Former 'Getroud Met Rugby' star opens up about working at car dealership
South African actor Marlon Roelfze recently opened up about taking up the modest job of a salesperson.
Celebrities' lives might seem all glitz and glam, but in a South African context, all is not what it seems.
Many local celebrities have opened up about facing adversity due to a lack of jobs and income in the South African industry.
Sure, many are and will remain successful, but with the tumultuous nature of the South African entertainment industry, many are not as lucky.
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In 2023 alone, several TV shows like 'Nikiwe', '7de Laan', and 'The River' were canned, leaving many unemployed.
In a recent interview with The Citizen, former 'Egoli' and 'Getroud Met Rugby' star Marlon Roelfze opened up about his experience after acting jobs ran dry.
"In a nutshell, I lost everything… The only thing I have is two bicycles," Roelfze reportedly told The Citizen.
To ensure he has an income, the 50-year-old actor has taken up a job as a salesperson after he was hired by a car dealership in Pretoria.
"A friend of mine who works opposite the road from the dealership called and asked if I’m still looking for work and told me about this opportunity… and then a guy from the company called me for an interview," said Roelfze.
According to The Citizen, job opportunities were already scarce before the COVID-19 pandemic, but have worsened since then.
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Roelofze reportedly even found it hard to get to auditions.
"Everything is in Joburg; coming from Pretoria, I’d probably have to spend about R500 on petrol. You can’t tell the casting director that you don’t have money," said Roelfze.
"It was really tough… I'm a 50-year-old, without pension, I wanted to commit suicide but it was going to be selfish of me," said the father of a 12-year-old daughter.
"She [my daughter] is my everything. I don't get to see her that often, but we talk."
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Image: Getroud Met Rugby