SABC2's Xitsonga drama series Giyani Land of Blood back for a second season from 1 November, adds Rami Chuene.

by Thinus Ferreira

The second season of the Xitsonga drama series Giyani: Land of Blood will start on SABC2 on Monday 1 November at 21:30.

SABC2 will broadcast three episodes of Giyani: Land of Blood, produced by Tshedza Pictures, weekly from Mondays to Wednesdays.

Earlier this year SABC2 announced that the second season of Giyani: Land of Blood would replace Muvhango on Thursdays and Fridays in its timeslot but for an as-yet-unexplained reason the plan was scuppered.

When the first season of Giyani: Land of Blood ended in November 2019, the community of Risinga was turned upside down with secrets revealed, Richard Mudau exposed as a corrupt traitor, and with Gladys left for dead.

In the second season viewers will see Richard return home after spending time in prison and with no money and no influence, he gets back into business with the hope of turning his life around and away from crime. 

There is a new lady at his side but she could wreak havoc in his family and the community.

"SABC2 is immensely proud to bring the second season of Giyani to viewers in South Africa," says Gerhard Pretorius, SABC2 channel head.

 Jacqui Hlongwane, SABC2 programme manager, says "Building on the success of the first season of Giyani, the second season returns with more drama, intrigue and an action-packed storyline that will have viewers glued to their screens".

"Not only can viewers look forward to seeing their old favourite characters back on their small screens, SABC is delighted to announce that the talented and much-loved Rami Chuene joins season 2 of Giyani; life will never be the same again in Giyani for sure."

Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon of Tshedza Pictures says the production company is "beyond thrilled to revisit the story world of Giyani - Land of Blood and the amazing characters that viewers fell in love with - including new characters who will capture their hearts as the new season is packed with scandal, drama and dangerous escapades that will entertain and enthrall viewers".

The cast of Giyani's second season is Ndivhuho Mutsila who returns as Richard Mudau and Rami Chuene joining the series as Manoko Ledwaba. 

Other cast members include Mathabo Mothibe as Khensani Mudau, Maduva Madima as Shonisani Mudau, Fumani Shilubana as Vukosi Moyo, Wiseman Zitha as Musawahosi Baloyi, Senzo Radebe as Fezile, Elvis Tshepo Nkosi as Mahlatshe Valentino Ledwaba, Glennis Mabuza as Kokwana Chavalala, Obed Baloyi as Hlengani Chavalala, Candy Tsamandebele Mokwena as Diane Homu and Lina Ebony Ngcobo as Tsakani Baloyi.

New reality series Away For Repair on Mzansi Magic starts 7 October in which 4 competing teams visiting various national parks as they try and mend broken relationships.

by Thinus Ferreira

A new reality series, Away For Repair starts on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) on Thursday 7 October at 21:30 in which 4 teams of two people each are whisked away to various South African National Parks to compete in various challenges while they try to mend broken relationships.

With Rami Chuene as the Away For Repair host and Romeo Mabasa as life coach, the programme says that it "will showcase the heartfelt stories of ordinary people taking much-needed time away to mend broken bonds".

DStv subscribers will follow the 8 people as they travel from the mysteries of Southern Africa's first ancient African Kingdom in the Mapungubwe National Park, to the rugged coastline and deep forested gorges of the Tsitsikamma National Park through to the iconic Kruger National Park. 

The series will see the teams compete in various adventures that will challenge them physically and mentally in a bid to repair their broken relationships.

 
The teams include a pair of varsity friends dealing with a deep betrayal, sisters yearning for acknowledgment of past hurts, a married couple that has lost their foundation of trust, and a mother and daughter in deep need of unlearning their toxic behaviours.

Hapiloe Sello, SANParks managing executive for tourism development and marketing, says "Away For Repair will treat viewers to an emotional roller-coaster as four teams of two undergo a relationship boot camp against the spectacular backdrops of seven of South Africa's prime national parks".

"Through this series we will be showcasing the diversity of our parks to the Mzansi Magic audience as well as the range of fun and educational activities available in these destinations."

"We also felt it important to emphasise the value of spending time in nature on emotional wellbeing – how the national parks are places to escape to reconnect and revitalise hence the relationship boot camp theme."

The winning team gets an all-expense paid weekend stay at the Skukuza Safari Lodge in the Kruger National Park, with the runners-up who get an all-expense paid weekend getaway to the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

Rami Chuene exits Ferguson Films' troubled The Queen on Mzansi Magic, says 'I won't be getting into details as advised by my legal team'.

by Thinus Ferreira

Actress Ramu Chuene is exiting Ferguson Films' The Queen on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) as the latest on-screen talent to leave the apparently troubled drama series, following alleged behind-the-scenes rancour with the producers.

On social media, the actress, known for her role as Gracious Mabuza, said that her stint on The Queen has come to an end.

"Unfortunately, I won't be getting into details as advised by my legal team. I still have to finish shooting and I'm hoping to execute as excellently, exceptionally and professionally as I always have."

There's been no public comment from Ferguson Films.

Rami Chuene joins 4 other actors who have been axed and left The Queen over the course of the last year, including Stembiso Khoza, Khanya Mkangisa, Khayakazi Kula and Moshe Ndiki, while veteran actress Vatiswa Ndara was involved in an acrimonious exit from iGazi, that was also produced by Ferguson Films.

According to reports there had allegedly been a breakdown in the relationship between Rami Chuene and the Ferguson producer-couple Connie and Shona after the actress showed support for actress Vatiswa Ndara who wrote an open letter to the minister of arts and culture.

