Uzalo actor Siyabonga Shibe says he doesn’t get paid what he deserves, he is not paid enough money.
Speaking to TshisaLive, the actor said artists are not paid enough in the crafts: “I remember I was on the taxi once and someone grabbed my hat off my head and said, ‘I know you! You are on TV, why are you riding in a taxi?’ I asked her what she did for a living and she told me she was a teacher. I said to her, ‘then why are you riding a taxi if you are a teacher? People don’t really understand that this is a career like everyone else’s. It is hard with that pressure.”
The former Gaz’lam actor says the industry doesn’t recognise their hard work. He feels like he’s working hard to deliver the best.
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“I am not paid what I deserve. I am not paid enough. It is because channel needs to pay more to the production houses and then the production house needs to pay actors more. If that happens, actors need to deliver and I feel like I have delivered. The problem is the industry at large. We are the gateway to Africa and we need to recognise that.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/BijTgJzBHol/?taken-by=siyabonga_shibe
He further told the publication that he feels like the art has died a bit, it has become all about the flash and social media. You can be popular but it is more difficult to be talented.
“The sad part is everyone looks at how many followers you have and not at your talent. When did that become the currency of talent? I only recently got on to social media because as much as I didn’t want to, it’s become the norm.” – Siyabonga Shibe told TshisaLive.
Image Courtesy: instagram.com/siyabonga_shibe