South Africa’s leading soap, Generations, may have been snubbed at this year’s awards ceremonies, but it did make waves on the headlines front. Debashine Thangevelo looks at its year in news on the eve of its big unveiling and return to the small screen.
FOR celebrities, if the media is talking about you, it generally means you are still relevant. But I’m not sure if creator Mfundi Vundla planned on becoming the Lindsay Lohan of our times.
Here’s a snapshot breakdown of some of the good, the bad and the ugly moments, so to speak:
• Talk about a bumpy start to the year, after poaching Luthuli Dlamini from Scandal, he was fired – apparently for his tardiness. And so it was a “beam me up, Scotty” moment for the veteran, who is now working the commercial circuit.
• On the back of Dlamini’s exit, Nambitha Mpulwana, who is reportedly quite the diva on set, was re-hired to bring bitchy back to the soap. I suppose, she excelled at channelling that fighting spirit… much to Vundla’s dismay.
• It was with much fanfare that Generations announced that Atandwa Kani (son of living legend John Kani) joined the cast as Samora, a Casanova chef. This was in June. But, sadly, his lifespan burnt out long before his character debuted. He was one of the 16 actors who were fired.
• On Monday, August 11, 16 cast members embarked on a strike following MMSV and SABC’s failure to address issues that had spilt over from their first strike action in October last year.
• In an unprecedented move on TV, the 16 actors – Anga Makubalo (MJ), Kani (Samora), Katlego Danke (Dineo), Mandla Gaduka (Choppa), Menzi Ngubane (Sibusiso), 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) – were fired shortly embarking on their strike.
In MMSV’s statement to the press, the production company said: “MMSV Productions, following consultation with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), have today terminated the contracts of the striking actors on the SABC1 soap drama, Generations. The termination follows calls by both parties for the actors to return for recordings, following the start of their illegal strike.”
• While the industry was divided on Vundla’s status as the villain or hero in the saga, the axed actors held their own press conferences to explain their grievances, including frustration over salary and royalty payouts. And the public rather enjoyed the off-screen drama.
• With Vundla plotting his next move – which meant Generations going off air for two months – Molamu also moved on. He made his debut on SABC2’s new game show, What’s Behind the Wall?, and also bagged a role in Kowethu, SABC1’s new drama.
And the fledgling soap, Skeem Saam, certainly struck gold too. They bagged that coveted slot and ended up growing their viewership in a way they never imagined.
• Now that the reality of unemployment has hit the cast, some have resorted to giving “exclusive” media interviews to give an update of where they are at. But even though Ndaba says she is financially okay with her many business commitments, the fact that the “Hello darlings” actress isn’t on TV anymore is clearly still a sore point – for her.
• And it doesn’t help that her BFF Connie Ferguson has returned to the soap along with Rapulana Seiphemo (Tau Mogale). News of other cast broke as well with Cosmo Diale (played by Ronnie Nyakale) returning along with Musa Ngema, Manaka Ranaka, Letoya Makhene, Thulisile Phongolo, Ivy Nkutha, Moopi Moothibeli and Vuyo Dabula confirmed.
• Meanwhile, while the new scenes were being shot, it was revealed that head writer Bongi Ndaba had quit.
And so tonight is the big drum roll for Generations’ return to screens with a whole new look, cast and storyline. This is showbiz, after all, and, as such, the saga continues… at 8pm.