Gwen Britz a top recruitment consultant in the media industry, who states that for every one person unemployed, 12 people are directly affected. For example if 150 people lose their jobs from just one local production, 1800 people are directly affected. “It is inhumane,” Britz echoes Lee, “that the public broadcaster is willing to impact so negatively on so many lives and the economy.”
Thabiso Mafane, aspiring young TV writer and researcher, who worked with Lee at Mahala Media. “Like everyone else,” Mafane states, “I'm gatvol of the repeats on SABC, the state the industry is in because of them, and I intend to show them we are really serious that they should pick their socks up.”
Ingi Brough, former drummer of renowned first South African all-girl band Clout, and currently a marketing, media, and advertising consultant, who says, “I was totally disgusted when I saw someone else has put together the No 1 Ladies Detective Agency, outside of Africa. That should be us. If we're not careful, everyone else will be telling our stories, like it was in the past.”
All four of the protestors continue to invite others, industry and audience alike, to join and bring further pressure on the broadcaster to begin to behave themselves like the public servants they actually are.
Lee, who has lost 11kg, adds, “Gandhi held 17 hunger protests during his life, and none were longer than 21 days. I'm on 22 days. So I guess I'm holding out pretty well. But I am beginning to get hungry finally. For the first time since the first couple days, I don't really feel so lekker. But I'm still going.”
Spokespersons for the TVIEC and SASFED state that they do not formally approve of Lee's hunger strike past 21 days for safety reasons. We feel it most unfortunate that Lee has found it necessary to continue in his protest, a clear sign of the desperation of our industry's current situation. The TVIEC and SASFED will continue to offer any support it can to Lee and others joining this protest, but will continue to insist he and any others have sufficient medical supervision.
“All we are asking is that SABC work together with us - the creative industry - their providers - and the public, their audience - to get out of this crisis in a way that works for everyone and does not destroy what all of us, including the SABC, have worked so hard to build. To keep South African television growing, alive, and vibrant. Yet still, they refuse to engage in any real partnership,” concludes Lee.
