetime achievement award at the Comics Choice Awards, Joe Mafela also received a special Duku Duku award in 2004 for his contribution to South Africa's TV industry, and a lifetime achievement award at the Naledi Theatre Awards for his contribution to theatre management in South Africa.

Joe Mafela also received a lifetime achievement award from the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) in 2010.

Joe Mafela's father worked as a shop assistant in a Chinese shop in Sophiatown and when Joe Mafela was three years old he left Johannesburg along with his mother, who was expecting her second child.

They returned to Limpopo where his brother was also born and in 1947 Joe Mafela's family moved to Kliptown, south of Johannesburg where they lived for 5 years.

In 1952 they moved to White City Jabavu, a township that was started as temporary shelters and lived there for 5 years before moving to the Tshiawelo township.

When Joe told his dad that he wanted to be an actor his dad said: "No, that's not work. Work is when you go to work at 8am and come back at 5pm". Luckily Joe Mafela followed his own path.

Considered a true groundbreaking legend of South Africa's TV and entertainment industry, Joe Mafela straddled both the "old" and the "new" South Africa, with over 40 decades of hard-won pioneering work spanning the country's film, TV, stage, radio and advertising industries.

"We are shocked and deeply saddened to learn about the news of the passing of legendary actor, director and musician ubaba Joe Mafela," said Nathi Mthethwa, South Africa's minister of arts and culture.

"We extend our condolences to the family, friends, and fans of ubaba Joe Mafela, the nation has lost a crown jewel of our arts and culture."

Sello Hatang, The Nelson Mandela Foundation CEO told eNCA (DStv 403) that "In his memory, may the entertainment industry become what he wanted it to be - one that cares about those who act in it, one that wants people to thrive in it; that people shouldn't die poor while they're practising the craft that they believe in".

"The most important thing with Joe Mafela's death is, what do we need to do to ensure that our artists never die poor?" said Sello Hatang.

"We have learned with sadness of the passing of one of the pioneers of the television comedy loved by all South Africans young and old," said South Africa president Jacob Zuma in a statement.

"Joe Mafela also affectionately known as Sdumo was also a television producer and songwriter.  The arts and culture industry has been robbed of a bigger than life figure.  We wish to extend our heartfelt condolences to Mafela family and may his soul rest in peace".

The SABC in a statement with mistakes like referring to Madam & Eve as SABC programming [it was done by Penguin Films for e.tv] said the public broadcaster is "saddened to learn of the sudden passing of arts veteran Joe Mafela. Joe Mafela was a giant in his field and had become a voice and face of the industry."

"The multi-talented Joe Mafela, who was also known as a  singer/songwriter and producer and who recently appeared on SABC1 soap Generations: The Legacy, will be remembered for his memorable acting roles in TV shows such as the hugely popular 'Sgudi 'Snaysi , where he portrayed the character 'Sdumo' a nickname which stuck with him through the years."

"The SABC sends its heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, viewers and fans who have followed his esteemed career, in TV, stage and film over the past 40 years."

"I've never known a nicer man than Joe," said actress and longtime friend Lilian Dube on Sunday. "He gave and gave".

Lilian Dube revealed that the National Film and Video Foundation (NFVF) organising the Saftas that took place on Saturday evening didn't want to invite Joe Mafela or herself to the award show, how they are being "marginalised" as actors, and that she spoke with him on Saturday.

"We were even speaking about the Saftas to which he wasn't invited, I wasn't invited and we said you know, Joe? We do what we do because we love it. Whether we get invited to the Saftas or not."

SABC1's Generations - The Legacy falls to 3,9 million viewers; industry wonders if 'numbers will go back up to 8 million again'.

The viewership erosion of what used to be the SABC and South Africa's most watched TV show, Generations – now retitled as Generations – The Legacy – continues, with the soap which has now dropped to 3,9 million viewers by last Friday, while industry experts wonder "if the numbers will go back up to 8 million" ever again.

Millions of viewers have abandoned the Mfundi Vundla produced soap on SABC1 after it returned, retooled with a new cast in December 2014, after an absence of two months following the SABC and MMSV Productions' firing of the entire principal cast in August 2014 for demanding their promised three year contracts and better remuneration. 

Viewers have since taken to the third season of SABC1's Skeem Saam, and there's also high buzz for SABC1's new telenovela Uzalo and e.tv's new local telenovela Ashes to Ashes starting on 2 March at 20:00 in the same timeslot as Generations – The Legacy. 

These new shows are all looking to cash in on the millions of viewers who no longer watch the damaged soap. 

The SABC moved Generations – The Legacy from SABC1 to SABC2 for the duration of the Afcon 2015 soccer tournament which further dampened the soap's ratings performance.

Generations – The Legacy's ratings fell further from 5,9 million just before the Afcon 2015 on SABC1 for viewers aged 15+  – the viewers most prized by advertisers and the TV industry and worth millions of rand in ad spend – to 4,7 million during Afcon 2015, and declined further to 3,9 million by this past Friday.

According to the latest consolidated ratings information this is how Generations – The Legacy did last week on SABC2 at 20:00:

Monday: 5,107 million

Tuesday: 5,084 million

Wednesday: 4,831 million

Thursday: 4,257 million

Friday:  3,998 million

Average audience for last week: 4,655 million

'Numbers aren't back to where they used to be'

"The numbers aren't back to where they used to be with a current weekly viewership of roughly 5 million," Cheryl Dube, media strategist at Carat SA told TV with Thinus.

"On Twitter and other social media people are still quite upset about the cliffhangers that the previous Generations left behind," says Cheryl Dube.

 "Perhaps the storyline needs to incorporate what happened to all our favourite characters like Queen, Dineo, Kenneth and Sibusiso who we left behind 'two years ago'."

