The Sunday News
VETERAN actress Lillian Dube has lambasted the South African entertainment industry for neglecting legends like Joe Mafela while he was still alive. He died aged 75.
Lillian spoke to TshisaLIVE after news of countryman Mafela’s death emerged in a car accident last Saturday night‚ and said that she felt like the industry had sometimes forgotten her and Mafela. Dube, who acted with the deceased in a number of projects, said that neither of them were invited to the SA Film and Television Awards (Saftas) recently.
“I asked him how he could go on a cruise while the Saftas was on and he said that he was not invited. I was not invited either.
We spoke about the industry and how we were being marginalised and not being given enough respect for what we’ve done.
We need to be honoured while we are still alive not forgotten‚” she said.
She also explained that actors were often expected to work long hours with very little benefits‚ only to be forgotten in their hour of need.
“There are no such things as medical aid and pension funds in the industry. When you are no longer popular or needed by the industry you are often left out on your own. The industry does not look after its own‚” Lillian added
She said that it was time that the industry stopped glorifying “short skirts and g-strings” and start honouring its legends.
“How can the industry celebrate short skirts and g-strings while we have legends like Joe Mafela? The focus is not on the right things. These are people who are pioneers and who have set the trail for many South African artistes‚” she said.
The veteran actor and musician is scheduled to be buried in Johannesburg on Tuesday. Mafela had an illustrious career in film, television and stage. He made his acting debut at the age of 22 in 1964, when he appeared in the feature movie ‘‘Real News’’ directed by Peter Hunt (who is best known for having directed the James Bond movie, ‘‘From Russia with Love’’). In this film Mafela played the character of an editor. This was the beginning of a career that would span 40 years, making him one of the most celebrated personalities in the Entertainment Industry. ‘‘Real News’’ was followed 10 years later by ‘‘Shout at the Devil’’, also directed by Peter Hunt.
In 1974 Mafela co-starred in South Africa’s first black feature film, “Udeliwe” with Cynthia Shange. In the film he played the role of Peter Pleasure, a Malawian. His performance in the movie helped endear him to Soweto’s movie-goers, with many a young men mimicking his lines.
“Shout at the Devil” was shot at Brodestroom, west of Pretoria, near Haartebeespoort Dam. The movie was shot during the 1976 Soweto riots. Asked about the impact of the 1976 riots on his acting career and how they influenced it in the 1980s Mafela replied: “none”. But he will be remembered mostly for the role he played in a Zulu Language sitcom “Sgudi ‘Snaysi”, in which he portrayed the character of ‘‘Sdumo’’. The sitcom became a major hit as it ran to 78 episodes on SABC. Mafela had established a great working relationship with the SABC and that is where he started doing advertising through the company, BBDO, as a creative director. He worked primarily in production, but also dabbled in voice-overs, radio materials and advertising.
In 1996 Mafela released his first music album with the record company, Gallo Records, based in Johannesburg. The album, named Shebeleza, became a huge success. The title track, Shebeleza, was used as a theme song during the Africa Cup of Nations in 1996. He subsequently released three more albums in his musical career. His lyrics are often a combination of South Africa’s official languages. In the new millennium he was considered a pioneer and veteran in the Entertainment Industry and in 2005 he received a lifetime management theatre achievement award. This was followed by numerous awards that included the Duku Duku award. Mafela also scooped the best comedic actor award at the South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas). He was was successful in the entertainment industry for more than forty years and yet was known for retaining a strong sense of humility about his achievements.
Meanwhile, producers and scriptwriters at Generations: The Legacy where Mafela played the character of Tebogo Moroka at the time of his death were said to be in a race against time to rewrite his character following the tragic news.
“Mfundi Vundla arrived at the SABC on Monday and called a staff meeting with the team to inform them about Sdumo’s passing.
“The meeting lasted about 10 minutes. All Generations cast members were in tears, which forced Mfundi to adjourn the meeting,” a staff member said.
The staffer added that scriptwriters were directed to change scripts as Mafela was expected to be in studio to shoot last week.
— Sowetan/ sahistory.org.za
