Uzalo

Uzalo is a South African soap opera produced by Stained Glass Productions, which is co-owned by Kobedi "Pepsi" Pokane and Gugu Zuma-Ncube. It began airing in 2015, quickly becoming a hit due to its compelling narrative, writing, direction and the performances of the relatively-unknown cast.[1] It initially told the story of two young men who were switched at birth, one being raised in a family with core Christian values and the other at a crime syndicate. It currently broadcasts from Monday to Friday on SABC 1.[2][3] It is currently the most watched television show in South Africa.[4]

Uzalo
Genre	Soap opera, Crime Drama
Created by	Duma Ndlovu
Written by	Clive Madiya (incumbent Head Writer) Salah Sabiti Busisiwe Matonsi Precious Sithole KG Mogale Bridgette Madiba Siphosethu Tshapu Julian Koboekae Kirsten Adams Mmamitse Thibedi
Directed by	Sello Letsatsi Sabelo Ndlovu Fikile Mogodi Kgatontle Mdleleni
Creative director	Brenda Mukwevho
Starring	Dawn Thandeka King Gugu Gumede Nompilo Maphumulo Masoja Msiza Nyalleng Thibedi Thembinkosi Thwala Simphiwe Majozi Nelisa Mchunu Thuthuka Mthembu Wiseman Mncube Nkanyiso Makhanya Noxolo Mathula Zama Magubane Ntombifuthi Dlhamini Omega Mncube Sibongiseni Shezi Nomcebo Gumede Cebo Mthembu Jet Novuka Makhosazana Ndlovu William Mnguni Nina Mkhize Mike Mvelase Siyabonga Nene Zulu Boy Bongani Madondo Thokozani Sithole Herald Khumalo
Opening theme	Uzalo
Ending theme	Uzalo
Country of origin	South Africa
Original language	Zulu
No. of seasons	6 (as of February 2020)
No. of episodes	800+(as of February 2019)
Production
Executive producers	[Gontse Lekgetho Mmamitse Thibedi
Producer	Khumbulani Hlongwane
Cinematography	Mike Sono, Howard Nciweni
Editors	Gugu Sibandze (online editor), Cynthia Tshele (offline editor)
Running time	20-25 minutes
Production company	Stained Glass Productions
Distributor	SABC
Release
Original network	SABC 1
Picture format	HDTV
Original release	2015 – present
Chronology
Related shows	eHostela and Skeem Saam

Plot

Uzalo initially told the story of two families in the township of Kwa-Mashu: the Mdletshe family, who play a significant role in the management of the Kwamashu Kingdom Church, and the Xulu family who run a car theft syndicate. The connection between the families was that their eldest sons were switched at birth during the period when Nelson Mandela was released from prison.[3][5] As the show has progressed over the years, the storylines have dramatically changed with interchanging characters, contributing to many new story arcs, but simultaneously maintaining the growth of some of its main and supporting characters.

Notable Cast

Actor	Role
Dawn Thandeka King	Lindiwe Mangcobo Mhlongo
Masoja Msiza	Nkunzi Mhlongo
Gugu Gumede	MaMlambo Mlambo
Nompilo Maphumulo	Nosipho Xulu
Nyalleng Thibedi	Zekhethelo Mhlongo
Thembinkosi Thwala	Mondli Mdlalose
Nelisa Mchunu	Fikile
Simphiwe Majozi	Sbu
Thuthuka Mthembu	Nonkanyiso Xaba
Nkanyiso Makhanya	'Njeza' Nkululeko Xaba
Wisemam Mncube	Sibonelo Zikhali
Noxolo Mathula	Lilly
Baby Cele	Gabsile Khumalo
Siyabonga Shibe	Qhabanga Khumalo
Zama Magubane	MaDongwe
Ntombifuthi Dlamini	MaMadlala
Nomcebo Gumede	Mumsy
Cebo Mthembu	Nyawo
Sibongiseni Shezi	Hleziphi
Omega Mncube	Phelelani
Jet Novuka	Mpambani
Makhosazana Ndlovu	Gogo Menziwa
Mike Mvelase	MaGeba
Siyabonga Nene	Sobhuza
Thokozani Sithole	Mandleni
Herald Khumalo	Kotini

Notable ratings

Series		Episodes		Originally aired		Ave. RSA viewers (millions)
				First aired	Last aired
	1	1		9 February 2015	13 March 2015	5.4
	2	1 (+1)		24 September 2018 (Historic Episode) 24 September 2018	25 September 2018	10.25

Series 1 (2015)

Series 1

No. overall	Episode	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	RSA viewers (millions) 10
1	Premier Episode	Alex Yazbek	Story by : Phathutshedzo Aldrean Makwarela Teleplay by : Precious Sithole	9 February 2015	5.4
The story kicked off with a teaser set on 9 February 1990 where two boys were switched at birth, and so was their legacy and destiny. The story picked up 20 years later after the two boys were switched at birth, and the storyline for the entire season followed the family whose wealth was built in the murky criminal underworld, as well as the more wholesome Mdletshe family who’s day to day life, is pretty much centred around the KwaMashu Kingdom Church.

Series 4 (2018)

No. overall	Episode	Directed by	Written by	Original air date	SA viewers (millions)
Two Part Wedding Special
167	Wedding Special	Luthando Mgomezulu & Mqondisi 'MQ' Ngubane	Story by : Bongi Ndaba Teleplay by : Clive Madiya	24 September 2018	Undefined
MaMlambo has a nightmare. Nkunzi says his vows to MaMlambo. MaNgcobo stops the wedding.
Historic Episode
168	Wedding Special Part 2	Luthando Mgomezulu & Mqondisi 'MQ' Ngubane	Bongi Ndaba	25 September 2018	10.25[6]
This record-breaking wedding episode was aired on the 25 September 2018, and it was preceded by a gripping cliff-hanger on the 24th of September 2018. In the episode that aired on the 25 September 2018, the saying: "Heaven has no rage like love to hatred turned, nor hell a fury like a woman scorned" was proven to be true. The gun-wielding 'woman scorned' character MaNgcobo, played by Dawn Thandeka King, stormed the wedding of her common-law husband, Nkunzi (Masoja Msiza) and her love rival MaMlambo (Gugu Gumede) with a gun, coercing him to make a choice on who he will marry between her and her former best friend-turned love rival, MaMlambo. Nkunzi made a decision to marry both women, MaNgcobo and MaMlambo, thus entering into a polygamous marriage. This episode was the first in the South African television history to surpass the 10 million ratings mark.[7]

