Duma Mnqobi slams SABC and 'Generations: The Legacy' for unauthorised rebroadcast of his image

Actor and musician Duma Mnqobi has taken to social media to voice his frustration with the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) and the production team behind the popular soapie "Generations: The Legacy".

He considers the rebroadcasting of his picture without his permission to be a form of exploitation.

Mnqobi, who joined the cast of "Generations: The Legacy" in 2016 as Fana Mabaso, son of Jack Mabaso (Vusi Kunene), had not been part of the show for over seven years. However, he recently discovered that his scenes were being aired again. 

In the video posted on Instagram and TikTok, he said: "I haven't been on 'Generations' for over seven years, and then I heard that they are showing my picture again.

"They didn't speak to me, they don't pay me to show my picture, so I just want everybody to know that it is part of the exploitation in this country. It is such a huge show, but they keep rebroadcasting my picture."

Mnqobi highlighted the importance of proper communication in the industry, sharing: "What do they want? ... If they want something, they must talk to me and stop being cowards and showing pictures without even talking to me about it."

He continued: "You can't rebroadcast somebody after seven years. We had this talk two years ago with my agent as well, and they rebroadcast my picture without my permission, and I'm sure they're going to say it's in the contract, but there are a lot of things in the contract that they broke. 

"You know, there's a simple thing in that contract that artists are supposed to get transported; they couldn't even do that on the show. They had a driver, though, that simple thing. I am not understanding why they are rebroadcasting my picture.

Mnqobi suggested that if the show needed to use someone’s picture, they could use a younger version of Kunene instead: "They should take Vusi Kunene's younger picture and use that, cos he looks kinda like me, they can even manipulate that, but why bring me into this? If you want me in the show, call me."

He believes that rebroadcasting his picture without payment is disrespectful to his talent and hard work: "It's tacky to just keep rebroadcasting someone. It means I was brilliant or good at whatever I was doing there, but they are not paying me. Please, people, don't ask me about 'Generations', unless they call me ."

"Independent Media Lifestyle" has contacted the SABC and the production team of "Generations: The Legacy" for comments; however, no response was received by the time of publication.