Mvelase urges actors to have a plan B during Nyembe’s memorial service
Katlego Sekhu
Speaking at the memorial service of the late South African actress Nandi Nyembe, Lerato Mvelase delivered moving words to those in attendance and viewers following the livestream.
“How long must we hear the same thing? The same speeches. How long must we continue having the same engagements about the need for policy structures that are supposed to protect us as artists?” She said, responding to promises made by a dignitary, that the laws enabling productions to exploit actors would be reviewed.
“It’s a lullaby, what you said to us right now. And I can assure you, where Mam Nandi is, her heart was not happy. I’m not happy, we are not happy.” Her words were met with loud shouts and applause.
Before her passing, Nandi Nyembe had spoken publicly about her financial struggles and had sought assistance.
Mvelase continued, “I want to urge actors, I want to urge young actors, I want to urge aspiring actors to have a plan B. Have a plan B. We have been sold a dream that will never be realised. Yabona, sisonke la, singacula, si strike, si shutte down i-industry, kodwa kusazovela ama open auditions.”
Painting a grim picture, she admitted that nothing would change until proper regulations and policies were put in place to protect actors.
“Ngiyanicela, ibhlungu into yokuthi every single time we have to speak about our struggles. We are not a charity case. We must stop looking at ourselves as charity, we must stop treating ourselves as charity. We must find other means to sustain ourselves because there is no political will to work with us. I’ve been in the industry for 30 years. Thirty years later, we are still having the same conversation. That should tell us something,” said the actress.
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