Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2007. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - October 28, 2007
Charles Molele
Original plot twists are interspersed with topics such as affirmative action, domestic violence, racism, HIV and Aids
The SABC3 soapie Isidingo scooped top honours at last night's South African Film and Television Awards by winning the most number of Golden Horns.
The cast and crew of the prime-time programme landed 10 out of 14 awards in the television soapie category at the function held at Gallagher Estate in Midrand, north of Johannesburg.
SABC1's Generations, previously a hit with the SA soapie public, had to settle for just one award - for Best Hair and Make-up.
Generations, one of the oldest local soaps, has made stars out of actresses such as Sophie Ndaba, Connie Ferguson and Camilla Waldman. But it hit a slump a few years ago when some of its main actors left.
Since then, the programme's writers have faced more criticism over what some critics have labelled an unrealistic portrayal of black middle-class life.
One actor, who asked not to be named, said he was not surprised that Generations had done badly in the awards last night. He said it had become "too fake and Americanised".
Isidingo, which hit TV screens in 1998, scooped every award in the competition last year.
Having gone head-to-head against Generations, SABC2's Muvhango and e.tv's Scandal, Isidingo's Keketso Semoko won Best Actress for her portrayal of Agnes Matabane and Craig Urbani won Best Supporting Actor.
It also won Best Directing Team, Best Ensemble Cast and the awards for best multi-camera teamwork, best art direction, best sound designer, best writer/writing team and the best costume in a TV soap.
The ceremony - where a total of 77 awards were presented to winners - boasted comedian David Kau, radio presenter Elana Afrika and TV presenter Pepsi Pokane as MCs.
Muvhango won awards for Best Music and Best Supporting Actress, won by Velephi Mnisi, who plays "Auntie".
Scandal's Vusi Zwane, played by Siyabonga Twala, won Best Actor.
Isidingo, which draws between 1.3million and 1.8million viewers a day, boasts one of the best writing teams in the industry and has original plot twists, interspersed with topics such as affirmative action, domestic violence, racism, HIV and Aids.
It prides itself on featuring the first officially sanctioned TV kiss across the colour line, between mine manager Derek Nyathi (played by Hlomla Dandala) and mine boss's daughter Phillipa de Villiers (Bianca Amato), in 2001. In December last year Gary D'Alessandro, who plays Luke, and Emmanuel Castis, who plays Steve, had the first gay wedding on a soapie. The show also featured the first HIV-positive character.
Among the big winners in the other categories was the SABC1 drama When We Were Black, directed by Khalo Matabane. The programme won seven awards in the drama category, including Best TV Drama, Best Director, Best Cinematographer and Best Writing Team.
Goodbye Bafana scooped an award as the best feature film produced in the past year, a category won last year by Gavin Hood's feature film Tsotsi. It was up against Mama Jack, Son of Man, Faith Like Potatoes, Bunnychow and Beat the Drum.
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Winners in other categories include:
Best Actress in a TV Comedy: Manaka Ranaka (Stokvel)
Best Actor in a TV Comedy: James Ngcobo (Stokvel)
Best Supporting Actor in a TV Comedy: Alan Committie (Laugh Out Loud)
Best Supporting Actress in a TV Comedy: Andrea Dondolo (Stokvel)
Best Documentary Feature: Heaven's heards - Nguni Cattle, Nguni People
Best Documentary Subject: We Still Are Warriors
Best Actress in a TV Drama: Nambitha Mpumlwana (The Lab)
Best Actor in a TV Drama: Patrick Mofokeng (Heartlines - The Good Provider)
Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama: Bayo Jwalo (Gazlam)
Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama: Jerry Mofokeng (When We Were Black)
Best Art Cinematographer in a TV Drama: Matthys Mocke (When We Were Black)
Best Writing Team in a TV Drama: Ryan Fortune and Tumelo Padi (When We Were Black)
Best Student Film: Sindiswa
Best Short Film: The Tale of How
Best Children's/Youth Programme: Take 5 (virginity testing)
Best Magazine Programme: Free Spirit
Best Variety Programme: Strictly Come Dancing
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