Was it a mistake for the SABC to rush the new Generations back on air in December? The soap returned in the month of the year when available viewership is traditionally lowest, and the SABC knew that the just-returned soap would also be shifting TV channels a month later for Afcon 2015 as part of the SABC's "transversal strategy". 

Would it have been better for Generations' ratings to rather start the soap in February or March?

Cheryl Dube says "I believe that they wanted to get Generations – The Legacy back on air as soon as possible as Generations is one of their highest earning shows in terms of advertising revenue".

"So despite the time of year it was important to get it back on-air while interest was still high," says Cheryl Dube.

"Only time will tell if the numbers will go back up to 8 million per episode but it will be interesting to watch,” says Cheryl Dube.

TV with Thinus asked the SABC for comment regarding Generations – The Legacy’s viewership trends since the soap returned, and whether the public broadcaster has any context or perspective on the ratings but the SABC didn't respond to a media enquiry.

It's not clear what the SABC's new ratings expectation is for Generations – The Legacy and where it sees the viewership of the soap possibly stabilising.

This morning Hlaudi Motsoeneng, the SABC's chief operating officer (COO) at the TNA breakfast briefing told attendees that "Let me tell you, the new Generations is doing well. The Muvhango is doing well".

BREAKING. SABC1's fired Generations cast now going to High Court; demand that the SABC stop broadcasting 'new' Generations by 10 January 2015.

With plummeting ratings and having lost millions of viewers more drama is waiting behind the scenes for SABC1's beleaguered restarted soap with the fired principal cast now taking their cast to the High Court with help from a former SABC CEO and demanding that the SABC stop broadcasting Generations: The Legacy at the latest by 10 January 2015.

While viewers have soured in their millions and turned on the soap which restarted at the beginning of last week after a break of two months due to acrimonious infighting behind the scenes between the fired principal cast and the SABC and MMSV Productions, the Generations Actors Guild (SAG) is now going to challenge their dismissal by producer Mfundi Vundla in the High Court.

In the ever-widening scandal they're helped in their battle against the SABC and Mfundi Vundla by none other than the former SABC CEO, advocate Dali Mpofu. 

They've now withdrawn their case from the CCMA and is going to the High Court instead.

The SABC's now acting CEO Hlaudi Motsoeneng promised the fired Generations cast three year contracts in June 2013 which more than a year later didn't materialise.

They also never got payment, known as residuals – and specified in their existing contracts – for the multiple rebroadcasts in South Africa and resales of the soap internationally. They eventually embarked on a stayaway and were promptly fired.

The scandal dominated TV and entertainment headlines since mid-August when the cast was fired, with ugly mudslinging between Mfundi Vundla and the SABC and the fired cast – something which has not been lost on viewers. 

The reset soap – sans the familiar faces – had a debut last Monday of 7.5 million viewers 15 and older – the demographic most coveted by advertisers, but plunged to a shocking 4.1 million viewers by this past Friday.

Now the Generations Actors Guild says the SABC, Mfundi Vundla and MMSV Productions breached some of their rights as defined in the South African Constitution. 

The Generations Actors Guild delivered a legal letter demanding that the "new" Generations be taken off SABC1 by the SABC no later than 10 January 2015.

Dali Mpofu told the Generations Actors Guild that besides labour rights, their issue involves contractual and constitutional issues.

"The decision by MMSV Productions and the SABC to create a new show while the case with the Generations cast was as yet unresolved represents a breach of the contractual and fundamental constitutional rights of the actors and they both did so knowing there was a pending dispute and hence it was at their own risk," says the actors' attorney, Bulelani Mzamo.

"The cast had always expressed their desire to return to work. Their withdrawal of services was taken as a last resort, based on the fact that this agreement was continuously violated."

"The actors consistently expressed their willingness to return to work. Nonetheless, MMSV Productions hired new actors and commenced with a new production, Generations The Legacy, knowing that they have not resolved the fundamental contractual issues with the cast of Generations. It is on this basis that we are taking the cast to the High Court."

"Generations The Legacy should never have been produced and aired while the current dispute was still unresolved."

"This is going to be an important case – not only for defining the rights of the actors, the production company and the SABC, but also the interests of the licence-paying public and the millions of Generations fans across the country and the continent," says Bulelani Mzamo.

New 'clowns' on SABC1's 'boring' Generations The Legacy 'will be thrown away as well,' by Mfundi Vundla, warns NFPYM party.

As viewers and critics on Monday night and today panned and savaged SABC1's reset primetime soap Generations The Legacy now filled with clearly inexperienced actors, the National Freedom Party Youth Movement is urging for a viewer boycott and warning the new actors that executive producer Mfundi Vundla will throw them away as well once he's done with them.

On Monday night SABC1 aired the first "new" episode of Generations, now entitled Generations The Legacy after a two month absence due to a forced shutdown of the primetime soap, South Africa's most watched TV programme.

The production which only started filming again on 27 October grinded to a halt after a scandalous implosion in August when the principal cast of 16 experienced actors balked and walked away from the MMSV Production.

For more than a year they pleaded for their promised three year contracts and back payments for rebroadcasts as promised by the SABC in July 2013 by the public broadcaster's famously matricless acting CEO, Hlaudi Motsoeneng.

The cast, organised as the Generations Actors Guild, took the production company and the SABC to the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) and court.

On Monday night viewers blasted the returned soap on social media for being boring and uninteresting, mocked the lack of experienced actors and Mfundi Vundla for getting rid of the old cast who were better, and with several vowing to never watch again.

Viewership figures for Monday's night's first new episode will be available this coming Monday.

Now the National Freedom Party Youth Movement secretary-general Maria Busi Tshabalala has called for a boycott of the soap and for viewers to stay away from SABC1 and the "clowns" of Generations The Legacy.

"We are very disappointed at the manner in which the SABC and the big-headed Mfundi Vundla handled the matter of the ex-Generations actors".

