The actress says she has been blacklisted and sanctioned for speaking up about unfair pay and working conditions. Almost two years after getting sacked from their hit telenovela, The Queen, actress and musician Mara Louw still has a lot to say to television power couple Connie and Shona Ferguson.
She got it all off her chest on Tuesday morning during a dialogue with other media industry stakeholders and government representatives on Power FM as part of the stations #PowerDialogue event focusing on the state of the media industry.
Hosted by the station’s Aldrin Sampear, the #PowerDialogue panel featured the likes of actress Nambitha Mpumplwana; sports, arts, culture and recreation MEC Mbali Hlope; musician Tebogo Sithathu; and co-founder and MD of Seriti films Leanne Kumalo all alongside Louw.
It’s almost time for the #POWERDialogue powered by @GautengProvince, having a conversation on the state of the creative industry on #POWERTalk.
Listen live https://t.co/Az25AYS7M8. pic.twitter.com/rjtwE3r8hK— POWER 98.7 (@Powerfm987) October 15, 2019
Actors such as Vatiswa Ndara, Lillian Dube, Jack Devnarain, Aaron Moloisi, Jerry Mofokeng, Dineo Nchabeleng, entertainment commentator Phil Mphela, and TV and film producer Lala Tuku were in attendance.
The discussion was sparked by the recent open letter written by Ndara addressed to Arts, Culture, Sports and Recreation Minister Nathi Mthethwa regarding the status quo of the South African entertainment industry and how this impacts performers negatively.
After hearing the viewpoint of callers and various attendees, the panel got to share their perspectives starting with Louw, who said that one of the many problems plaguing society and the entertainment industry at large is the deployment of politicians as ministers.
Later on in the discussion, Louw revealed that she had been blacklisted and sanctioned for speaking up about unfair pay and working conditions.
Among the many sanctions she has suffered was the time she had her year-long contract cut down to six months on an unidentified production due to a pay dispute.
“In 2003, I was earning R65k a month. Now I have to be told by Shona (Ferguson), who is a child, that I am too expensive. If you wanna pay peanuts, go find a monkey,” Louw later added.
We are live #POWERDialogue#GrowingGautengTogether https://t.co/hHX2bcrBa6
— POWER 98.7 (@Powerfm987) October 15, 2019
In other news – Maps Maponyane is the new Ambassador of timepiece
This year seems to be going very well for Maps Maponyane as he just secured another bag! Whilst the country is still celebrating his Buns Out restaurant, and everyone wishing to have a taste of the highly hyped burgers, he is announcing more partnerships.
The man with many talents took to social media to announce his partnership with IWC Swizz Watches – a major international timepiece company. I am incredibly honoured to be partnering with IWC Schaffhausen, a brand that has been my all-time favourite, and part of a company that I sincerely respect for their values and creative timepieces,” he said. Read more
Source: Timeslive
