Sport, Arts and Culture Minister Gayton McKenzie has responded to actor Jack Devnarain’s accusations on social media that the Department of Sport, Arts and Culture and producers are silent on the struggles of performers. Jack Devnarain is best known for his role as Rajesh Kumarin the soapie Isidingo.
Devnarain’s accusations and criticism
In a video on X, Devnarain criticised the industry for failing to address nonpayment issues, claiming that the silence from producers, broadcasters, and the government is damaging the industry.
‘Silence from producers, broadcasters, government, and industry organisations is the sound of failure, and nobody wants to step up and admit they failed to protect the rights of performers, crew and background actors,’ he said.
‘The problem is we have normalised silence. If you step back and look at the damage inflicted on the industry through non-payments, there should be all kinds of alarms, sirens, and media statements by the government, ministers wagging their fingers. There should be interventions by industry organisations, but no, none of that is happening — just silence,’ Devnarain added.
Transformation starts by exposing the dark secrets that people keep locked up in silence. @SAGActors @deptoflabour @SportArtsCultur @the_dtic @ParliamentofRSA @SagaChairman @FloMasebe @BonnieMbuli @NAMBITHA @LINDASOKHULU @TumishoMasha @SunilOsman @DumDiesel pic.twitter.com/8shxZmi7do
— Jack Devnarain (@JackD157) January 3, 2025
McKenzie’s response
McKenzie rejected these accusations, saying that he had met with Devnarain shortly after taking office and had promised to take action.
‘You were [among] the first people I met when I assumed office; I listened and promised to act. You invited me to a Hindu celebration; I honoured that invite and spoke at that event. I can’t report to your organisation exclusively. Why accuse us of silence? We will soon have solutions,’ McKenzie said.
The Minister added that he will not be intimidated by performers who use social media to bully government officials.
“Many celebrities use social media to bully government officials; they want us to jump when they speak. I’m different; your time of exclusive access is over. You might be famous, but you are not more important than other artists. We treat people equally at the department.”
Minister Gayton McKenzie
I have absolutely no doubt about your viable proposals, I know your heart and passion, my issue is that your post creates the impression that I am silent or found wanting. We have had 3 meetings with the industry since I heard the dissatisfaction. Things are about to change. https://t.co/MK14vOwunN
— Gayton McKenzie (@GaytonMcK) January 5, 2025
Devnarain chair of SAGA
Jack Devnarain is the national chair of the South African Guild of Actors (SAGA). SAGA is an organisation that represents actors in the film, television, stage, commercial, and corporate sectors in South Africa. The Guild exists to enhance actors’ working conditions, compensation, and benefits. Also, it aims to be a powerful, unified voice on behalf of artists’ rights.
SAGA is incorporated as a Section 21 Company, and is registered with the Department of Social Development as a non-profit organisation (NPO).
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