Season 10
It is love at first sight when Dimpho Miya and Menzi Maponya first lay eyes on each other at a rap battle where Dimpho's brother, Mandla, and Lindiwe, Menzi's sister are both performing.
The next day, on her 18th birthday, Dimpho convinces Mandla to take her to the Corner Tavern where Menzi works part-time for his father, Philani Maponya, the tavern owner.
That night the tavern is packed with people, including Matric students Lucky Gumede and Kagiso Vomo and their friend, rapper Sixteen, all drinking heavily.
Although Mandla has not been drinking, he is drawn into an argument with Sixteen over a scratched CD. Tempers flare, a fight breaks out, a knife is drawn and Mandla is stabbed. Mandla hits his head and slips into a deep coma.
Lucky is the only witness but, out of loyalty and fear, he will not reveal it was tough-guy Kagiso who did the stabbing.
As the Miya family tries to come to terms with what has happened, Tifo, Mandla's father, vents his anger towards Philani for not ensuring the safety of his customers. A bitter feud develops between the two men and Dimpho and Menzi are forbidden to see each other.
But love will always find a way and the two continue to meet in secret.
Tifo's misguided and irrational attempts to turn the community against drinking places results in the Corner Tavern being set alight, which only increases the animosity between him and Philani.
Even when Philani's 17 year old daughter, Lindiwe, is knocked down by a drunk teacher from Soul City High, he continues to insist that, as a tavern owner, he is not responsible for the drinking habits or the safety of his customers.
This is not a view shared by his wife, Thandeka, who teaches at the high school.
Thandeka is concerned about one of her grade 8 students, Thoko Gumede, who has visible bruises but insists everything is fine at home. But this is not the case.
Whilst her mother, Nomsa, works hard to support the family, Thoko's father Jo-Jo spends the little money they have on alcohol and gets drunk and abusive.
Thoko does her best to protect her little sister, Thembi, from their father and his cronies. Her brother, Lucky, also spends much of his time drinking and trying to impress his friends.
Mandla remains in hospital in a coma whilst Kagiso, although suspected of the crime, is free because there are no witnesses to the actual stabbing.
This infuriates Mandla's younger sister, Nontsi, who plots her revenge against Kagiso.
After the disastrous effect of his earlier actions, and determined to now do things right, Tifo contacts the local Community Police Forum and a meeting is called to launch the Safe Drinking Campaign.
Can the community come together to tackle the problems of unsafe drinking? Can Tifo and Philani ever see eye-to-eye? Can Nomsa finally stand up to Jo-Jo's abuse?
Will Menzi and Dimpho find a way to love each other openly? Will Lucky find the courage to testify against his friend?
And will Mandla ever emerge from his coma to reclaim his life?
These are the questions and unfolding drama in Soul City 10.
About Season 10
This season features accomplished actors such as Vusi Kunene as Tifo and Fana Mokoena as Phil. Jafta Mamabolo plays the role of bad boy Kagiso and Harriet Manamela is Thandeka.
There is also new talent in this season in the form of Nolwazi Shange and Neo Ntlatleng, who play star-crossed young lovers Dimpho and Menzi.
This season we will be introduced to the Miyas, the Maponyas and the Gumedes: three families whose lives are touched by tragedy as a result of alcohol abuse and violence.
A young couple, Dimpho and Menzi, are forced to fight for their love as the far reaching effects of unsafe drinking threaten to rip apart friends and families.
The story introduces us to a number of characters and the anguish that can be caused by alcohol and the violence which often results.
Soul City is produced by the Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication and the 10th season is part of the Phuza Wize campaign.
Season 10 Episodes
Episode 1
Menzi and Dimpho are strongly attracted to each other at a rap battle where Menzi's sister, Lindiwe, competes against Dimpho's brother, Mandla.
Dimpho convinces Mandla to take her to the Corner Tavern where Menzi works part-time for his father Phil, the owner.
At the tavern, rapper Sixteen accuses Mandla of scratching a CD he lent him. Mandla's friend Zakes becomes embroiled in the argument. Sixteen and his friends are drunk and tempers flare.
Kagiso stabs Mandla who falls, hitting his head hard. Philani rushes Mandla to hospital but it's uncertain whether or not he will survive.
Episode 2
Mandla is in a deep coma and his chances of a full recovery are slim. His parents, Tifo and Lihle, are devastated. Dimpho blames herself whilst Tifo vents his anger on Phil for not ensuring the safety of his customers.
Phil is outraged by Tifo's accusations. The police investigate the crime but Kagiso has intimidated the sole witness, his classmate Lucky.
Menzi wants to see Dimpho again and goes to her house. She sneaks out into the yard but they are discovered by Tifo who banishes Menzi and forbids Dimpho from ever seeing him again.
Episode 3
Superintendent Dube and Detective Pietersen arrive at the Corner Tavern to question Menzi about the stabbing. As they're leaving, Dube hears a woman crying.
They discover that Beauty, a regular at the tavern, has been accosted in the toilets by a semi-stranger.
After visiting Mandla in hospital, Menzi decides to do his own investigating and tricks Lucky into revealing that Kagiso stabbed Mandla. Lucky's father Jo-Jo threatens his wife Nomsa, demanding money for alcohol.
The police arrest Kagiso at school. Mandla continues to sleep peacefully whilst his family suffer great anguish.
Episode 4
Zakes is often at Mandla's bedside, playing him music in the hope it will bring him out of his coma.
Menzi and Dimpho meet secretly after school and their love blossoms.
Detective Pietersen's search for witnesses to the stabbing leads him to Beauty but, unfortunately, her excessive drinking makes her an unreliable witness.
Kagiso is released on bail and accuses Lucky of splitting on him.
While Lihle sinks into a depression over Mandla's condition, Tifo organises a community meeting to discuss issues around alcohol abuse. Sol is horrified when Tifo uses this as a platform to rant publicly against Phil.
Episode 5
Someone torches the Corner Tavern and Phil immediately suspects Tifo.
When Thoko arrives at school with a black eye Thandeka becomes concerned about her home life. Zakes and Menzi are at loggerheads with Kagiso and his friends over what happened to Mandla.
On a night out at Nellies Tavern, teachers Milton and Thabo drink heavily and Milton recklessly seduces Noluthando in the toilet.
Whilst Sello discusses conflict resolution with the Matric boys, Tifo and Phil argue loudly at the school gates, their resentment boiling over.
Menzi arrives on the scene. Both men are in agreement about one thing – Dimpho and Menzi must never see each other again.
Episode 6
Tifo confiscates Dimpho's cell phone as punishment. She asks Zakes to tell Menzi to meet her at the hospital. Menzi accuses his father of putting profit before safety.
Nomsa refuses to give Jo-Jo money for drink and later he returns to the house and threatens Thoko, hurting her. Thandeka spots the injury and suspects Lucky.
Menzi overhears Dimpho rehearsing the words she will say to end her relationship with him.
Lindiwe steals liquor from home for a party at a friend's house. Thabo has been drinking heavily at Nellies and, while driving home, knocks over Lindiwe in the street.
Episode 7
Luckily, Lindiwe has only sustained a broken leg and a nasty cut. Phil is furious with Thabo for driving drunk but he's equally shocked to learn Lindiwe was also drunk.
Menzi has innovative ideas for improving the Corner Tavern but Phil is not interested. Lucky visits Lindiwe in hospital – could this be the beginnings of a romance and a turn around for Lucky?
A man comes forward to claim responsibility for the fire at the Corner, saying he was inspired by Tifo's words. At school tension mounts between Thandeka and Thabo over Lindiwe's accident.
Yoli, the new teacher, makes a big impression on Milton.