'iThonga' finale date revealed as show earns 10 Safta nominations
Bonko Khoza stars in "iThonga" and has earned a Safta nomination for his portrayal of a twin character.
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Mzansi Magic has revealed the finale dates for its telenovelas "Genesis" and "iThonga," announcing that both shows have reached their natural conclusions.
“Genesis” will continue to air until April 2026, keeping viewers engaged as its storyline unfolds. “iThonga” will also reach its natural conclusion on Friday, February 27. Both telenovelas have delivered 260 episodes to the channel and have concluded production.
“These shows were written with fixed storylines and character arcs in mind and produced to the highest level of quality for our viewers to enjoy,” explained Tebogo Matlawa, Head of Scripted Content: Middle and Mass at MultiChoice Group, a CANAL+ company.
“As those stories have now run their charted courses, they’ll take their place in the Mzansi Magic library of thrilling telenovelas, with exciting new shows in the works to take their place.”
From “The River” to “The Queen”, telenovelas are coming to an end after shorter runs, reflecting an ongoing pattern in linear TV viewing that has seen a decrease in long-running programming.
Last year, “iThonga” premiered in March and “Genesis” in April. Centered around the world of the gospel music industry, “Genesis” was the first of its kind in Mzansi.
“Now that production is complete, we have to applaud the incredible writers from Singa Vision Productions who used all 260 episodes to their absolute full to tell the powerful, well-researched and impactful story of these amazing characters,” said Matlawa.
“ ‘Genesis’ was about setting a relatable world and characters that people could identify with. We felt we had a fresh approach to bringing back gospel music in our homes, while showing that it’s as much a business as the rest of the music business,” said Sinini Mati, the show’s Executive and Series Producer.
“We set ourselves the goal of bringing in topics that were compelling and engaging to the audience at large, and I feel we did just that, and we were thrilled to be able to bring in genuine local gospel music artists, including Mmatema Moremi, Thinah Zungu, Mjakes Thebe, Lebo Sekgobela, Xoli Mncwango, Mthokozisi Dube, Mpumi Mtsweni, and Mzansi gospel queen Rebecca Malope to help bring the story to life”.
“iThonga” is this year's most-nominated telenovela at the 19th annual South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas). The Tshedza Pictures series is up for 10 Saftas, including Best Telenovela, Actress (first-time nominee Nelisiwe Sibiya), Supporting Actress (first-time nominee Zodwa Nkosi), and Actor (Bonko Khoza, who plays twins Banele and Sanele).
Matlawa, reflecting on ‘iThonga’, said: “ ‘iThonga’ has continuously showcased incredibly versatile storytelling in fully embracing some of the culture’s most sacred customs and playing them out on screen with sensitivity and respect.
“The cast did a phenomenal job, particularly Bonko Khoza in his dual role as twins Banele and Sanele, and portrayed traditional rituals like burial rites to issues of surrogacy, and dealing with grief, with such honour and faithfulness”.
“When we began telling the story of Sanele and Banele, we knew that it was a story that would have its beginning and conclusion in a single season,” said ‘iThonga’ creator and Writer Phathutshedzo Makwarela.
“It has been an honour to witness the crafting of every character, every plot twist and every moment and we are grateful to the viewers who have made this a pleasurable and unforgettable journey”.
Matlawa added that pre-production has begun on Mzansi Magic’s next telenovelas.
“Both shows are still set to deliver plenty of drama before they conclude. We are also pleased to share that we are in pre‑production on the next Mzansi Magic telenovela, and we look forward to introducing viewers to this new world and story soon,” Matlawa concludes.
“Genesis” airs at 7.30pm and” iThonga” at 8.30pm every weekday on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161).
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