Actors from two Afrikaans soapies -
Binnelanders and
7de Laan - joined forces yesterday (Freedom Day, 1 May) in a march to the Union Buildings in Pretoria to protest South Africa's appalling crime rate.
Joining the soapie stars were stage actors, singers and other artists, all under the banner of the newly-formed Artists Against Crime initiative.
They in turn were joined by OPAC (Ordinary People Against Crime), for the march from the Pretoria Art Museum to the Union Buildings.
Rather than handing over a memorandum (according to organisers of the march, petitions "make no difference") the artists gathered on the lawns of the Union Buildings, where speeches were made by the likes of
Pierre van Pletzen (Oubaas van Zyl in 7de Laan),
Sandi Schultz (Jennifer Adams in Binnelanders) and folk singer
Steve Hofmeyr, who joins the cast of 7de Laan this week.
Schultz carried a placard saying "Shot and raped - I am one of too many! Enough!"
Another speech-maker was Artists Against Crime co-founder
Vinette Ebrahim, who plays Charmaine Beukes on 7de Laan. The sister of
Vincent Ebrahim, star of the British comedy talk show
The Kumars At No. 42, helped start the movement in January after a colleague,
Francois Lensley, was atacked in his home.
He escaped with his life, which was not the case of Randall de Jager, who died in a similar incident in December 2002.
"Today's about saying to the government that we are aware, that you are aware, that we are aware," said Ebrahim in her speech.
She later said she was satisfied that the march had achieved its objective and sent a clear message to the government.