Mzansi Magic’s Isibaya swept the boards at the weekend’s Royalty Soapie Awards, held in Durban on Saturday night, taking Outstanding Soapie and six other accolades including outstanding set design, writing team, wardrobe, directing team, editing team and lighting.
Ironically, kykNET’s Villa Rosa, which was recently cancelled and will be off air after its final, 11th series, was the other big winner, taking three awards including Most Popular Soapie of the Year, voted for by the public. It also won Outstanding Female Villain (Therese Benadé as Astrid Wentzel) and Outstanding Male Villain (André Lotter as Liam le Roux).
Surprise of the year was the fact that SABC2’s long-running 7de Laan, with 14 nominations, failed to win a single award. But its creator, Danie Odendaal, was honoured with a Lifetime Achievement Award. The other Lifetime Achievement Award went to eThekwini living legend, trailblazing beauty queen and Muvhango actress, Cynthia Shange.
It was left to SABC3 soapie Isidingo to fly the flag for the SABC. With South Africa’s biggest ever soapie, Generations, being unceremoniously canned last year, the public broadcaster’s wins were thin on the ground. Generations only cracked the nod in the People’s Choice Award. But Isidingo scored on the acting front with Motlatsi Mafatshe, who plays Sechaba Moloi, being named Outstanding Lead Actor and Izak Davel, who plays Bradley Haines, taking the award for Outstanding Newcomer.
Scandal’s Masasa Mbangeni, who plays Thembeka Shezi, was crowned Outstanding Lead Actress. e.tv’s Scandal also won awards for best supporting actress and actor, for Mapaseka Koetle (Dintle Setuke) and Andile Sithole (Ndumiso Ngcobo) respectively.
The awards – sponsored by the national department of arts and culture, the KwaZulu-Natal department of arts and culture Mzanzi Magic and Ukhozi FM – took place in Durban’s International Convention Centre. They honour South Africa’s soapie industry that provides works for hundreds of actors, technical staff, writers and producers.
This year, the public were able to vote after the judging panel had selected the finalists.
