Local actors have been divided by an actors’ summit the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI), acting agencies and unions held this week.
Many of South Africa’s most prominent actors are up in arms about not knowing of or being invited to the conference, during which an actors’ council was formed.
Nokuthula Nonozi, who plays Tshidi in Rhythm City, tweeted: “Was it deliberate that so many of our actors were not invited? The #ActorsCouncil WHO and how were they elected? By whom?”
Muvhango’s Rami Chuene wrote: “Dearest SA actors. Who organised the #ActorsSummit and who was invited, cos I wasn’t? Were you? Please enlighten us.”
Among the other actors who knew nothing of it were Fana Mokoena, Salamina Mosese and Isibaya’s Mampho Brescia, who tweeted: “Had no cooking clue about it. What a shame.”
Actors who were invited found it strange that many of their peers weren’t.
Florence Masebe, an actress on The Soul City Institute, tweeted from the event: “What concerned me about today’s gathering was that many actors did not know anything about it.”
One of the organisers, actor Motlatsi Mafatshe, who plays Sechaba on Isidingo, said: “A task team was assembled to organise actors all over the country to establish a council of actors.
“A lot of actors were approached from November, but not everyone could make the meetings. The mandate was simple: gather actors, address your issues, & assemble a council that would cater for us.
“For this to happen, we had to meet regularly, find help and spread the word… We got assistance from the @dti and then approached the PMA, SAGA, various unions & agents wit da invite. Actors… were also individually sent emails to attend & spread da word.”