Press Release
SABC1 introduces brand new dramas in October
SABC1 Mzansi Fo Sho is adding some homegrown spices to the unfolding summer season by introducing a hot line up of brand new drama series in October 2014 including
Kowethu &
Mutual Friends to ensure our audiences remain glued to their screens.
When We Were Black returns to your screen with a brand new season, reflecting back on the era that was the 80’s, as the country continues to celebrate 20 years of freedom in 2014.
On the lighter side of things, the 3
rd season of
My Perfect Family comes back with a slight twist to the cast list, veteran actress, Charmaine Mtinta, takes over the role of Portia Nkosi, previously played by Baby Cele.
What a perfect way to bring to an end the festivities around the 20 years of freedom celebrations than with a documentary titled,
20 Years and Free, that aims to gauge how healthy our democracy is from the perspective of the born free generation!
Synposis of the shows:
KOWETHU (Starts: Mon 13 Oct @ 20h30)
A rooted and hard-hitting family drama series, with a whimsical and romantic heart. One night, due to a tyre burst, a bakkie crashes into a roadside hair salon. Avoiding consequences, the driver does not stop. He drives off and leaves his passengers in the dust.
The police arrive and the people run off and melt into the night, not wanting to face the cops. For varying reasons, these characters decide to stay in Kowethu for the time being and make lives for themselves. Choosing to stay comes with its own challenges and perils and leaves these strangers and Kowethu, forever changed.
Cast includes: Atandwa Kani (Sibu Mahlangu); Thando Thabethe (Sazi); Vuyo Dabula (Mothusi); Yule Masiteng (Petrus); Charmaine Mtinta (Nomabhongo); Lali Dangazele (Thandeka); Wandile Molebatsi (Sakhumzi); Amanda du Pont (Candice); Warren Masemola (Momo); Thato Molamo (Musa); and Vatiswa Ndara (Nothende).
20 YEARS AND FREE (Mon 13 Oct @ 22h00)
20 Years and Free is a 4-part documentary series that aims to engage with young people of the born free generation with regards to their views on history, education, politics and the future. The episodes cover the history of South Africa, Apartheid and the introduction to democracy; issues of education through academics, teachers, principals, vice chancellors, educational institutions and the born free generation;
The show deals with politics in a holistic manner by engaging classrooms of eighteen-year-olds from across the country in a dialogue about the role and relevance of politics in society. It also unpacks prying issues of sexual health, teenage pregnancy, crime, identity and unemployment as affecting modern-day 20-year-olds.
AYASHISA AMATEKI (Tues 14 Oct @18h00)
The Sneaker Culture is worth millions of dollars in South Africa. This urban, edgy and captivating magazine show will seek to edutain (educates and entertains) viewers by presenting an aspirational visual compilation (of events) in the entire value chain of the sneaker culture.
The show travels from the townships and suburbs of Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban and Pretoria getting in touch with people on the sneaker culture’s value chain including life style sneaker collectors, ama pantsula, skaters, major distributors (such as Shesha, Cross Trainer and Sportscene) and independent boutiques (such as Dope store, Shelf Life, Creative Shop SA, Munk Concept Store), brand executives from Nike, Adidas, Superga, Puma, Converse, Reebok designers, customizers and the department of Arts and Culture. The documentary is the first of its kind in Africa and presents a country in conversation with itself about a topic never explored before.
MUTUAL FRIENDS (Wed 15 Oct @20h30)
This youth drama series follows the life of Badanile, a 19 year old first year 'varsity student with a strong rural background, who discovers that her bursary has been taken away from her due to a technical glitch caused by her poverty.
With no other options left, Badanile gets help from the socially awkward trust fund baby Jabu Dlamini, also 19, to meet his father and her hero, renowned neurosurgeon Zweli Dlamini. Badanile impresses Doctor Zweli enough that he gives her a last minute bursary from his student trust fund. However, 'varsity life in the big city proves to be a bigger challenge than she thought.
Cast: Phila Madlingozi (Thabiso); Jafta Mamabolo (Jabu); Luthuli Dlamini (Dr Zweli); Carol Behane (Dr Lindiwe); Neo Ntlatleng (Sizo); Vinolia Mashego (Patty); Hamilton Dlamini (Pat); Zimkitha Nyoka (Badanile); Vuyisile Pande (Veli); and Jabu Tshabalala (Nobayile).
WHEN WE WERE BLACK S2 (Thurs 16 Oct @20h30)
When We Were Black Season 2 is a 6-part mini-series set to the background of the ‘80s in South Africa. A love story between two teenagers of whom one is from the wrong side of the tracks.
What if a young girl who dreams of being a pop star falls in love with her mentor who wakes her up to the possibilities of music as an act of political defiance?
1986. The country is on fire. The townships are occupied military zones. Young people are resisting, waging war against the apartheid system. Mandisa, a 17-year-old girl in standard 9 is passionate about music. Mandisa’s mother, a factory worker buys a black and white TV for the family.
One night Mandisa watches Brenda Fassie perform her hit song ‘Weekend Special’. Mandisa is entranced. She is convinced. She wants to be a pop star.
Cast includes: Zandile Madiwa as Mandisa Mxenge; Andrea Dondolo as Rebecca Mxenge; Keenan Arrison as Shaheed Adams; Mbulelo Grootboom as Zwelakhe Radebe; Mothusi Magano as Comrade Johhny Walker; Thembi Mtshali Jones as Nobethu; Lemo Tsipa as Jomo Gotjane; Kim Syster as Rachel and, Awethu Hleli as Portia.
MY PERFECT FAMILY S3 (Wed 22 Oct @ 19h30)
My Perfect Family is a local comedy series about a teen star’s realization that stardom does not make growing pains any easier … as if the growing pains of ordinary teenage-hood weren’t enough, socially-awkward, teen soap star, Luyanda Nkosi, takes on the role of trying to keep his already broken, dysfunctional family together.
It’s not so much that he needs to try his hand at fathering his own parents because even though he acts more mature than most guys his age, truth be told, young Lu still needs guidance of his own. But Luyanda Nkosi’s maturity level has him believing that he holds the answers to his parents’ constant bickering. See, his dream is to unite his parents once again, so that things can be as they once were ...
Cast includes: Luyanda Nkosi played by Sizo Motsoko; Mandla Nkosi played by John Lata; Portia Nkosi played by Charmaine Mtinta; Thando Nkosi played by Thando Thabethe; Koko K played by Lillian Dube; Jo-Man played by Bonginkosi Twala and, Lovers played by Neho Moloko.