"We strongly believe that not watching this soap will show the SABC and Mfundi Vundla that we mean business when we demand that they bring back our talented actors".

The NFPYM also had a warning for the inexperienced Generations The Legacy actors who took the jobs of the experienced and fired cast during open auditions.

"To the clowns who agreed to work in this new boring soap, we warn them that once Mfundi Vundla has used them, he will throw them away as well and look for new buffoons."

"As the NFPYM we are not apologetic in our firm support of the axed actors. We are 100% behind them and we call on all South Africans to do the same by boycotting Generations."

Is Scandal! actor Sello Maake ka Ncube getting paid for the multiple use of his likeness and photos shown in SABC1's reset Generations?

Is actor Sello Maake ka Ncube getting paid for the multiple use of his likeness and photos of him shown in SABC1's reset Generations?

Sello Maake ka Ncube portrayed the character of Archie Moroka for years in the soap before he moved on to e.tv's Scandal! to become one of South Africa's highest paid TV stars.

Generations has now been reset to Generations The Legacy and returned to SABC1 on Monday night for the first new episode with a new cast.

It followed the implosion of the soap behind-the-scenes of the MMSV Productions show which saw the soap shut down and grinding to a halt following a strike by the principal cast which saw the 16 actors fired for demanding their promised three year contracts, better pay rates and residuals which they've never received.

It's not clear whether Sello Maake ka Ncube is getting paid or will be paid for the multiple use and inclusion of his photos in Monday night's first new episode.

Sello Maake ka Ncube actually indicated that he wasn't and isn't willing to return to Generations, although creator and executive producer Mfundi Vundla says it was him who approached Sello Maake ka Ncube to return and then decided to drop him during the later planning stages for the new soap.

The same goes for the image of actor David Phetoe - his likeness and photo also appeared in Generations The Legacy where he played the character of Paul Moroka for years. It's not clear if he is getting paid for that appearance.

Several American TV actors who've left TV shows on a bad footing are notorious for in the past having forced producers to blur out or crop out their images and photos when they've refused consent to appear in episodes - or were simply not happy with the money offered to make a new "appearance" although just in a photo or a "backflash".

The most notorious is of course Shannen Doherty's whose face was blacked out of the finale of Beverly Hills, 90210 when she refused that she be seen - even in an old cast photo.

How the SABC's derailed Generations would have continued: the ongoing stories never filmed.

While plotted, outlined and written for October, the ongoing stories of the characters of SABC1's Generations was never filmed following the firing of the principal cast by producer and creator Mfundi Vundla in August.

The SABC and South Africa's most watched show abruptly came to an end on Tuesday night when the public broadcaster and MMSV Productions ran out of available episodes, leaving viewers dangling with no resolutions, conclusions or finality for any of the characters or stories in Generations.

There exists however scripts for October - an indication of what would have happened if the soap which made millions of rand for the SABC had continued.

The actors who didn't make millions, went on strike in August, demanding the three year contracts the SABC's famously matricless chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng personally promised them in July 2013 and which didn't materialise more than a year later.

They asked for better pay rates in line with those of other local TV soaps on the SABC and other broadcasters, and to be paid the residuals for rebroadcasts and resales of the show as stipulated in their existing contracts but which they haven't been paid for decades.

Mfundi Vundla then fired the cast with the consent of the SABC. The Generations Actors Guild (GAG) is now taking the SABC and MMSV Productions to court and to the CCMA.

Mfundi Vundla is now promising a "younger" Generations when the soap returns in a new guise in December to SABC1, looking to hire younger actors.

Older and more established South African actors and their agents now fear a backlash from viewers and more specifically from inside the local TV industry if they appear on the reset soap which dumped veteran actors like Sophie Ndaba, should they appear to be replacing fan favourites.

Generations' former head writer and co-producer BongiNdaba also quit the production last month after 8 years, but here is what Generations would have shown viewers this month if the SABC had the ability to keep the soap on the air during the month and a half the SABC's top management had to find a resolution before episodes ran out:


Ngamla is jealous when he sees Mawande with another man. MJ rushes a beaten-up girl to the hospital, not realising he might soon come to regret it.

Kenneth and Khethiwe connect.  Senzo has to set a friend up with a date.  The hapless young victim turns out to be anything but innocent, and Priska does something right for a change.

Sello is delighted when Dineo changes her tune.  MJ’s good deed comes back to bite him in the butt. Namhla makes a run for it. Noluntu finally says her goodbyes to Mnqobi.

Sompisi is upset when the sangoma is kicked out of the shebeen.  A food-tasting session ends off in a kiss.  Jason is floored by what he finds at the hospital.

Jabulani puts Priska in her place. Samora leaves for Somalia with his ex. Noluntu isn't ready to talk to the man who "rejected" her.  Mawande hardens her heart when she sees her son with his father.

Ruby doesn't like the vibe between Kenneth and Khethiwe one little bit. Choppa decides to make the best of "being single".  Senzo's had enough of the mind games and decides to call it quits. Jason is shocked to hear how his sister makes a living.

Priska is furious when told to keep her husband in check.  Zodwa rubs salt into a raw wound when she talks about Samora's call.  Namhla resorts to doing what she does best. Zinhle has a new friend - it's a guy and he's super hot!  Kenneth gets it on with his arch enemy's wife.

MJ catches his step-mother in the act. Choppa is mortified by what happens during the yoga class and blames it on  someone else.  Ngamla hits Priska where it hurts. Mawande breaks down after receiving an unexpected visitor.  Namhla attacks her guard and makes a run for it. 

MJ demands his money back from Jason.  Ruby gets a message on the website about Dineo. Noluntu sneaks into Samora’s apartment and Mawande hates the effect Ngamla has on her.  Patricia is scandalised by Namhla’s behaviour.  

