Veteran actress Vatiswa Ndara has reiterated that actors should not be dying in poverty – after she made allegations of performers being abused and unfairly treated by South African production houses.
On Monday, Ndara posted an open letter on social media, addressed to Arts and Culture Minister Nathi Mthethwa, stating her grievances on what she calls exploitation of actors in the television production industry.
She has since come out on mainstream media, elaborating more on the issues she raised in the letter.
Responding on behalf of Minister Mthethwa, spokesperson Asanda Magaqa says this is the first time the minister has been addressed in such a manner, but the minister engages regularly with stakeholders.
In Ndara’s letter, which has led to widespread engagement on social media, the actress specifically mentions “Ferguson Films”, which she worked for as an actress on a TV series – iGazi. Ndara mentions that she was offered R110 000 for a five week period in the series. She declined the offer and labels the owners of Ferguson Films as “slave masters.”
The Fergusons are yet to come out publicly on the matter.
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Social media users also engaged on the story, see tweets below:
