‘Muvhango’ axed by SABC 2 less than a year after relaunch

Described as a rebirth of sorts, the new version of the longstanding soapie Muvhango has fallen flat and will be replaced just nine months after its launch.

“It has been a privilege and an honour to create moments on Television where the marginalised languages were at the centre of them all,” said creator and executive producer of the show, Duma Ndlovu in a statement on Wednesday.

Muvhango made its debut in 1997 and remains one of South Africa’s iconic shows.

“Muvhango gave an opportunity to an ignored language that has become one of the most celebrated languages in South Africa now,” said Ndlovu.

The show was South Africa’s first Tshivenda-language soapie and quickly became a cultural cornerstone of local television.

The final broadcast of Muvhango will be on 8 August, just three days after it was relaunched a year ago.

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Muvhango’s failed attempt

Speaking at the relaunch of the soapie in June last year, Ndlovu said he and his team had listened to what the viewers wanted for the new version of the TV show.

“The growth and development of Muvhango have always been us responding to what the viewers were saying,” Ndlovu said at the time.

“What you’re going to be seeing this season is probably the most dramatic change and growth that you’ve ever seen. Our viewers demanded we go fancier, younger, more fashionista, and bolder.

“They wanted us to continue telling stories. They didn’t want us to lose the DNA of the show, but they wanted us to jazz things up. So, we have a new logo, we have a new title sequence, and we think you’re going to love it,” he said.

Contrary to Ndlovu’s prediction, the viewers didn’t gravitate toward the ‘jazzed-up’ Muvhango.

By the end of 2024, the soapie had attracted just more than 900 000 viewers —a massive drop from the millions of onlookers it had attracted in its prime.

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SABC hires Bakwena Productions

The SABC’s CEO, Nomsa Chabeli, confirmed that a replacement for Muvhango is underway.

“Come August, we are launching a new telenovela called Pimville on SABC2, and based on that, we will be really driving that audience share back to SABC2,” said Chabeli, speaking to TV With Thinus.

“We’re working hard to ensure that the script is relevant for the audiences and that the storyline is going to be effectively doing what we need it to do,” Nomsa Chabeli says.

The move to hire Bakwena Productions was questioned by the South African Background Actors Guild (SABAG).

In an open letter in April, SABAG Chairperson Louis Setabole criticised the move.

“In 2024, Bakwena Productions produced Pound 4 Pound but failed to make timely payments. Payments were only processed three months after the project concluded, and even then, some individuals received partial payment,” read the open letter shared on social media.

Bakwena Productions is behind productions such as the film Ingoma – The Song, available on Netflix, and the Losing Lerato films, among others.

“This matter has been publicly addressed, and it is deeply concerning that the SABC would choose to commission work from a company with such a track record of unprofessionalism and financial neglect.”

“Given these circumstances, SABAG demands answers and guarantees from the SABC regarding its collaboration with Bakwena,” noted the open letter.

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