Season 1
1802: Love Defies Time is a South African romantic fantasy telenovela Xhosa love story that follows two star-crossed lovers as they travel through time in search of their destiny.
What if you were about to be married to the man of your dreams, only to discover that there was someone else in another realm who was your true love?
When Khosi (played by Sikelelwa Vuyeleni) accepts Zuko's proposal of marriage and starts her career as an intern doctor, she believes that her life is just beginning.
She doesn't realise that her fate has already been decided, creating an impossible situation for these two lovers.
A world filled with casual relationships, parties, shopping, high-end cars, social media addiction and the neverending pursuit of money is the world Khosi is familiar with.
When Khosi gets pulled back in time to the 1800s, she finds a world unlike anything we have ever seen before.
This world is run by the Jola Royal Family, led by King Jonginamba KaMajola, Melisizwe's father.
Here, the King has three wives who live separately in their homesteads.
First wife MamCwerha is a strong, ferocious woman who will do anything to protect her son Longamo, whom she considers the rightful heir.
Second wife MamThembu is King Jonginamba's favourite, along with their son Melisizwe.
MaMpinga is the youngest wife and doesn't like to get pulled into family dramas. Her household is filled with daughters and is renowned for its dancing and singing.
Can Khosi and Melisizwe's love endure through space and time?
The series stars Sikelelwa Vuyeleni, Prince Grootboom, Lusanda Mbane, Motheo Ratikane, Amanda Quwe, Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo, Sisekho Velelo, Vuyo Ngcukana and Lunathi Mampofu.
1802: Love Defies Time was created by Amanda Lane, based on a concept by Bacoliwe Mthupha and Siyethemba Nkomonde.
The series is produced and co-created by Lulu Hela from Hela Media and the series producer is Kamogelo Aphane.
The head writer is Caroline D'oherty, with a writing team including Bonie Sithebe, Lynn Kekana-Ngxale and Thulani Cekiso.
The directors include Zeno Petersen, Wandile Magadla, Tebogo Mkhabela and Thandokazi Msunza.
The music composer is Modia Shole and the title track is by EMS.
Broadcast Notes
Season 1 originally aired on 1Magic from Mondays to Wednesdays at 20h30. It changed to Mondays to Saturdays at 20h30 from Season 1, Episode 112, which aired on Thursday 11 January, 2024.
This changed again to double bills (20h30 - 21h30) on Mondays to Saturdays from Monday 15 January, 2024.
This changed back to Monday-Wednesday the following week.
Although 156 episodes were ordered, only 145 aired.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Sikelelwa Vuyeleni ... Khosi
Prince Grootboom ... Melisizwe
Lusanda Mbane ... Nkosazana
Motheo Ratikane ... Longamo
Amanda Quwe ... MamCwerha
Thembisa Mdoda ... MamThembu (as Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo)
Sisekho Velelo ... MaMpinga
Vuyo Ngcukana ... Zuko (as Vuyolwethu Ngcukana)
Lunathi Mampofu ... Athi
Recurring / Guests
Khayakazi Kula ... Nomakhala
Lungi Pinda ... Kumkani Jonginamba
Banele Plaatjies ... Mthwakazi
Vuyo Novokoza ... Nodumo
Unathi Platyi ... Royal Messenger
Bulelani Mnduzulwana ... Kumkani Jonginamba's Guard
Aramis Ngwenya ... Kumkani Jonginamba's Guard
Siyabonga Mdubeki ... Thembu Guard / Mzwandile
Othembele Nomgca ... Thembu Guard
Luxolo Ndabeni ... Siyazi - 'The Oracle'
Vuyokazi Xelo ... MamCwerha's Igqirha / MamCwerha's Sangoma
Sipho Khohlakala ... Rhadebe Clan Leader
Noni Mbete ... Nomabali / Vuyiseka
Mpokiseng Mlongoana ... Present Day River Dancer
Sandiswa Ndwe ... Crying Woman
Ziyanda Yako ... Lizeka
Kanyi Nokwe ... Nomasomi
