The South African Guild of Actors (SAGA) has reiterated the call for transformation in the creative arts sector. SAGA represents actors in the film, television, stage, commercial and corporate sectors in South Africa. During an exclusive interview on YOU FM’s Breakfast With YOU show, SAGA’s National Chairperson Jack Devnarain, took the listeners down memory lane to what he attributed the current struggles of veteran actors.
“Our veteran performers belong to a certain generation and at that time when they entered the industry, the rules of the industry were being drawn up. Although there was a lot of work and people were able to generate income, policymakers didn’t know how to organise the creative sector,” said Devnarain.
In addition, he said that there was no safety net created to cushion performers for times of ill health, old age, and retirement amongst others. Devnarain’s outcry follows a spate of circulating videos of some legendary actors who have graced Mzansi’s TV and film industry for decades, pleading for donations and employment opportunities. This has sparked various debates relating to financial management, exploitation of artists and the regulation of the creative sector. Furthermore, Devnarain also warned that the lack of unionisation which prohibits performers from collective bargaining, will continue to plague actors into the worst working conditions where they are underpaid.
He however expressed optimism that the Constitutional Court will soon rule on the Copyright Amendment Bill and Performers Protection Amendment Bill which were referred by President Cyril Ramaphosa to have their validity assessed. The former Isidingo actor popularly known as ‘Rajesh’ is adamant that at least a basic minimum rate must be set for actors, to protect them against what he termed as “the race to go to the bottom” by producers and broadcasters whom he said are the ones benefitting from the absence of legislation in this sector. Devnarain concluded by calling on actors to join forces and stand together in the bid to transform the industry for generations to come.
