Isibaya telenovela might be canned
Declining viewership is said to have put the show on the cutting board
‘WANGAL’ ungantshelanga. Wangala ngingazilutho, awusasho ngan’ sutholomunye.’
For millions of South Africans, this song has been a regular feature every night as they watched the dramatic disputes between the Zungus and Ndlovus on one of the SA’s most loved telenovelas, Isibaya.
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However, after years on screen, rumour has it that the show might be canned by Mzansi Magic because of declining viewership.
According to the Broadcast Research Council of South Africa, the most-watched shows are Gomora and The Queen with 1.1 million viewers each.
These are the September figures, which indicate Isibaya has dropped to fewer than 800 000 viewers.
The show was created in 2013 by the Bomb Productions crew of Angus Gibson, Desiree Markgraaff, Teboho Mahlatsi and Catherine Stewart.
The telenovela follows the lives of two feuding families in the dangerous taxi industry, the Zungus and the Ndlovus.
The decline in viewership is said to be due to Isibaya’s ‘terrible’ storyline and the temporary dropping of lead actor Siyabonga Thwala, who plays the role of Sengwayo ‘Mpiyakhe’ Zungu.
This is not the first show by Bomb Productions cancelled by Mzansi Magic.
Isithembiso was also canned last year and showcased its last episode at the beginning of the year.
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