By Adrian Galley
It was inevitable. The lack of regulation in the entertainment industry has yielded toxic fruit: once unethical and exploitative practices have descended into blatant criminality. Who could have predicted that Human Trafficking would be taking place in the local film and television industry and right under the noses of the various government agencies responsible for protecting the most vulnerable among us? While the term conjures up images of child soldiers and sex slaves, Human Trafficking also includes a range of labour abuses.
SAGA was recently called upon to intervene after complaints were received that hundreds of hopeful background extras had been lured to Johannesburg, from as far afield as Mpumalanga, Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal, with a promise of a chance to feature in a major television series, uShaka Ilembe. Having been bussed in at their own expense, the victims had been accommodated at a rental of R50 per day, many in a makeshift tent camp with little access to food and scant ablution facilities. What’s more, it emerged that some were “…threatened with their lives if they speak out about their experiences”.
One elderly woman – who was terrified of the consequences of speaking to SAGA – revealed that she had been recruited in Durban by a ‘casting agent’ who promised her work as an extra. After paying for transport which had been arranged to Johannesburg, the woman found herself stranded with no support from the agent: liable for rent and responsible for finding her own food. After nearly a month of living in undignified and unsanitary conditions, the woman confided that she had yet to see more than a single day on set. It’s no wonder that South Africa is being characterised as the “sweatshop of the global film industry”.
An article in the Vanderbilt Law Review explains that sweatshop conditions emerge where there is inadequate labour protection and a lack of health and safety regulation. “Sweatshops are also sometimes implicated in human trafficking when workers have been tricked into starting work without informed consent, or when workers are kept at work through debt bondage or mental duress”. Yep, that pretty much sums it up.
SAGA has partnered with A21, a global network against human trafficking, to help spread awareness of modern slavery, and to tackle it in our midst. Our investigations have uncovered the names of three agencies engaged in recruiting extras in this manner. However, both the production company and the commissioning broadcaster have moved swiftly to distance themselves from the scandal. Denying any knowledge of the practices being uncovered, they have released statements condemning the “scurrilous behaviour … tarnishing [their] reputation” and “[these contraventions] are not sanctioned by [the broadcaster] or any official partners associated with the series”.
Nevertheless, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation – better known as ‘The Hawks’ – is looking into a case of Human Trafficking, and SAGA is cooperating with the authorities, while the South African Screen Federation SASFED has called for a full inquiry.
SAGA remains committed to the fight for safe and dignified working conditions in the film, television and theatre environment. In pursuit of this mission, the Guild is launching a platform – designed to ensure anonymity – for the confidential voicing of any concerns about potential legal or ethical issues and abuses experienced in the entertainment industry. SAGA has been designing protocols for following up complaints and for involving the relevant authorities wherever necessary.
Break the silence: if something’s up, speak up.