Farewell Muvhango: SABC2 cancels beloved Venda soap after 28 years
Muvhango faced challenges in recent years, including production halts due to unpaid cast and crew.
Launched in 1997 as a one-episode-per-week drama, Muvhango grew into a five-day soap over its run.
After 28 years on air, SABC2 has cancelled the long-running Venda soap opera Muvhango.
'Muvhango has captivated audiences with its rich storytelling, rooted in Tshivenda culture and explores the tension between tradition and modernity,' reads a statement from the channel.
'The soapie was introduced at a pivotal period when South Africa was transforming, and most vernacular dramas at the time were in the majority dialects. Tshivenda was seen as a minority language, and the show was a vehicle to showcase the culture,' continued the statement.
Muvhango creator and executive producer Duma Ndlovu said: 'Muvhango gave an opportunity to an ignored language that has become one of the most celebrated languages in South Africa now. It has been a privilege and an honour to create moments on television where the marginalised languages were at the centre of them all.'
'For almost 30 years, Muvhango has been a pillar of SABC2's programming and a beloved part of South African television history. More than just a drama, Muvhango has been the champion of language, culture, identity and national pride, inspiring, entertaining, educating and uniting audiences across South Africa,' added Lala Tuku, acting group executive for Video Entertainment.
'As the television landscape continues to evolve, SABC 2 looks forward to ushering in a new era of storytelling, one that builds on this incredible legacy by continuing to reflect the rich tapestry of South African life.'
The news of the cancellation comes after the soapie's tumultuous run over the past two years.
The show, produced by Word of Mouth Pictures, was cancelled after it shut production in June last year after completing a shortened 130-episode season.
In July, the SABC announced that the show would be revived for a 26th season with a new logo, an updated opening sequence, new characters, and compelling storylines. With a new one-year full season of 260 episodes. The season went on to premiere in August.
However, in October last year, production stopped again after writers, crew and cast were not paid.
In February, SABC spokesperson Mmoni Ngubane told News24 that the broadcaster had not ordered another season of Muvhango.
'The SABC can confirm that only one season of Muvhango is currently contracted and that the current contract is set to end on 31 July 2025. The SABC cannot comment on the future of the programme at this stage,' she said at the time.
Muvhango was the South African public broadcaster's first Tshivenda language drama. It started in April 1997 with one episode per week and eventually expanded to become a five-day soap.
The final episode will air on Friday, 8 August.
SABC CEO Nomsa Chabeli told TV analyst Thinus Ferreria that a new telenovela would be replacing the soapie.
'For SABC2, we're introducing a new telenovela starting in August, which is going to replace the existing Muvhango.'
'We are certain that, based on the storyline and where we are in the scriptwriting room, this should also be successful from a launch perspective.'
Chabeli hopes the new telenovela will drive the audience back to SABC2.
'We're working hard to ensure that the script is relevant for the audiences and that the storyline will be effectively doing what we need it to do,' she said.
The new show is produced by Bakwena Productions, who made headlines last year for controversies surrounding late payments or non-payment to cast, crew, and other stakeholders, including service providers, for their work on the BET Africa (DStv 129) series Pound 4 Pound.
In April, the company visited News24 'to set the record straight.'
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