Khubone reveals a shocking truth to Kenneth. Khethiwe overhears a conversation about her and freaks out.  Priska is surprised but pleased when her husband ravishes her.  Jason is shocked when he finds who he was looking for.

Zodwa’s wish comes true. Ruby and Patrick are ill-prepared when a surprise visitor shows up. Noluntu is furious about what happens at work and decides to take revenge.

Bra Shakes pays someone to beat him up.  Nicholas reveals how Akhona landed up in hospital because of him.  Mary overplays her hand, not knowing it will come back to bite her.

Zimbini fumes when she hears about her father's plans.  Isabel tries to cheer MJ up but only makes him feel worse.  Will Namhla go through with conning the people who have been so good to her?

And that is where Generations really ended at the end of October's unfilmed stories and scripts.

Mfundi Vundla says SABC will 'take a knock' in viewership with Generations off the air; says 'we will claw our way back to our original position'.

With the SABC's most watched show, Generations, abruptly off the air and out of episodes following a nasty firing of the principal cast, producer Mfundi Vundla warns that the SABC "will take a knock in regard to audiences" but that the production plans to fight back to regain viewer's loyalty and trust.

Generations has been the SABC and South African television's biggest TV show in viewership numbers and the South African Broadcasting Corporation's biggest revenue generator on television.

Now it's gone, and with it the high price tag for ads the SABC could command while the SABC is set to likely lose audience share as viewers abandon the SABC1 timeslot of 20:00 on weeknights now padded in an emergency measure with the educational youth drama Skeem Saam's third season that was shown at 18:30.

"We will take a knock in regard to audiences. Let's be realistic. That's to be expected. But we believe we will claw our way back to our original position," Mfundi Vundla told SABC3's morning show Expresso in a sit-down interview.

The final episode of Generations was broadcast on Tuesday night on SABC1 at 20:00 with the broadcaster and MMSV Productions episode cupboard bare for the first time in 20 years since it started in 1994.

Over the past two decades Generations perenially became the most watched TV show and primetime soap on South African television commanding a hefty R220 000 from advertisers for a 30 second ad spot, luring millions of viewers more than the rest of the popular programmes on the country's top 10 most watched list.

It leaves the show and the SABC's massive average of 8 million viewers free to explore other TV channels and shows after MMSV Production with the consent of the SABC fired Generations' entire principal cast in August and refused to give them their promised three year contracts, better pay rates and residual back payments for rebroadcasts stretching back years.

The principal cast, collectively known as the Generations Actors Guild (GAG) went on strike in August, demanding the long overdue three year contracts personally promised to them by the SABC's famously matricless chief operating officer (COO) Hlaudi Motsoeneng more than a year ago in June 2013, higher pay rates that compare better to other local TV soaps, as well as residuals for rebroadcasts and resales of the show which they are entitled to in their existing contracts but which never happened.

The Generations Actors Guild is now taking the SABC and MMSV Productions to the CCMA.

Meanwhile South Africa's TV industry has been left aghast at the public broadcaster's loss of it's biggest on-air property and moneymaker and the untold damage inflicted on the image of the SABC, SABC1 and Generations.

Experts have been wondering why the SABC's top management spectacularly failed to properly and quickly solve the impasse in the month and a half before the available Generations episodes ran out, and what it means for the rest of the SABC's shows if the public broadcaster's biggest local TV production and flagship programme can suddenly stops showing due to a production implosion.

In July, before the strike, when the SABC announced new schedules for SABC1, SABC2 and SABC3 the broadcaster boldly stated that Generations will remain in the primetime spot of 20:00.

Leo Manne, the now indefinitely suspended general manager for TV channels at the SABC told the press in July that "nothing touches Generations. We dare not move it". Two months later the SABC's biggest show is not even on the schedule.

It also means that MMSV Productions is actually in contract breach. Last month SABC spokesperson Kaizer Kganyago said that "MMSV is in a contract with the SABC to produce Generations and if they don't deliver, they will be going against that contract."

The TV show that Nelson Mandela once praised for nation building has behind the scenes been a far cry from reconciliation, unity and peace and also lost head writer and co-producer Bongi Ndaba who abruptly quit last month after 8 years with the show.

MMSV Productions and Mfundi Vundla who said he will never take the actors back is now working behind-the-scenes to try and come up with a "new" Generations as viewers got now resolution to multiple storylines which just abruptly ended on Tuesday.

In the Expresso interview Mfundi Vundla admitted that viewers can flee from the 20:00 timeslot on SABC1 they've tuned to for decades.

"Viewers can tune out and go somewhere else. Which is what pains me about what's going on right now. Our viewers have been put under a lot of stress," said Mfundi Vundla.

"I wish to apologise to the South African people and apologise to the Generations audience."

Mfundi Vundla told Expresso that "we are reconstructing Generations. They will recognise elements of the present Generations but we are taking a new creative direction".

He said that "our relation with the 16 actors who terminated their services, that relationship is irrevocably damaged and toxic.

"We are going back to our original roots of the series. Viewers will recognise individuals who were there at the beginning of the series, which anchors the new narrative, so people will recognise elements from the past in the new direction we are taking".

Generations is also going much younger in the way that e.tv's Rhythm City and the soaps and telenovellas on M-Net's Mzansi Magic channel on DStv have been incorporating younger characters to lure a younger audience.

"We are going younger. There's a predominance of 20 to 24 year olds, early 30's actors who will be in the show. Our stories will be entertaining. There's light entertainment elements and there's also dark elements in the new show," Mfundi Vundla told Expresso.

The disappearance of the soap for months from SABC1 cuts viewers loose from their longtime primetime habitual viewing to sample alternative programmes on competitor TV channels ranging from the growing number of community TV stations like SowetoTV to Mzansi Magic on MultiChoice's DStv and Platco Digital's OpenView HD which has channels like eKasi+.

