Who will win this year’s Soapie Awards?

The various performance categories feature some outstanding choices as the most deserving winner.

Outstanding Lead Actor

Nominees: Menzi Ngubane (Sibusiso Dlomo, Generations); Siyabonga Twala (Mpiyakhe Zungu, Isibaya); Kevin Smith (Frank Xavier, Isidingo) and Shona Ferguson (Itumeleng, The Wild).

Our choice: Twala is an obvious choice because the Isibaya storyline called for him to use the sort of tricks that are not necessarily the norm in this genre. Playing a zombie is not a typical soap opera role, but Twala revelled in his performance and was also sublime at doing the simple things as a gentleman of honour before he was turned into a zombie.

THE MAN. Kevin Smith has been nominated in the Outstanding Lead Actor category of the Royalty Soapie Awards.

Outstanding Lead Actress

Nominees: Odelle de Wet (Delia Richter, Binnelanders); Thembi Nyandeni (Mkabayi Zungu, Isibaya); Linda Sokhulu (Nikiwe Sibeko, Isidingo); Nthabi Tau (Meiki, Muvhango) and Shaleen Surtie-Richards (Fran Jacobs, Villa Rosa).

Our choice: This category is a tough one and ultimately what may pull in more votes is the character work by the Isibaya team, which nudges Nyandeni ahead of Surtie-Richards and De Wet. Nyandeni is riveting to watch as a ruthless matriarch.

Odelle de Wet. Image courtesy http://www.talent-etc.co.za/

Outstanding Supporting Actor

Nominees: Hennie Jacobs (Diederik, 7de Laan); Ramey Short (Quinton Meyer, Binnelanders); Bongani Gumede (Mandla Ndlovu, Isibaya); Sdumo Mtshali (Sbu Ndlovu, Isibaya) and Ty Keogh (Jack, The Wild)

Our choice: Jacobs and Mtshali are frontrunners in this category. But Jacobs is more believable and loveable in his role as the clumsy, naïve, shy Diederik.

While Mtshali is undoubtedly a great actor, his character in Isibaya is still relatively new – and with soaps, an actor’s ability to build a sense of familiarity with viewers is important.

In this case, Jacobs wins, mainly because he’s been playing Diedrik longer.

Actor Bongani Gumede poses for photographs in Newtown, 15 November 2013. Picture: Michel Bega

Outstanding Supporting Actress

Nominees: Annelize van der Ryst (Matrone Netta Nortje, 7de Laan); Sorina Erasmus (Die Flooze, 7de Laan); Xoli Zondi (Zodwa, Generations); Nomzamo Mbatha (Thandeka Zungu, Isibaya) and Kgomotso Christopher (Katlego Sibeko, Isidingo)

Our choice: It would be ludicrous if Zondi didn’t take this award. In her first big role on television, Zondi plays a mentally disturbed Zulu girl who will do anything to get the man she wants. In each episode of Generations, Zondi knocked this role out the park with splendid performances. She deserves the award, not only because of her acting, but also for challenging herself with a role that pushed the boundaries of local television.

Kgomotso Christopher. Image supplied

Outstanding Couple

Nominees: Pierre van Pletzen and Annelisa Weiland (Oubaas van Zyl and Hilda van Zyl, 7de Laan); Sandi Schultz and Gert van Niekerk (Jennifer Adams and Patrick Myburgh, Binnelanders); Sdumo Mtshali and Nomzamo Mbatha (S’bu Ndlovu and Thandeka Zungu, Isibaya); Ayanda Ngubane and Celeste Ntuli (Siphokazi Zungu and Phumelele Zungu, Isibaya) amd Tema Sebopedi and Motlatsi Mafatshe (Lerato Tsotetsi and Sechaba Moloi, Isidingo).

Our choice: This one’s tough. 7de Laan’s Oom Oubaas and his Hilda have been a favourite for years – so much so that it is difficult to imagine them apart. But the chemistry between Isidingo’s Sechaba and Lerato is undeniable.

The goofy young couple recently went through a difficult time when Lerato was diagnosed with cancer, giving the actors an opportunity to portray the more serious, vulnerable sides of their characters. Sechaba and Lerato’s ability to show this range, and their unique portrayal of young love, makes them our winners in this category.

LADY IN RED. Tema Sebopedi has been nominated in the Outstanding Couple category of the Royalty Soapie Awards.