After 27 years on the small screen, lovers of South African soapie Muvhango will have to make do without the popular Tshivenda production, after it bade viewers a surprise farewell after Tuesday evening’s episodes.
The farewell, delivered on X, came amid revelations that production on the soapie, created by Duma Ndlovu and produced by Word of Mouth Pictures, has completely shut down, with no new or contract extension for further episodes in place.
Muvhango, SABC 2’s most-watched show was created by veteran journalist Ndlovu, airing its debut episode first on the 7th of April in 1997.
It gained fame for its portrayal of the conflict between the modern lifestyle of South Africans in the 1990s, juxtaposing the ancient and sacred traditions of tribal Africans.
After the airing of Episode 130 of season 25 of the show, Muvhango’ wrote on X: “End of the Road for Muvhango, Thank you for watching all these years.”
This is the second SABC 2 long-running soap to be canceled, last year viewers said goodbye to ‘7de Laan’, which was able to prepare viewers for their last day, releasing media statements and a goodbye tribute episode.
Thanduxolo Jindela, a spokesperson for Word of Mouth Pictures, told TVwithThinus that the show’s producers were still in negotiations with the SABC.
“The latest final episode aired last night. There are ongoing conversations with SABC. No contract has been signed yet. We are not shooting”.
The production referred all other questions to the SABC and said the broadcaster should answer “content-related matters”. The broadcaster is yet to offer on the matter.
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