Veteran actor Vusi Thanda’s public cry for financial help is a struggle by the creative sector, which has been abandoned by an uncaring government.
The SA Guild of Actors, whose role is to enhance actors’ working conditions among other things, said the video in which Thanda appealed for financial assistance was devastating.
Since the 71-year-old made the appeal, Good Samaritans have responded positively and by Friday, he had received R100,000 in donations.
National chairperson of Saga, Jack Devnarain, said the industry will continue to see performers begging for help because of unchanged labour laws that do not support freelancers.
“What we saw on social media was a terrible insult to the dignity and career of such an experienced performer. It is heartbreaking that it is vulnerable performers who must suffer this humiliation. The man is clearly on the verge of being destitute.
“He is not getting a role, which is a reality that performers face at some point. This is a fate for every freelance actor. We have not acknowledged this and not amended [our] labour laws to protect freelancers,” Devnarain said.
On Sunday, Thanda said no one from the government has reached out to him.
Thanda, who hails from Hankey in the Eastern Cape, said his financial woes were as a result of a lack of acting roles. He last acted in 2021 in a Moja Love production, Ikhaya Labadala.
He last filmed with The Queen in 2020. The seasoned actor said what pushed him to plead for help was the harassment he has been getting from the landlord because he owed rent.
“In our industry, if you are not shooting, you won’t get paid. When I appealed to South Africans, it was because I had no choice. I was sitting here on my bed on Tuesday when I heard a very rude knock on my door. When I opened it, it was my landlord wanting his rent money. I have not been able to pay rent since late last year. I owe the landlord about R45,000.”
Spokesperson for the Living Legends Legacy Project Wally Serote said he had not seen Thanda’s video.
He asked Sowetan to furnish him with information, which was sent to him via WhatsApp. When contacted later, his phone was on voicemail.
bambalelep@sowetan.co.za
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