Generations 16 saga timeline
This week lawyers representing the 16 actors who were axed from Generations - once the most popular soapie in the country with almost 7 millions viewers per episode - planned to file a court application to halt a new version of the show, called Generations The Legacy.
FILE PICTURE: Fired Generations actors Slindile Nodangala, Patrick Shai and Thato Molamu consult ahead of the start of a press briefing at Cosatu House in Braamfontein, 15 September 2014. The union federation Cosatu in support of the 16 Generations actors has called for all South Africans to not tune into the daily soapie as of 15 September 2014 following the firing of these actors. Picture: Refilwe Modise
Ash Kewalpershad, spokesperson of the Generations Actors Guild (GAG) made up of the axed actors, told The Citizen a press statement regarding the planned court application will be issued sometime next week with more details.
The whole Generations saga started in August last year when the 16 actors were suspended and finally fired after they went on strike and failed to meet a deadline set by the producer to return to work.
The cast of Generations. Image courtesy of Facebook.com/GenerationsTVShow
This is how the drama unfolded:
1994
Generations is introduced to the South African viewers. The show later became South Africa’s most viewed and longest running soapie.
October 2013
The 16 actors of the show express their grievances regarding their contracts for the first time.
Sophie Ndaba during a press conference held by the Generations stars that were fired recently at the Market Theatre in Newtown, 26 August 2014. Picture: Neil McCartney
August 2014
Members of the GAG are suspended after they went on an illegal strike demanding better salaries, an extension on their contracts and royalties from episodes which had been rebroadcast.
18 August 2014
The country learns with shock that the 16 main actors of Generations are fired after they failed to return to work. SABC spokesperson, Kaizer Kganyago, says the cast had ignored two deadlines to return to work forcing the broadcaster to ask MMSV Productions to terminate their contracts.
22 August 2014
Producer Mfundi Vundla holds a press conference to give his side of the story. Four days later the fired actors hold a media briefing in Newtown, Johannesburg, to address what they called the “utter lies” told by Vundla at his press conference.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qY31Tt99mdc
9 September 2014
Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzimama Vavi calls on Generations viewers to boycott the show and participate in a ”switch-off” in support of the actors.
FILE PICTURE: A picture that was tweeted by Cosatu on the 3rd of September with the Generations cast.
30 September 2014
South Africa says goodbye to Generations as the last episode with their loved characters air. Vundla have already indicated he will continue with the soapie using a new cast.
1 October 2014
Skeem Saam takes over the Generations slot on SABC 1 at 8pm.
14 October 2014
A case of unfair dismissal involving the 16 sacked actors appears before the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA).
Fired Generations actress Nambitha Mpumlwana looks on during her response to questions from the media during a press briefing at Cosatu House in Braamfontein, 15 September 2014. The union federation Cosatu in support of the 16 Generations actors has called for all South Africans to not tune into the daily soapie as of 15 September 2014 following the firing of these actors. Picture: Refilwe Modise
3 November 2014
The new cast of Generations is revealed. This included actors Musa Ngema, Manaka Ranaka and Letoya Makhene.
Cast of Generations: The Legacy
1 December 2014
A new version of the soapie hits the screens. This time it is called Generations The Legacy.
FILE PICTURE: Fired Generations actors Zolisa Xaluva, Menzi Ngubane and Mandla Gaduka during a press briefing. Picture: Refilwe Modise
Reactions on social media:
#KnowYourZulu @MyNameIsVelz : I hate it when my niece insist on watching #GenerationsLegacy repeat.
FAT GIRLS MATTER @MayaAngelouFRO : My great great great grandmother and grandfather #family #GenerationsLegacy
Raymond Manthosi @Manthosi_R : #SkeemSam storyline is further burying #GenerationsLegacy deep beyond 6 feet.
12 January 2015: The group of sacked actors want the new version of the soapie to be taken off screen. The actors allege the SABC reneged on a contract it signed after the actors were axed during a pay dispute in 2014. By Friday (16 January) the court papers were not filed yet.
FILE PICTURE: Generations executive producer Mfundi Vundla during a media briefing at the SABC offices following the termination of services of 16 actors from the popular soapie. Picture: Refilwe Modise
Dismissed cast with characters they played in brackets:
Anga Makubalo (MJ Dlomo)
Atandwa Kani (Samora Lembede)
Katlego Danke (Dineo Dlomo)
Mandla Gaduka (Selwyn ‘Choppa’ Maithufi)
Menzi Ngubane (Sbusiso Dlomo)
Nambitha Mpumlwana (Mawande Memela)
Patrick Shai (Patrick Tlaole )
Slindile Nodangala (Ruby Dikobe)
Sophie Ndaba (Queen Moroka)
Seputla Sebogodi (Kenneth Mashaba)
Thami Mngqolo (Senzo Dlomo)
Thato Molamu (Nicholas Nomvete )
Winnie Ntshaba (Khetiwe Buthelezi)
Zenande Mfenyana (Noluntu Memela)
Zikhona Sodlaka (Priska Nomvete)
Zolisa Xaluva (Jason Malinga)
OBJECT OF INTEREST. Fired Generations actress Zenande Mfenyana’s fans are still talking about her character, Noluntu Melema, online.
Pictures: Gallo Images.
What people on the streets have to say about the new Generations:
Gloria Mahanjani : “I like the old Generations with Sbusiso (Menzi Ngubane) and Kenneth (Seputla Sebogodi). I am not used to the new one. I don’t follow it that much, I just visit it. The old cast should should come back. I really like them; they were the best actors. Muvhango should replace this new Generations. Muvhango is nice and the story line is everything that happens in real life.”
Kristy van Heerden: “The new Generations is nice because they have Tau (Rapulane Seiphemo) and Karabo (Connie Ferguson) who make it so entertaining but I miss the old characters, they were so nice, I even told my husband the other day that I want the old one, it had more action. I think Skeem Saam should replace this new Generations Legacy. They know how to portray their characters and their facial expressions are nice. What the old actors are doing is right, I was familiar them. This new one it’s just nice in a way, but no man!”
Joan Hendricks: “The new Generations is fine but it is not like the first Generations. It’s not so much interesting. The old one was far better than this one. I think Isidingo should take the slot, it is a little better than Generations. They should take this Generations out, it’s really boring.”
Jessica Jacobs: “The new Generations is not for me. I like the old Generations. The new one is too fast and it is a ad influence to the youth. I think they should mix the two casts maybe something can come out and they will ally benefit. Emzini Wensizwa or Masinya should replace Generations because if you watch Generations ay its not working. I don’t understand this new Generations, it makes people confused, you need to put more effort to understand it.”