Main characters

• Lindiwe (MaNgcobo) Khanyile (formerly Xulu and Mhlongo) played by Dawn Thandeka King. She is the ex-wife of Muzi and mother of Nosipho and Ayanda. She is also the ex-wife of Nkunzi Mhlongo and the widow of Khathazamanyamadoda Khanyile. She was also fiancée to an old ex-boyfriend named Zakhele. She briefly had an affair with Njeza.
• Nkunzebomvu (Nkunzi) Mhlongo, played by Masoja Msiza. He is the ex-husband of Innocentia, MaMlambo and Mazaza.then he married lindiwe
• Nosipho Xulu, played by Nompilo Maphumulo. She is the daughter of Muzi and Mangcobo. She is the sister of Ayanda and half sister to Amandla. She briefly has an affair with Ayanda unaware he is her brother and also has a brief affair with Zweli. She is the ex-girlfriend of Mondli, Njeza and Thulani and Qhabanga’s ex-fiancée.
• Hlengiwe (MaMlambo) Mlambo Mhlongo, played by Gugu Gumede. She befriends MaNzuza and MaNcgobo and was married to Nkunzebomvu Mhlongo. She also had a relationship with Thobile’s uncle Mbhekiseni but later dumped him after he was arrested for raping Thobile and various younger women. She had affairs with Melusi, Qhabanga and Nkunzi.
• Fikile, played by Nelisa Mchunu. She is Thobile, GC and Smangele's friend and hairdresser. She is in a relationship with Sbu. She had drunken sex with Mxolisi while he was still dating Zekhethelo. She also cheated on Sbu with his boss Nkunzi.
• Zekhethelo Mhlongo, played by Nyalleng Thibedi. She was raised by Nkunzi. Her stepmothers are Innocentia and Lindiwe and her biological mother is called Mapadi, who has been absent throughout her life. She had an on and off relationship with Mxolisi. She was also in a relationship with Njeza. She was a cop and was in a relationship with Mondli.
• Qhabanga Khumalo, played by Siyabonga Shibe. He was a policeman from Kwa-Mashu police station. He is Nkunzi's younger half-brother. He is Nosipho’s ex-fiancé. He then later married Gabsile but later cheated on her with his brother’s wife MaMlambo. When MaMlambo ended her affair with Qhabanga, he briefly lived with Sbu and Fikile but managed to reunite with Gabsile. However after learning about Gabsile’s affair with his son Khehla, he dumped her and later remarried Khehla’s mother Nomcebo. After Nomcebo was shot dead, he got back together with Gabsile. He later became the pastor of KwaMashu Kingdom Church.
• Mondli Mdlalose, played by Thembinkosi Thwala. Mondli is the Head police captain and dated Zekhethelo. He is Nosipho and Lilly's ex-boyfriend.
• Gabisile Mdletshe-Khumalo, played by Baby Cele Maloka. She is the sister of the Pastor Melusi and Zandile's sister in law. She is the aunt of Mxolisi, Nkosinathi and Mumsy. She is a landlady of a house she owns. Mother of Sbonelo. She is Qhabanga Khumalo's wife.
• Sbonelo (Babo) Mhlongo, played by Wiseman Mncube, was a doctor. He resigned after secretly killing Nonka’s close friend Nsizwa. He is also the only son of Nkunzebomvu and Gabisile. He is in love with Nonkanyiso and Siphilile, and later on proposed to both of them at the same time. After they declined, he had to lie to marry both of them as a polygamous marriage.
• Nonkanyiso, played by Thuthuka Mthembu. She works in the salon and is good friend of Hleziphi and Fikile and is married to Sibonelo. She is Njeza and Mbuso’s sister and Lilly’s cousin. She is MaDongwe’s niece.
• Sbusiso (Sbu) played by Simphiwe Majozi is an ex con. He is dating Fikile. He works for Nkunzi and MaNgcobo, and later Sibonelo.
• Njeza, played by Nkanyiso Makhanya. He is an ex con and is the older brother of Nonka and Mbuso. He is Lilly’s cousin and MaDongwe’s nephew. He worked at Khathaza's funeral home. He had a brief relationship with Zekhethelo and was in love with Nosipho, then Nonka's friend Hleziphi.
• Mr Mbatha,played by William Mnguni. He is part of the board at KwaMashu Kingdom Church. He is formerly the pastor of KwaMashu Kingdom Church and was engaged to Fihliwe.

Former Cast

• Leleti Khumalo=(Zandile"MaNzuza"Mdletshe)
• Khaya Dladla=(GC)
• Nay Maps=(Mxolisi Xulu-Mdlhetse)
• Ntokozo"TK"Dlamini=(Zweli"Mastermind"Maphumulo)
• Nokuthula Mabika=(Thobile)
• Sihle Ndaba=(Smangele Maphumulo)
• Mpumelelo Bhulose=(Gcabashe Xulu)
• Kay Sibiya=(Ayanda Mdletshe-Xulu)
• Duduzile Ngcobo=(Babekazi)
• Don Mlangeni Nawa=(Dlomo)
• Thandeka Zulu=(Nombuso)
• Bonga Dlamini=(Mkhonto)
• Bheki Mkhwane=(Pastor Mdletshe )
• Glen Gabela=(Pastor Mdletshe 2)
• Nombulelo Mhlongo=(Nomcebo)
• Thobani Nzuza=(Kehla)
• Standwa Nzuza=(Innocentia)
• Lindiwe Ndlovu=(Patjuju)
• Luthuli Dlamini=(Bheki)
• Khanyi Mbau=(Dinekile)
• Phindile Gwala=(Diniwe)
• Mlungisi Duncan=(Nongoloza)
• Lizwe Vilakazi=(Godfather)
• Thulani Shange=(Thulani)
• Phumzile Mlangeni=(Fihliwe)
• Sibonelo Ngubane=(Khathazamanyemadoda)
• Sphelele Mzimela=(Mazaza)
• Mandisa Vilakazi=(Liyana)
• Ntandose=(Polite)

