Pathetic': Extras detail alleged exploitation by Mzansi soapies, paid R150

Pathetic': Extras detail alleged exploitation by Mzansi soapies, paid R150Extras from Scandal!', Generations: The Legacy' and House of Zwide' are reportedly being exploited and getting paid R150 to R350 a day.

by Rae Seleme

29-11-2021

in SA TV and Film

Logos for SABC 1's soapie, Generations: The Legacy', e.tv's soapies, Scandal!' and House of Zwide'. Images via Twitter @etvScandal, @etvHouseOfZwide and @Gen_Legacy

Soapville is shocked to hear that background actors from soapies such as Generations: The Legacy, Scandal!, House of Zwide, and many more shows are being exploited.

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The popular shows are allegedly paying their extras as little as R150 to R350 for a half-day and full-day shoots and this amount hasn't changed in 20 years.

SHOCKED to learn that in 2021, background actors are still being exploited.

I have learned that extras are still earning R150 and R350 a day.

It is alleged that Generations extras get paid R150 and Scandal pays R250 per day.

This is simple exploitation. Here is why

Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) November 29, 2021

EXPLOITATION:'GENERATIONS: THE LEGACY', SCANDAL!', HOUSE OF ZWIDE' Entertainment commentator, Phil Mphela revealed the shocking figures in a series of tweets this afternoon (29 November).

Soapie fans are enraged by the figures and have labelled them inhumane' and modern slavery' as extras are expected to be on set for as long as they may be needed.

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They are paid this money at the end of the month and could be on set half a day and sometimes the whole day while the issue of payment is handled by the agency.

Mphela revealed that extras, like actors have no set working hours as they're sometimes called to work as early as 6 am.

This essentially means that extras are working to for transport money to work and are working for free.

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James was an extra for 10 years in generations

You wanna tell me he was probably getting around R50 a month during that time pic.twitter.com/A3cG5fcILE

ChrisExcel (@ChrisExcel102) November 29, 2021

EXTRAS EXPOSE GENERATIONS: THE LEGACY', SCANDAL!', HOUSE OF ZWIDE' A viewer, @NomthyNelu, revealed that a friend of hers who was extra on e.tv's latest fashion drama, House of Zwide only got paid R150.

They started shooting from 6 am till around 2 pm and only got paid R150.

They ate amagwinya and polony, yaaks and these production houses makes millions of rands but exploits these extras.

@Zamoe_xbiss said extras get removed from their database if they confront the shows.

I've chosen to no longer attend any shoots that pay less than R350.

The other thing is I choose the shoots that are close to where I live.

Adverts pay better than soapies.

Another viewer was shocked to hear that the rates haven't changed and extras are still paid R150.

I used to work in the industry 15 years ago for the production company finance department.

Shocked that the rate has not changed over 15 years.

And we work the whole day while we shouted at Abanye basbheka sengathi siyanuka .all of this soapies I ve been at pic.twitter.com/dSAQb0wjzX

Bongekile Happiness (@HappinessBonge2) November 29, 2021

I was a victim for a couple of months, this is a few years ago. They paid us R85 or so because the agency takes 75% from that 350

Blaq Diamond (@uDikela___) November 29, 2021

Unfortunately, Minimum wage= legal, and R151,00 p/d is considered legal in our country pic.twitter.com/nunM14IN40

Comrade King (@cde_king) November 29, 2021

Really? 2011 we were paid R150 at Isidingo. That is pathetic. If you don t have an agent, you settle for less. Appearing on TV makes people to accept cents.

Lekgolokoe (@sammymoloi01) November 29, 2021

I was on extras for generations and rhythm under this other lady back in 2017/8 not once did I get paid, she disappeared with my money and I wasn t the only one this other guy said he had been waiting for months to get paid, extras are exploited

Dingane Xolani Nzeke (@dingaan_Nzeke) November 29, 2021

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LINK:	https://www.thesouthafrican.com/lifestyle/sa-tv-film/pathetic-extras-d...
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