BREAKING. Boycott the SABC's Generations from a week from Monday 15 September asks Cosatu as Generations 'switch-off' campaign starts.

Cosatu has launched a television boycott of Generations - the SABC and South African television's most watched show - asking all South African viewers to stop watching Generations on the SABC's SABC1 TV channel for a week starting on Monday 15 September.

Generations on SABC1 is set to run out of available recorded episodes with the actors in two weeks's time anyway, following the firing of the soap's entire principal cast last month by the SABC and Mfundi Vundla's MMSV Productions after they went on strike.

The cast went on strike 10 months after the Generations' actors first embared on a stayaway. The SABC's controversial and famously matricless chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng personally promised them three year contracts instead of one year renewals in June 2013 which never materialised.

The cast also want payment rate adjustments since they say their salaries working on the most watched TV show in South Africa is not in line with what other soap stars and actors earn. They also want the promised residual payments over many years and which are part of their contracts for rebroadcasts and international sales - payments they have never received.

Cosatu is now urging the soap's viewers - an average of 7,5 million viewers tune in every weeknight enabling the SABC to ask R220 000 per 30 second ad spot - to tune out the SABC's Generations during primetime and to also not watch the next morning's repeats or the weekend omnibus from next week.

"Generations made a profit of R500 million in one financial year, but failed to pay royalties calculated over 11 years. That is blatant robbery," said Zwelinzima Vavi, Cosatu's general secretary on Tuesday.

Cosatu met with the Generations cast last week on Wednesday and then with the SABC on Thursday. Cosatu also wanted to meet with MMSV Productions and Mfundi Vundla who flat out refused and said that he will never take the fired Generations actors back.

Meanwhile the SABC still has Generations on the schedule for October in the primetime slot of 20:00 although there exist no episodes to broadcast after the end of this month. The show is the single biggest moneymaker for the public broadcaster.

"Cosatu, the creative Workers Union of South Africa and the Communications Workers Union are giving their full backing to the 16 Generations actors who have been out of work for a month and are determined to win their reinstatement," says Cosatu.

"The fight is not just for their own jobs but for all the creative workers - actors, musicians and technicians - who are exploited on a daily basis by production companies and broadcasters and earn wages which in no way reflect either their work's monetary worth, or most importantly the pleasure it gives to thousands of people".

"It is a scandal that so many of our greatest artists die in poverty after a lifetime of entertaining the public," says Cosatu.

"A week long national Generations switch-off by viewers will start on 15 September, focused on the adverts shown before, during and after showings of Generations - 20:00 to 20:30 on SABC1, repeats at 09:30 to 10:00 on SABC3 and the Generations omnibus from 09:00 to 12:00 on Saturday 20 September on SABC1," says Cosatu.

Cosatu wants pressure to be placed on companies who advertise during Generations., and is planning to picket the SABC and to deliver a petition.

BREAKING. Fired Generations actors to return to work; cast and SABC to sit down in negotiation meeting today or tomorrow.

The fired Generations actors will return to work.

Talks will start between the Generations Actors Guild, the SABC and production company Morula Pictures at a meeting held today or tomorrow to reinstate the fired actors who were dismissed last Monday.

Minister of arts and culture Nathi Mthethwa met with the fired principal cast of the biggest TV show in South Africa and the SABC's biggest soap on Monday who sat down in an emotional meeting with the SABC management and the interim committee of the Cultural and Creative Industries Federation of South Africa.

MMSV Productions and the SABC fired the Generations cast last Monday after a week long stayaway, prompted by MMSV Productions and the SABC's failure to make good on promised three year contracts the SABC's famously matricless chief operating officer Hlaudi Motsoeneng in June 2013 told the cast they would get.

The cast also wanted pay rate adjustments and back payments on residuals for rebroadcasts as well as international sales of the show which has not been paid.

"It is a significant step in the right direction that both the actors and the SABC have arrived at this stage where they are willing to engage in talks to find a solution to this matter," says Nathi Mthethwa.

"Everyone accepts that we are dealing with substantive issues that cannot be resolved overnight but require principled commitment and time to move us forward".

BREAKING. Fired Generations cast scandal: Duelling press conferences coming as SABC and then Generations cast will tell their story.

Duelling press conferences are planned in the growing scandal swirling around the beleaguered SABC and Morula Pictures (MMSV Productions) which fired the Generations cast on Monday - with the SABC holding a press conference today at 11:00 and the Generations Actors Guild holding a press conference on Monday.

The SABC and MMSV Productions which fired the Generations principal cast on Monday after striking, is holding a press conference today at the SABC's Auckland Park headquarters from 11:00 to 12:30 in the Ground Floor Auditorium (using Radio Park entrance 4).

The SABC and Morula Pictures says it wants to "set the record straight" around "issues" pertaining to Generations. It follows after anger and a public backlash has been building against the SABC and Morula Pictures following the firing from the public, actors and the South African TV industry.

The Generations Actors Guild is holding their own press conference on Monday, 25 August at 14:00 at the Market Theatre's Barney Simon Theatre in Newtown.

"The Generations Actors Guild notes with interest that MMSV Productions and the SABC are holding a press conference to 'clear the air' around the dismissal of the 16 members of the Generations cast".

"The Guild also notes with dismay that the SABC and MMSV Productions have been on a campaign of communicating misinformation about salaries and rates that the cast allegedly earns".

"These claims are a blatant untruth, and the guild recognises them for what they are - a petty tactic to turn the public against the cast and paint them as opportunistic, greedy and overpaid."

'Equally concerning is the fact that their erstwhile employers deem it appropriate to reveal salaries - even as they are a complete fabrication. As an action,it is unethical and totally inappropriate".

"The members of the Generations Actors Guild will hold a press conference where they will speak to the issues and provide a proper and true context of their working conditions and issues that led them to this point," says the guild.

