TVIEC message "TO ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED WITH TODAYS DEMONSTRATION"

TO ALL OF THOSE INVOLVED WITH TODAYS DEMONSTRATION.

I would like to thank all of you who made the demonstration today such a huge success. I look forward to the steering committee meeting on Monday to determine how to move forward. I urge all of us to keep the unity tight – no matter what anyone says – we are united and stronger as such. WE MUST TRUST EACH OTHER, even when there is doubt.

I want to say personally for me this demonstration and ongoing effort is as much about our industry fighting for fair trade and sustainable jobs and companies as it is about paying deep respect to the millions of South Africans who watch SABC every day. People like you and me who come home (if they are fortunate enough to have one) after a hard day working (or looking for work, learning, playing) and find comfort by watching the programmes that we all participate in creating. We educate, we inform, we entertain, we inspire, we create dialogue – most importantly we keep our emerging common South African identity and dream alive and fluid. Let us never forget that we have a great privilege and responsibility by the faith viewers place in us.

When we fight for better pay for a writer it is not just about them having a better car or home, it is about them having the time to not grab every writing job that might come up, but use their time to mould scenes and words that really capture a mood, view, reality. Or  when an actor is hired that he/she is not worrying that they will not have work again for months. When a director or producer develop a project that  they can give it the care and consideration it needs to make it the very best it can be. That crew do not have to work 16 hour days for ever reducing pay. And so on.

I really believe together we can change the future of our industry.

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.

Desiree Markgraaff

TVIEC