South Africa’s soap-opera wars were pushed aside as actors from opposing television soaps 7de Laan and Binnelanders took hands in an anti-crime march to the government’s Union Buildings in Pretoria on Tuesday.
They were joined by actors from various stage plays, artists and singers who marched under the banner of ”Artists against Crime”.
”Today’s about saying to the government that we are aware, that you are aware, that we are aware,” said march organiser Vinette Ebrahim, who plays Charmaine Beukes in 7de Laan. She was addressing the crowd of about 100 artists who were also joined by members of the public who were victims of crime.
After the speeches on the lawns of the Union Buildings, hundreds of red balloons were released by the protesters, symbolising those who had lost their lives to crime.
Earlier, the protesters took their march to the street, marching from the Pretoria Art Museum to the Union Buildings.
”It is a feeling of powerlessness; crime is being committed all over. The government is saying that they are a government for the people — well, the people are speaking and nobody is listening,” said Pierre van Pletzen, who plays Oubaas van Zyl in 7de Laan.
”More must be done, better training, better salaries, more policemen and -women being recruited, more visible policing — just more,” he said.
This sentiment was shared by Sandi Schultz, who plays Jennifer Adams in Binnelanders and carried a sign claiming ”Shot and raped — I am one of too many! Enough!”.
”We are all so fed up with crime and with the fact that is just getting worse,” she said.
She urged communities to fight crime together.
Afrikaans singer Steve Hofmeyr, who joins the cast of 7de Laan soon, said he is tired of hearing from government that crime is down when it is still higher than elsewhere in the world.
”You take my taxes — make my children safe. You take my taxes — make my elderly safe. You take my taxes — make my workers safe,” he said in a rousing speech.
Waldemar Schultz, who plays Jan Hendrik Terreblanche in 7de Laan, said he hoped the march would spur others to action.
”If people at home see that if these people I see on my TV, and hear on my radio and look at on stage and whose music I listen to are prepared to stand up, then maybe I can do something,” he said.
Other actors, including James Alexander and Franci Swanepoel of Binnelanders and Elma Postma and Themsie Times of 7de Laan, were also at the march.
Ebrahim said she was happy that the protest had sent a message. — Sapa