BREAKING. ANC to intervene over SABC and Mfundi Vundla's shocking firing of the Generations cast; ministers to intervene over dismissal.

The ANC political party is going to intervene and get involved following the shocking wholesale firing of the Generations cast on SABC1 on Monday by the SABC and executive producer Mfundi Vundla from MMSV Productions.

The Generations cast was fired on Monday by the SABC and MMSV Productions following a second strike the united actors embarked on since last Monday.

The dismissal of the principal Generations cast has sent shockwaves through South Africa's television industry.

Generations ranks as the most watched TV show in South Africa with an average of 7.5 million viewers every weeknight, is the most watched soap, the most lucrative TV show of the SABC and commands a price of R200 000 per 30 second ad spot during its 20:00 primetime timeslot.

It was the Generations cast's second strike in 10 months at the SABC1 soap over exactly the same issues of wanting three year contracts from the SABC as it was promised in 2013, better paying contracts, as well as back payment for rebroadcasts and international sales of the show - all issues that the SABC promised to give attention but failed to do.

"The ANC has requested the intervention of the ministers of communications and labour in the dispute," says ANC spokesperson Zizi Kodwa in a statement.

"Minister of communications Faith Muthambi will be meeting with the SABC to understand the circumstances surrounding the dismissal of these workers," says the ANC in the statement.

""We thus call for a speedy and amicable resolution of the current impasse between the two parties in the interest of fair labour practice based on mutual respect for each other's crafts and imperatives".

REACTION OVER FIRED GENERATION CAST: Sign of 'arrogance' by TV executives; SABC need to prevent situation becoming 'uglier' - CWUSA

The Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA) called the wholesale firing of the Generations cast on SABC1 on Monday a sign of the "arrogance" of the Generations bosses at MMSV Productions and the SABC and has called on the South African public broadcaster to step in urgently to prevent the shocking scandal from "turning uglier than what it is right now".

The Generations cast was fired on Monday following a second strike the united actors embarked on since last Monday.

It was the Generations cast's second strike in 10 months at the SABC1 soap over exactly the same issues of wanting three year contracts from the SABC as it was promised in 2013, better paying contracts, as well as back payment for rebroadcasts and international sales of the show  - all issues that the SABC promised to give attention but failed to do.

CWUSA on Tuesday in a statement called the shocking move which has sent shockwaves through the South African TV industry as well viewers "arrogance" on the side of Generations management.

"It is illegal to respond to written demands by means of intimidation and worse now that the intimidation has resulted in a dismissal," says CWUSA about the fired Generations staff left in the cold on the SABC's most watched and most popular TV programme, drawing an average of 7.5 million viewers every weeknight.

"We therefore call for all parties to go back into the negotiation table to relook at best possibilities. We are more than willing to mediate as it ought to be if the SABC wants to do things correctly," said CWUSA.

"We hope that the SABC this time will respond to our call and avert the situation turning uglier than what it is right now," said CWUSA.

BREAKING. STRIKING GENERATIONS CAST FIRED BY THE SABC AND MMSV PRODUCTIONS; CAST 'SADDENED'.

Massive drama engulfing the SABC, with the public broadcaster's production company responsible for making Generations which has just fired the entire striking Generations cast and dismissed all the actors who appear on the SABC and South Africa's most watched TV show.

The move is completely unprecedented in the 38 year history of South African television where a wholesale abrupt firing of a locally produced TV show, or soap, has never taken place before.

Making the firing even more spectacular is how much the show means to the SABC.

The highly lucrative show is the biggest money earner for the public broadcaster, making even the smallest tampering with Generations and any changes - let alone something like the wholesale firing of the cast - a dicey and risky move lest it impacts negatively on the show's popularity and viewership figures if it alienates audiences.

Advertisers cough up an astronomical R220 000 per 30 second ad break in Generations to get their product or service in front of the massive average audience of 7.5 million viewers who tune in on weeknights at 20:00 on SABC1 to watch the faces of the characters they love.

The SABC and MMSV Productions "have today terminated the contracts of the striking actors on the SABC1 soap drama, Generations," the SABC confirms to TV with Thinus in a tersely worded statement.

"The termination follows calls by both parties for the actors to return for recordings, following the start of their illegal strike," says the SABC.

"The principal cast of Generations, who have been withholding their services, have each received letters of dismissal, with immediate effect," says the Generations Actors Guild who say they're deeply "saddened".

The Generations actors will now look at their legal options as a result of their wholesale firing.

"We are saddened by this development, but remain steadfast in our goal to ensure fair working conditions for ourselves as creative professionals," they say.

It's not clear how the SABC plans to handle the massive exit of major actors from the popular soap who went on strike last Monday, asking yet again for the promised 3 year contracts, better pay, and the payment of  "royalties" due over rebroadcasts and international sales of the popular show.

Generations attracts an audience of 7.5 million viewers per weeknight on the SABC's SABC1 at 20:00 making it by far the most watched show on South African television for the past 21 years and dwarfing the rest of the top five shows on free-to-air television in the country.

Generations episodes are recorded six weeks in advance, which means that a highly dramatic change is in store for the primetime soap when the actors will suddenly disappear, without warning, on-screen at the end of September.

Whether the massive number of characters will simply disappear in a hardcore abrupt reset of the soap, or whether new actors will suddenly be replacing them at extremely short notice is not clear.

What is certain is that a seismic shock is coming for the show and viewers - a dramatic sea change in how the battered soap will look and which might rock SABC1's Generations' viewership numbers and dent the programme's popularity - possibly permanently.

"The SABC and MMSV Productions would like to assure the public that measures have been put in place to ensure the future of Generations," says the SABC in a statement, not elaborating on how what exactly it will be doing to salvage what at best can be described as a television trainwreck situation.