Accolades

Year	Award	Category	Recipient	Result
2015	Simon "Mabunu" Sabela Awards	Best Newcomer	Khumbulani 'Kay' Sibiya	Won
		Best Actor	Mpumelelo Bhulose	Won
		Best Actress	Sihle Ndaba	Won
		Lifetime Achievement Award	Don Mlangeni Nawa	Won
		Best Soapie	Uzalo	Nominated
2016	The Sunday Times (South Africa) Generation Next Awards	Coolest Soapie	Uzalo	Won
	Simon "Mabunu" Sabela Awards	Best Actress	Sihle Ndaba	Won
2017	Dstv Mzansi Magic Viewers Choice Awards	Best Actor	Ntokozo 'TKDee' Dlamini	Nominated
		Best Actress	Dawn Thandeka King	Nominated
	South African Film and Television Awards	Best Achievement in Scriptwriting	Uzalo Writing Team; Head Writer Phathutshedzo Makwarela	Nominated
2018	Simon "Mabunu" Sabela Awards	Best Supporting TV Actress	Nokuthula Mabika	Won
		Best Actress	Baby Cele	Won
		Best Supporting Actor	Simphiwe Majozi	Won
	The Sunday Times (South Africa) Generation Next Awards 2018	Coolest TV soapie	Uzalo	Won
	South African Film and Television Awards	Most Popular Soapie	Uzalo	Won
	Dstv Mzansi Magic Viewer Choice Awards	Best Actor	Masoja Msiza	Nominated
2019	South African Film and Television Awards	Best TV Soap	Uzalo	Won
		Best Actress	Dawn Thandeka King	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor	Khaya Dladla	Nominated
		Best Achievement in Editing - TV Soap	Nhlanhla Mngandi	Nominated
		Best Achievement in Sound - TV Soap	Timotheus Du Preez	Nominated
		Best Achievement in Wardrobe - TV Soap	Nokubonga Ngobeni	Won
		Best Achievement in Make-up and Hair - TV Soap	Stella Johnson	Won
		Most Popular TV Soap/Telenovela	Uzalo	Nominated
2020	South African Film and Television Awards	Best Actress in a TV Soap	Baby Cele Maloka	Nominated
		Popular Soapie/Telenovela	Uzalo	Nominated
	Dstv Mzansi Viewers Choice Awards	Favourite Actress	Dawn Thandeka King	Nominated
		Favourite Actor	Masoja Msiza	Nominated
		Favourite Rising Star	Wiseman Mncube	Nominated
	The Sunday Times (South Africa) Generation Next Awards 2020	Coolest Soapie	Uzalo	Won
	Royalty Soapie Awards	Most Popular Soapie	Uzalo	Nominated
		Best Actress	Dawn Thandeka King	Won
		Best Supporting Actor	Simphiwe Majozi	Nominated

References

1. "TV with Thinus: REVIEW. SABC1's new Uzalo telenovela is light on soap, heavy on conflict as a more 'mature' Soul City that's less preachy, more dramatic". TV with Thinus. 2015-02-09. Retrieved 2020-08-20.
2. "SABC1's new Uzalo: 'We're not Generations'". news.yahoo.com. Yahoo. February 10, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
3. Bambalele, Patience (February 9, 2015). "'Uzalo' hope for Zuma". www.filmcontact.com/. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
4. Matangira, Lungelo. "'Uzalo' officially SA's most watched show with over 10.2m viewers". ewn.co.za. Retrieved 2020-10-27.
5. "SABC1 takes on the telenovela with Uzalo". www.tvsa.co.za. January 13, 2015. Retrieved April 16, 2015.
6. Tvsa, Tvsa Team. "Top Shows on TV: September 2018". tvsa. Retrieved 8 October 2018.
7. Tvsa, Tvsa Team. "Top Shows on TV: September 2018". tvsa. Retrieved 8 October 2018.

External links

• Uzalo at IMDb