Zwai Mgijima ... Royal Inyanga - Khawuta
Siyakha Tshayela ... Thembu Maid / Nozizwe
Zenande Mfenyana ... Nompumelelo
Nomsa Sonqishe ... Xhanti Mother / MaXhanti
Sive Matiwana ... Policeman 1
Wandisiwe Nondlazi-Nkosi... Policeman 2
Siphelo Yanta ... Search Party Leader
Zukhanye Geza ... Young Lukhanyo
Mpumie Khuzwayo ... Young Nkosazana
Thembi Mahobe ... MaMlambo
Zintle Dingilizwe ... Guest Star
Abulele Peterson ... Seer / Policeman 1
Thembekile ... Detective Mafani
Anele Rusi ... Royal Praise Singer Mthonyama
Lwaniso Luphoko ... Young Cook
Pakamisa Zwedala ... King Tshawe
Gabriel Mini ... Xesibe
Macebo Twalo ... MamCwerha Guard 1 / Ncungula
Sikolethu Mdelwa ... Flirty Young Man
Sokuphila Mkosana ... Nompendulo and Nosipho
Ayanda Daweti ... Zanemvula
Alphina Sello ... Hospital HOD
Lukhanyo Kheti ... The Royal Taster
Luzuko Nkqeto ... King Debeza
Samora Mangesi ... Journalist
Gabriel Mpepele ... Medical Board Member 1
Tshidi Malope ... Medical Board Member 2
Lebogang Mokgethi ... Hospital Secretary
Lerato Phiri ... Hospital PA
Sakhumzi Siwundla ... Dignified Elder
Freedman Gwija ... Elder 1
Nosiphiwo Ndzuta ... Mamkhuma
Mziwakhe Mangumta ... Detective Goqwana
Zuzeka Ntombela ... Chumile
Litha Galada ... MamCwerha Guard
Thuli Zulu ... Thandokazi
Liopelo Maphathe ... Nomathamsanqa / Dikeledi
Thamsanqa Mbeleki ... MaMpinga Guard 1
Wiseman Mangali ... Nyosi
Mthembisi Magavu ... Man 1
Mlamli Nketyana ... Thembu Guard (as Mlami Nketyana)
Siphumuzo Sidzumo ... Tribal Elder 1
Thami Mbongo ... MamCwerha's Brother
Khojane Morai ... Nduku
Sivuyile Mafani ... King Thembu
Tebogo Molefe ... Lesego
Samukelisiwe Chiliza ... Dr. Ayanda Gumede
Tshepiso Khuduge ... Nurse 1
Abulele Peterson ... Seer
Mphokiseng Molongoana ... Present River Dancer
Yonela Mba ... Young Man
Phumzile Davids ... Royal Messenger
Simon Lebaka ... Tshawe Royal Messenger
Ntsokolo Ganda ... King Debeza's Delegate
Sive Matiwane ... Policeman 1
Kwandisiwe Nondlazi-Nkosi.. Policeman 2
Simamkele Vusani ... Wounded Woman / Villager 1
Mzilawethu Zachariah Motsepe Cannibal King
Ndaba Alfred Mtshebelele... Old Warrior
Athi Ntshwanti ... Cannibal Mother
Avela Nyashe ... Cannibal Woman 1
Ongama Jobi ... Cannibal Woman 2
Boitumelo Mapea ... Makeup Artist
TK Mbatha ... Fashion Designer
Onezwa Nguqe ... Young Woman 1
Mfundo Tongo ... Zuko's Uncle 1
Khanya Sosibo ... Gynaecologist
Mnakwazo Jaza ... Villager 1
Lethabo Bereng ... Joey - Wedding Planner (as Lethabo Beren)
Thandile Dipa ... Tribal Elder 1
Siphokazi Mafola ... Mother of Sick Child / Village Woman 2
Onele Bomvu ... Sick Child
Candice Mbuku ... Daisy-Picking Girl
Robert Mpisi ... Mdizeni
Noluvo Ntsunguzi ... MaMlambo
Mfundo Tongo ... Zuko's Uncle
Tolo Sanqele ... Bishop
Siphokazi Mafola ... Mother with Sick Child
Mnakwazo Jazo ... Villager 1
Saint Seseli ... Lerumo Motaung
Zizi Peteni ... Athi's Uncle
Mfundo Thongo ... Zuko's Uncle
Tina Jaxa ... Nomawonga
Sipho Mnisi ... Detective Sithole
Mduduzi Nyanga ... Mandla
Sizwe Msutu ... Dungudela
Lisa Mbali Nojoko ... Pianist
Trevor Sithole ... Officiator
Aviwe Fanti ... Dinga
Noncedo Bomvu ... Wise Villager Woman (as Noncedo Sweetness Bomvu)
Nesiza Mncanca ... Hospital Cleaner
Khulekani Manqele ... Security Guard
Lukhanyo Foxi ... Dumezweni
Yuhl Headman ... Policeman
Mpumelelo Mgaga ... Sick Boy
Nonkoliso Rapodile ... Grieving Woman
Siphelele Mendela ... King Debeza
Denzel Ncube ... Longamo's Guard
Sakumzi Mbatha ... Radebe Messenger
Omphile Mothapho ... Baby Nkosiyesizwe
Linda Mahafa ... Grave Digger
Njabulo Mafoka ... Longamo's Son Jongikhaya
Thobile Tonga ... Nursing Woman
Mandisi Sindo ... Longamo's Warrior
Thembekile Komani ... Detective Mafani
Zindzi Biata ... Nkosi's Nanny