After firing the Generations actors on Monday, executive producer Mfundi Vundla of MMSV Productions told Radio 702 that "there will still be a Generations in the future for more new actors. Generations will go on, with or without these people. The fact that we've gotten rid of these people doesn't mean it's the demise of the series".

"We have episodes up until about October. So we have a few weeks to look for a new cast, we will do what we have to do," said Mfundi Vundla. "We are professionals and we will do what we have to do to ensure Generations will go on".

The week long strike which started on Monday a week ago, was the second strike by the Generations actors who were ordered to report to work on Wednesday, and then again today (Monday) ... or be fired.

They refused to go to work today despite the second ultimatum, saying that they're being exploited, that their show generates an incredible income for the SABC, and that they don't want to live as "struggling actors".

A massive number of Generations actors took part in the unprecedented strike and who are now out of the show: Anga Makubalo (MJ), Atandwa Kani (Samora), Katlego Danke (Dineo), Mandla Gaduka (Choppa), Menzi Ngubane (Sibusiso), Nambitha Mpulwana (Mawande), Patrick Shai (Patrick), Slindile Nodangala (Ruby), Sophie Ndaba (Queen), Seputla Sebogodi (Kenneth), Thami Mnqolo (Senzo), Thato Molamu (Nicholas), Winnie Ntshaba (Khetiwe), Zenande Mfenyana (Nolunthu), Zikhona Sodlaka (Priska) and Zolisa Xaluva (Jason).

The actors first embarked on a strike in October 2013 - 10 months ago, over the same issues. After weeks of tense backroom negotiations, they were finally coaxed back to work with promises that the SABC and MMSV Productions would look at the issues.

The SABC's famously matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng personally intervened as chief operating officer (COO) into the issue at the end of 2013 and declared then that "the matter has finally been laid to rest".

It clearly wasn't. Now the Generations actors lose their jobs; viewers lose the faces of people they know and love and have welcomed into their TV households - and the SABC and SABC1 are inflicted with further brand and reputation damage - as well as a possible viewership and ratings impact from October.

The Generations actors strike - twice in the span of 10 months - followed by the firing of the actors on South Africa's biggest show and soap is entirely unprecedented in the 38 years of South Africa's television industry and will be sending shockwaves through the business, further entrenching the image of ongoing instability at the SABC.

Striking Generations cast writes an open letter to SABC1 audience and fans: 'Our show generates an incredible income for the SABC'.

The striking Generations cast of SABC1 who face dismissal and who will be fired today by the SABC if they don't show up for work, has written an open letter to the SABC1 audience and fans, saying that they're being exploited, that their show generates an incredible income for the SABC and that they don't want to live as "struggling actors.

Open Letter from the Generations Actors Guild to our Audience and Fans  

By now, you would have heard that we, the principal cast of Generations, have made a decision to embark on a strike, and walk off the set of Generations.

First of all, we want to apologise for the inconvenience that this may cause you, as our loyal viewers and fans. 

Please believe that it is not a decision we came to lightly. However, in light of the SABC and the MMSV Productions continued refusal to engage with us, and our grievances, we felt that reviving the strike was the only course of action available to us.

We wanted to take this opportunity to explain to you exactly what led to this drastic action, and give a full context of the events to date.  It is also important for us to state that before we went on strike, we made a point of communicating our unhappiness to MMSV Productions, to no avail.

We live in a country that is notorious for artists living and dying in a state of poverty, tragically,  never managing to earn what is their due, despite being associated with a number of successful projects.  

We have made a decision, as dedicated professionals working on South Africa’s most successful TV show, that we will not be part of this painful statistic. 

 There is no reason, whatsoever, that we should live as ‘struggling actors’ when our show generates an incredible income for the production house and broadcaster.

There are a number of issues that led us to the strike - however, the main ones are:

1. The Generations cast, despite the show being the most popular in South Africa,  is paid rates well below what is understood to be the industry norm. 
There has been a great deal of talk from the SABC that we want to be paid extravagant salaries – this is simply not true.  Our actor colleagues on the same platform, SABC, are paid at much better rates – so it is possible. 

For some bizarre reason, however, the powers-that-be choose to keep Generations cast locked into a lower pay grade. This is unjust, and we want it reviewed.   

We don’t think this is an unreasonable request, considering the audience figures and revenues that the show generates.  We just want to be paid fairly, that’s all.

       When we went on strike last October, we proposed a set of rates that we should be paid. In November 2013, MMSV Productions agreed to meet these rates, provided the SABC would also support the proposed normalization of salaries.

       The SABC responded that they would like some time to review the proposed rates, and would revert in March 2014.  In March, the SABC requested an extension to July 2014 to continue examining the proposed rates. 

       When the July deadline elapsed, there was no communication from them as to the outcome of their deliberations. When we enquired, we received no response. It became clear to us that their requests for extensions were merely a delaying tactic, and there had never been an intention, as promised, to review the salary scales.

       Bear in mind, that based on the SABC’s November 2013 commitment to review the salaries, the cast honoured the broadcaster’s request that they return to set and continue filming. In the end, we, as the cast, want what is best for the show.  It’s a real pity that the SABC and MMSV Productions chose to use this as an opportunity to continue to exploit the cast, with no intention whatsoever to fulfill their promises.  We want to

       

2. Royalties and syndication fees.  Our contracts stipulate that we, as cast, are due certain fees whenever Generations is sold to an international broadcaster. 

       To date, the show is aired in a number of different countries across the world. However, we, as the cast, have never received our royalties.  

       Syndication fees and royalties are a very important revenue stream in any actor’s life, and it is worrying – and telling - that the SABC continues to deny us what we are owed in this regard.  Why is this? 

      3. 3 Year Contracts  - the Generations shooting schedule is intense, and leaves little time for us as actors to pursue other professional opportunities.  

