The most watched South African soapie, Generations, will be off screen for the first time since it was first aired on SABC 1 in 1994 – from Wednesday the 1st of October until December as new episodes are filmed.
The South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) on Friday announced minor changes to its TV schedule, in light of the fact that SABC 1 soap drama Generations will be revamped.
The revamp comes after 16 actors contracts were terminated by MMSV Productions.
SABC 1 drama Skeem Saam Season 3 will take over the popular 20:00 time slot from the troubled Generations soapie for two months.
The Generations repeat slot on SABC 3 at 10:30 will be replaced by Muvhango.
The SABC appealed to the public to be patient as it deals with the challenges currently faced in ensuring the longevity of Generations.
Meanwhile, the 16 axed actors fired from the soap opera have approached the Commission for Conciliation, Mediation and Arbitration (CCMA) to seek reinstatement.
The actors, organised under the “Generations Actors Guild” (Gag), said in a statement they were “unshaken” in their resolve to secure their demands.
These include a reduction to 10 working hours a day, provision of social benefits, an end to inconsistencies in remuneration, payment of royalties, and better working conditions.
Cosatu in KwaZulu-Natal has called for the SABC to terminate Generations executive producer, Mfundi Vundla’s contract, should he fail to re-instate the fired actors.
They demonstrated outside the SABC building in Durban along with members of the Creative Workers Union of South Africa (CWUSA).
Cosatu and CWUSA are also calling for the improvement of working conditions for creative artists across the country.
