Mzansi, prepare your hearts for the ache that is coming, as one of the longest-running soap operas in the count will not be returning for a 27th season. Word on the street is that it is the end for Muvhango.
With the first episode airing back in 1997, Muvhango has managed to provide mzansi with entertaining storylines for almost 28 consistent years now. Muvhango serves alongside Generations and Scandal! some of the longest-running soap operas that are still active in the country, and became one of the first shows to shine a light on the Venda language and culture.
Many years later, Muvhango has become an important source to learn from as far as the Venda culture is concerned, as we have seen a significant lack of representation in the entertainment industry as a whole. The show is responsible for teaching a significant portion of mzansi’s population the basics of the language and has normalised the cultural practices and rights of passages that were once deemed taboo or unusual.
With the show’s contract set to end this July, it is reported that they have struggled to secure a renewal for the next season for unknown reasons. This comes after production for the show was halted for two weeks in 2024, causing frustration both from the viewers as well as the cast members.
BREAKING NEWS:
Muvhango cancelled … AGAIN!
Despite efforts to save the show by giving it a 2.0 last year and introducing new actors with Leleti Khumalo roped in to bring star power, I’m reliably informed that the show will not be renewed beyond the current season.
More… pic.twitter.com/bjL2LBDv4y
— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) February 18, 2025
“The SABC can confirm that only one season of Muvhango is currently contracted and that the contract is set to end on July 31. The SABC cannot comment on the future of the programme at this stage,” SABC’s head of communications Mmoni Ngubane tells TimesLive.
It appears that the addition of notable names such as Leleti Khumalo to the cast seems to not have achieved its intended goal, as the Thathe-based show is set to wrap up for good soon. This has left viewers wondering whether this has to do with the show’s creator Duma kaNdlovu’s legal issues that he is and has faced in the past. Is it possible that this has caused tension with SABC, resulting in this unfortunate fate for the show and its cast?
Viewers have also used this opportunity to share some of what they believe could’ve been executed better by the show, crediting this cancellation to factors such as the lack of character development as well as the addition of other languages to the Venda-heavy story-line that the audience had grown to know and love.
Poor character development,terrible writers,I grew up watching the show but now it was so terrible. The storyline was dizzy. Muvhango is a good actor but idk what they were trying to do with his character. Teboho is worse. Commune was a mess.
— 🖤💛💚CommunistKgosigadi🖤💛💚 (@CallMeKgosigadi) February 18, 2025
Muvhango lacked Quality of Acting story line needed someone who’s really creative, Indoor set up killed Muvhango vibe
After Phathu left Muvhango everything just collapsed and lost that thing— Nego Mulalo 👆💛 (@NegoCity2010) February 18, 2025
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