The Queen telenovela extended to 5 days per week as Mzansi Magic adds a Friday episode; Rami Chuene, Thato Molamu joining the cast.

Its proven to be true South African television royalty and from August Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) is extending its telenovela The Queen from 4 to 5 days a week, adding Fridays on the back of boffo ratings.

With the additional weekday episode the cast is expanding with Rami Chuene joining in the role of Gracious, and with Thato Molamu added in the role of up-and-coming lawyer, Bakang.

The Queen - a fascinating local telenovela produced for one of the M-Net's channels provided to MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform - remains a hugely under-reported success story in South Africa's television industry, although it typifies everything that the new generation of South African television production can and should be.

The Queen - with its most watched episode in June that pulled 955 891 viewers to Mzansi Magic in its 21:00 timeslot - is the little TV locomotive that could, produced by the wife and husband team Connie and Shona Ferguson and their Ferguson Films outfit.

The Queen made its debut on Mzansi Magic at the beginning of August 2016 and the past few months production and production capacity has been ramped up to adjust for the additional weekday episode that will see the telenovela enlarge to 5 days per week from 31 July 2017.

The Queen is not just a South African TV rarity because it's done by black producers, who are married to each other, and with one of them also having a starring on-screen role (Connie plays Harriet).

It is also that the show, revolving around the fictional Khoza family, also continues to receive both critical and widespread popular acclaim. 

Usually what the TV critics like, viewers don't - and vice versa - yet The Queen has proven to be the rare TV gem everybody likes to watch.

"The Queen has become one of Mzansi Magic's most popular shows," says Reneilwe Sema, M-Net's director of local channels.

"As it stands, it broadcasts from Monday to Thursday, but its immense acclaim demands that we make it a full five-day a week show. Viewers just can't get enough of the twists and turns in the story, so we are giving them more."

The Queen has added seasoned actress Rami Chuene to the cast in the role of Gracious, with Thato Molamu added in the role of up-and-coming lawyer, Bakang. Magic Hlatshwayo returns as Kwanele's supportive dad, Alpheus.

Meanwhile viewers can't get enough of the flamboyant character Kgosi (played by Sello Maake ka-Ncube) who has created a new iconic South African TV character for the ages.


A Queen building out the TV biz
While shows like The Queen - and the process of how it is now being produced - is actually what the struggling South African public broadcaster should be doing, investing in, and nurturing in terms of exposing and training new talent in front of and behind-the-scenes - it is M-Net's Mzansi Magic that took the risk.

Being bold and spearheading the effort on this "new type" TV drama making, it is now Mzansi Magic that is getting the rewards with a show like The Queen that is produced on a much smaller budget than a mega-show like the KwaMashu set Uzalo of SABC1.

While drawing sizeable audiences to Mzansi Magic - which is what ultimately matters to the bottom-line - The Queen is also working and building out South Africa's TV-industry with novel re-invention. 

The popular show is both enlarging and upskilling the local TV production industry, while at the same time training and giving new people a change to learn and get experience as they go along for the ride.

It is something that the SABC is actually supposed to be doing - like the BBC - but is something that has steadily shifted to South Africa's pay-TV sector that doesn't need to, but that has picked up a large part of the responsibility with The Queen as a great example.

The Queen also does a lot of on-location shooting - for instance filming at rented homes multi-purposed as the set instead of paying for costly studio space - and using rooms, doors and exteriors of one property for instance to cleverly create numerous in-story locations.

The telenovela also gives a lot of young, and new, people opportunities in front of, and behind, the camera to learn and get a foot in the door of the TV biz - again something more in line with the remit of a public broadcaster but something that is clearly an important and integral part of making the show for The Queen's producers.

Muvhango's Rami Chuene on SABC2 who played Khomotjo, the next high profile actress dumped from a South African soap.

Rami Chuene from SABC2's Muvhango Venda soap has become the next high profile South African actress to be dumped from a local TV soap opera - her contract which just expired wasn't renewed.

Rami Chuene played Khomotjo Mojalefa but the character will soon disappear from Muvhango.

Her contract expired at the end of August and wasn't renewed. She was apparently not told.

Rami Chuene's on-screen performance has been utterly great - especially as of late.

Muvhango viewers have been enthralled with the completely terrific and totally over-the-top story line of a drama queen diva under siege with debts, family drama and a scandalous court case, but refusing to give up.

Viewers buzzed about and loved the recent scene stealing and brilliant buzzed-about moment when the character appeared on SABC2's Morning Live inside Muvhango to be "interviewed" by Leanne Manas.

"Rami's character was story line driven and the contract ends with the story," says Kgalema Mametse, Muvhango publicist.

The harsh exploitation of South African television actors, their apparent expendableness and desperate working conditions are under the spotlight like never before as the South African TV industry is forced to take stock of what is really happening, and what is really going on as far as on-screen talent contracts, proper remuneration and payment of residuals for rebroadcasts are concerned.

The entire principal cast of the SABC's biggest TV show in terms of both viewership and advertising income was fired when the Generations cast on SABC1 embarked on a stayaway last month and was promptly fired by the SABC and Mfundi Vundla's MMSV Productions.

The SABC is set to run out of recorded episodes of Generations by the end of September, with a looming crisis for SABC1 and the 7.5 million viewers the TV channel has been able to lure on weekdays to the 20:00 timeslot.

Mfundi Vundla said he will never take the fired Generations cast back, and the biggestr trade federation, Cosatu, on Tuesday called for a soap switch-off from Monday 15 September and asked all TV viewers to boycott Generations from next week and to not watch the soap.