Mzansi Magic has been producing ten years of magic and excellence and it has not gone unnoticed. Over the decade, many of the channel’s productions have been known to make a clean sweep at prestigious award ceremonies such as the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAs).
The SAFATAs are a nationwide treasure as they recognise and celebrate excellence in the craft. From the long shoots and elaborate costume designs to the scriptwriting and visual genius, the SAFTAs pay tribute to all the sheer hard workers that bring our stories to life on both the small and the big screen.
Isibaya, Mzansi Magic’s flagship telenovela, is one such award-winning show. In 2015, with ten nominations at the SAFTAs, Isibaya walked away with seven gongs for Best Wardrobe, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Scriptwriting, Best Directing and the highly contested Best Soap Award.
The show went on to win another six awards at the Royal Soapie Awards for Outstanding Soapie of the Year, Outstanding Wardrobe, Outstanding Lighting, Outstanding Editing Team, Outstanding Directing Team and Outstanding Set Design.
2016 was another year of big wins for Isibaya as it managed to scoop six Golden Horns for Best Costume Design in a TV Soap, Best Art/Design Production in a TV Soap, Best Cinematography in a TV Soap and Best Scriptwriting team in TV Soap. Isibaya talent Vusi Kunene and Samson Khumalo walked away with the Golden Horns for Best Lead Actor in a TV Soap and Best Supporting Actor in a TV Soap respectively.
Mzansi Magic did not stop the excellence in 2017 and 2018, going on to win over four Golden Horns in each year across a number of categories including Isibaya’s Most Popular Soap win in 2017 and Best Soap win in 2018. Our Perfect Wedding presenter at the time, Thembisa Mdoda walked away with the Golden Horn for Best Presenter in 2018.
Thuso Mbedu, lead actress in Mzansi Magic’s hit drama series Is’thunzi, took the award for Best Actress in a TV Drama. She is also a two-time International Emmy nominee for the same role.
Lockdown stepped up as the most awarded drama in 2019 with five SAFTAs from eight nominations, including Best TV Drama. The hit prison drama series scooped awards for Best Actress in a TV Drama (Dawn Thandeka King), Best Supporting Actress in a TV Drama (Lorcia Cooper) as well as Best Wardrobe and Best Hair and Make-up.
Mzansi Magic was the most awarded channel overall in the category, with six awards split between Lockdown and Is’thunzi, which won Best Supporting Actor for S'dumo Mtshali as Mandla.
The soap category was the most contested in 2019 but Mzansi Magic’s Isithembiso came in tops, with four awards: Best Script, Best Cinematography and Best Sound. Mzansi Magic was the most awarded channel overall in the category, with seven awards split between Isithembiso and Isibaya, which won Best Supporting Actress (Gcina Mkhize); Best Supporting Actor (Abdul Khoza); and Best Directing.
The year 2020 was a year of magic for Mzansi Magic’s newcomer hit drama series’ which had only aired their first seasons. The Republic won seven awards including Best TV Drama while fellow newcomer and Mzansi epic, Ifalakhe was also recognised with two awards for Best Achievement in Wardrobe as well as the award for Best Achievement in Make-up and Hairstyling.
Lead actress and Madam President on The Republic, Florence Masebe as well as legendary actor Seputla Sebogodi walked away with their first SAFTAs for Best Actress in a TV Drama and Best Supporting Actor in a TV Drama respectively.
Mzansi Magic has been the belle of awards ceremonies for years over the past decade and this list does not nearly capture all the awards. We celebrate ten years of award-winning television and we celebrate all the talent in front of and behind the lens that have contributed to the incredible stories that Mzansi Magic brings to our screens. Here’s to the next ten!
For more of the best in entertainment, stay tuned to Mzansi Magic DStv channel 161.