      In requesting 3-year contracts, we are not demanding a blanket 3-year guarantee of work. We understand that clauses can be inserted to terminate employment due to issues of non-performance, insubordination and issues of that nature.  

      However, if we are effectively locked into working only for Generations, we feel that it is only reasonable that there be a level of stability that we be afforded in turn.

      We have tried repeatedly, to accommodate the SABC and MMSV Productions – whenever they requested an extension to examine the issues, we agreed. When, in November 2013 they asked us to end our original strike while they reviewed our demands, we agreed.  

      They committed to reverting to us with their responses to our demands – instead, they have issued us with threats to dismiss us if we don’t return to work. We regard this as a breach of trust, and working in completely bad faith with us. 

       We also consider their insistence on not paying us our fair due as a disturbing flouting of fundamental labour practices, and a perversion of the South Africa we are trying to build – a South Africa where labour is compensated fairly and appropriately.  

      The cast remains open to negotiating and working out a solution, and hopes that the broadcaster and production house respond to this sentiment.

We thank you for your patience with us, and hope you understand our difficulty and stand with us in this troubling time.

With love, and respect:

The Generations Actors Guild

SABC's striking Generations cast: There's little dignity being a part of Africa's most popular TV drama; it's a struggle to even buy a car'.

You're reading it here first.

The SABC's striking Generations cast - given an ultimatum to show up for work today or be fired by the SABC - tells TV with Thinus exclusively that "there's little dignity in being associated with Africa's most popular TV drama" and that it's a constant struggle to even try and buy a car.

The Generations cast went on strike for the whole of last week for the second time in 10 months.

The new, second, and unprecedented strike follows after the actors on the SABC's biggest TV soap were coaxed back to work in November last year following the first strike - demanding longer 3 year contracts they say were promised to them, as well as better payment, and back payments for rebroadcasts.

Similar to the cast of Friends in 1995 and earlier this year with the cast of the American comedy The Big Bang Theory, the striking Generations cast are united as a collective group, willing to walk away from the highly successful and lucrative 21 year old primetime TV soap if better deals and agreements with the SABC and MMVS Productions are not agreed upon.

The television brinkmanship is massive and the Generations cast embarked on a second stayaway because there's real leverage: It will be lose-lose if the SABC goes ahead with its threat to fire the large group of actors.

It's their familiar and famous faces that 7.5 million viewers tune in for on weeknights on SABC1.

If the group of actors are fired they will be out of their jobs, but their abrupt absence might lead millions of SABC1 viewers to tune out Generations and onto other channels.

As a result the SABC's biggest and most watched show - in fact the most watched TV programme in all of South Africa television - will suffer irreparable damage since multiple actors will suddenly have to be written out bluntly - the characters either instantly gone, or replaced with new, unknown actors in the roles.

This which will have a huge impact on the SABC, SABC1 and Generations brands and quite possibly also see viewership figures plummet - something the SABC, SABC1 and the production company can ill afford.

The SABC's famously matricless Hlaudi Motsoeneng personally intervened as chief operating officer (COO) into the issue at the end of 2013 and declared then that "the matter has finally been laid to rest".

Ten months later it's now clear that it wasn't - and the strike suddenly crippling the SABC's and South Africa's biggest TV show twice in less than a year over the exact same issues - indicates the dramatic structural problems and uncertainty that remains at the South African public broadcaster.

It's unprecedented for the entire production on a huge money-making, flagship show of a South African TV broadcaster to abruptly cease and completely shut down twice within a year.

Generations is filmed six week in advance, meaning that completed Generations episode for play-out on SABC1 will cease at the end of September.  

"There is no reason why the actors of South Africa's most popular drama should be paid less than industry norm," the Generations Actors Guild tells TV with Thinus.

The Generations Actors Guild says actors on other SABC soaps "are paid at better rates. For some bizarre reason the Generations cast remains locked into a lower pay grade. This is unjust and we want it reviewed".

"We don't want crazy salary increases. We just want to be paid fairly, that's all," says the Generations Actors Guild.

The striking Generations actors says its difficult to even buy a car or get a car loan.

"The short-term contracts certainly result in a lack of security, which makes it difficult for the cast to plan for long-term purchases. We're not considered permanent employees, so even with the banks, securing bonds and car loans is a serious, and sometimes insurmountable challenge".

"What we want most, is to be able to work, and be compensated appropriately for it," says the Generations Actors Guild. "The strike was a last resort, and not an action we embarked on lightly".

"When the SABC and MMSV Productions asked us for time to address our issues, we made a decision to give them the time they requested, and go back to work. Some may call it naive, but we were working in good faith in the interest of Generations".

"It's a real pity that the SABC and MMSV Productions seem to have selective amnesia about the promises and commitments they made to revert with a response to our grievances. They've missed their own deadline - twice - and now they aren't even talking about their promises".

The Generations Actors Guild tells TV with Thinus that they "weren't happy when the SABC and MMSV Productions missed their own deadline of March 2014, but [we] worked with them when they requested an extension until July 2014."

"We realised after they missed the second deadline, 31 July 2014, without even a word about when we could expect to hear back from them - that they actually did not have a response to our grievances. So we revived the strike".

"We shouldn't have to fight about issues around pay rates, salaries and royalties when there are prescribed industry standards in place," says the striking Generations actors.

"This industry is unregulated and it allows for some incredible exploitation to take place. We need stronger industry bodies. We need government to recognise what a driver the South African TV and film industry is, culturally and economically".

The striking Generations cast says "we deplore the fact that we're not at work, but feel extremely strongly about the cause we're undertaking. It's about fair play and fair labour practice. We would love to return to work - at appropriate pay grades, and with the correct contracts in place - with royalties due to us being paid our fairly".

The SABC didn't respond to multiple written media enquiries on the Generations strike made last week and again on Sunday seeking comment from the public broadcaster.