Notable changes include Mzansi Magic coming aboard as a sponsor this year of the Royalty Soapie Awards 2015 which has largely shut out SABC1's Generations, e.tv which removed both it's soaps last year allowing its soaps Rhythm City and Scandal! to take part, and bigger public voting paticipation with viewers who will get to have a say in the winner of several categories.
Generations on SABC1 which used to be South Africa's biggest and most watched soap in terms of ratings before its massive fall from grace as well in the ratings and now called Generations - The Legacy - was largely shut out in the nominations.
e.tv also allowed its Rhythm City and Scandal! to take part this year.
"After having numerous meetings with the organisers, we emerged with a better sense of the objectives of the awards," said Monde Twala, e.tv's head of channels. "e.tv has two of the most loved soaps with talented casts, who deserve recognition for their performance".
SABC2's Venda soap Muvhango only scored one nomination, with kykNET's (DStv 144) Afrikaans soap Binnelanders completely absent and shut out from this year's Royalty Soapie Awards although Villa Rosa is included.
This year viewers will get to vote for the winner in several categories in the Royalty Soapie Awards which include Outstanding Lead Actor, Outstanding Lead Actress, Outstanding Male Villain, Outstanding Female Villain, Outstanding Supporting Actor, Outstanding Supporting Actress, Outstanding Newcomer and Most Popular Soapie.
Notably no Generations or Binnelanders stars are included as nominees in any of these categories.
The nominee with the highest number of votes in each category will be the winner. Viewers can vote from 19 February to 20 March.
"The Royalty Soapie Awards hold a mirror to the industry, revealing the status of the sector on screen and behind the scenes, and they provide much to reflect upon," says Sindile Xulu, project director.
"The final outcomes will reflect industry sentiment and benefit all by encouraging healthy competition and ultimately assisting in growing the quality of our productions," says Sindile Xulu.
"Any awards ceremony is a good thing for the industry, Vinette Ebrahim from SABC2's 7de Laan, nominated in the category for Outstanding Lead Actress, told TV with Thinus on Thursday.
"Something like the Royalty Soapie Awards is important for the platform it creates to recognise the work of actors and technical people working in the industry. It gives recognition to people for their hard work," said Theodore Jantjies from SABC2's 7de Laan, nominated in the category for Outstanding Lead Actor.
"Actors always appreciate these kinds of awards because in showbiz we work at a tremendous pace, so you don't get time to think about it. So its a moment to stop and reflect and for crews and casts to get some recognition. So I'm thankful for the Royalty Soapie Awards for bringing some extra spice," said Izak Davel from SABC3's Isidingo, nominated in the category for Outstanding Newcomer.
"We have so many soapies and telenovelas now. The more serious the industry takes itself as a specific genre, then that actually unfolds in the creation of more shows. In South Africa the soapie genre is our Hollywood, and its time that it gets its recognition," said Kgomotso Christopher from SABC3's Isidingo, nominated in the category for Outstanding Lead Actress.
"Our soapie stars are the A-list stars and it is about time that they had a platform for themselves to be recognised and not to be diluted within the larger industry."
The nominees for the 2015 Royalty Soapie Awards for which viewers can vote, are:
Outstanding Lead Actor
Motlatsi Mafatshe as Sechaba in Isidingo
Siyabonga Thwala as Mpiyakhe in Isibaya
Theodore Jantjies as Xander in 7de Laan
Vusi Kunene as Jefferson in Isidingo
Zane Meas as Neville in 7de Laan
Outstanding Lead Actress
Kgomotso Christopher as Katlego in Isidingo
Marjorie Langa as Gloria in Scandal!
Masasa Mbangeni as Thembeka in Scandal!
Thembi Nyandeni as Mkabayi in Isibaya
Vinette Ebrahim as Charmaine in 7de Laan
Outstanding Male Villain
Andre Lotter as Liam in Villa Rosa
Robert Whitehead as Barker in Isidingo
Sello Maake ka-Ncube as Lucas in Scandal!
Vusi Kunene as Bhekifa in Isibaya
Wilhelm van der Walt as Tyrone in 7de Laan
Outstanding Female Villain
Dawn Matthews as Shakira in Scandal!
Jo da Silva as Gita in 7de Laan
Mampho Brescia as Iris in Isibaya
Therese Benade as Astrid in Villa Rosa
Outstanding Supporting Actor
Andile Sithole as Ndumiso in Scandal!
Bongani Gumede as Mandla in Isibaya
Jody Abrahams as Marcel in Scandal!
Kaz McFadden as Dewald in 7de Laan
Zakhele Mabasa as S'khaleni in Isibaya
Outstanding Supporting Actress
Dorette Potgieter as Wanda in Villa Rosa
Mampho Brescia as Iris in Isibaya
Mapaseka Koetle as Dintle in Scandal!
Natasha Sutherland as Layla in Scandal!
Nomzamo Mbatha as Thandeka in Isibaya
Outstanding Newcomer
Andile Gumbi as Zweli in Isibaya
Buhle Samuels as Matshidiso in Muvhango
Fulu Mugovhani as Anzani in Scandal!
Izak Davel as Bradley in Isidingo
Tessa Holloway as Sonja in 7de Laan
