- Entrepreneur Vusi Thembekwayo used the passing of Generations actor Seputla Sebogodi to call out South Africa’s actor pay laws
- Thembekwayo argued that broadcasters and production companies profit from repeat airings while actors receive nothing after their initial fee
- South Africans weighed in on the debate, with some raising the unresolved Performers Protection Amendment Bill
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Vusi Thembekwayo criticised Mzansi’s pay-once model after Seputla Sebogodi’s passing. Image: vusithembekwayo, seputlasebogodi_official
The death of beloved South African actor Seputla Sebogodi has reignited a long-standing conversation about how the country treats its performers, and entrepreneur Vusi Thembekwayo is not holding back.
Sebogodi, who captivated audiences for years as the calculating Kenneth Mashaba on Generations, passed away on 15 July after complications linked to diabetes. Beyond the flood of tributes that followed, Thembekwayo used the moment to challenge the structures that he believes leave actors financially vulnerable.
Vusi Thembekwayo call for royalties after Seputla Sebogodi’s death
Responding to a tribute posted by the Gauteng Provincial Government on X, Thembekwayo called on the state to move beyond words. “The best service the nation can give to the memory of Seputla Sebogodi is to relook at the laws governing how actors are paid,” he wrote.
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At the heart of his argument is South Africa’s dominant “pay once” model, where a performer receives a single upfront fee for their work. When a show is rebroadcast, sold to other platforms, or licensed internationally, the original cast sees none of those earnings. Broadcasters and production houses, however, continue to profit.
“They light up the screen for years, bringing joy to our homes and then struggle or leave this <a href="https://absafricatv.com/what-the-world-cup-can-teach-us-about-human-connection/” title=”What the World Cup Can Teach Us About Human Connection”>world without their dues,” Thembekwayo wrote.
He also pointed to contract structures that permanently sign away a performer’s rights, with many actors afraid to push back for fear of being branded difficult and losing future work.
The issue is not new. More than a decade ago,Generations was at the centre of one of South African television’s most dramatic moments when a group of cast members were dismissed following a wage dispute. The show was briefly suspended before returning as Generations: The Legacywith a reimagined cast. Thembekwayo argued that the fundamental problems that sparked that standoff have never truly been addressed.
Mzansi weighs in on the debate
Thembekwayo’s comments sparked a lively debate online, with many agreeing that actors deserve better financial protection, while others questioned how royalty payments should work.
Here are some of the comments:
“Guys, I have a question, and I’m not trying to be funny. With this logic, does that mean my grandfather who was a contractor on the N1 should be paid for life since that road is still used?”
“I’ll never forget what the ‘Igazi’ production did to the GOAT, Vatiswa Ndara.”
@LuGuy20 highlighted the legislative gap:
“The Performers Protection Amendment Bill was drafted & presented to parliament 10 years ago. President referred it to the Constitutional Court, where it sat for 2 years; the constitutionality of the bill was finalised a month ago. Who knows when it will finally be signed by the president.”
“I know one producer who’s changing luxury cars and lives in a house where he only needs 1 out of the multiple bedrooms he has, yet you look at the lives of the actors in his productions.”
@Vhiririb shared a personal encounter:
“I saw Kenny around 2014 in Bloem, and we were staying at the same hotel, and that’s when I realised that acting doesn’t pay coz the hotel was low budget (I was at the beginning of my career, and he was at his peak). Something drastic needs to happen to better the conditions.”
Seputla Sebogodi’s shared showbiz struggles in old clip
Briefly Newspreviously reported thatan old interview of the late Seputla Sebogodi sharing the challenges he faced in the South African entertainment industry resurfaced after his death.
His remarks on language barriers and career struggles sparked a significant emotional debate nationwide, reflecting the complexities of the industry.
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Tayananiswa Zvikaramba (Editor)Tayananiswa Zvikaramba is an entertainment writer at Briefly News. He previously worked as a profiler, sports, human interest, entertainment, and current affairs writer at Pindula (2016-2022) and iHarare (2022-2025). He holds a BA Honours in Archaeology from the University of Zimbabwe (2010-2013), YOAST SEO for Beginners (2023), YOAST Block Editor Training (2023), and YOAST Structured Data for Beginners (2023). Email: tayananiswa.zvikaramba@briefly.co.za
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