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TV STARS HISTORY OF TV ICONIC PRESENTERS

LEGENDARY ANCHOR LOCAL SOAP STARS KIDDIES FLASHBACK

FROM THE EDITOR

AS IT’S Heritage Month, we decided to turn back the clock and look at the history of television in South Africa. Believe it or not, it was introduced in 1976. As part of the Xennials generation, it is a time I recall well. Giving away my age here.

The bubbling excitement of owning a TV box set was a big deal. If you owned one in the neighbourhood, you were deemed well-heeled. And neighbourhood kids would generally gather at one person’s home to catch their favourite show, before heading back to their own.

Back then, a family member, usually the youngest one, was the remote control. I know that Generation Z will probably be laughing their heads off at that mental image.

I have to admit, I had fun working on this issue. Especially, when it came to brainstorming with colleagues and friends and reflecting on the shows that formed an integral part of our childhood and teenage years.

Although there were many international shows that we loved, we wanted to keep this a proudly local edition. And, to be honest, we had such great dramas, comedies, game shows, music shows, current affairs programming and kiddie content, that we could have done several editions.

But we focused on the trending and pioneering offerings, especially during the ‘80s and ‘90s.

Although the respective TV channel archives were not particularly helpful during this Covid19 lockdown, Google and the trusted memories of many came to the rescue. I hope you enjoy this edition as we visit the glory days of TV in our beautiful country, where cultural diversity manifested in unforgettable shows. And if you have a “Where are they now?” or “Oh, I remember that!” moment while going through this magazine, you are not alone.

Happy reading!

Back in the ‘80s and ‘90s, there was no such thing as influencers. But we did have stars who ruled the small screen. For this issue, we take readers down memory lane... DEBASHINE THANGEVELO

Gavin Hood

Joe Mafela

BEFORE the internet and social media, landing that big break and becoming a TV star was a big deal.

The stories of these celebrities were wonderfully captured and celebrated in newspapers and on the radio. This generation of talent took their craft very seriously. It was underpinned by consuming passion.

They understood, better than anyone, the journey mandated a lot of hard work. There were no shortcuts to fame. That’s what makes the ‘80s and ‘90s such glorious eras for the South African TV landscape. Over the years, the blueprint evolved with technology. Although we now enjoy the luxury of options on streaming and traditional platforms, it wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and humble beginnings of many. We celebrate some of them. STEVE HOFMEYR

While he was establishing himself as a singer, Hofmeyr was a popular face on SABC. He bagged roles in Agter Elke Man, a local drama, where he was cast as Bruce Beyers. He later became a regular on the cast of M-Net’s Egoli.

HENRY CELE

In 1986, Shaka Zulu aired on TV. The 10-part series was directed by William C. Faure and written by author Joshua Sinclair.

It was one of the biggest TV shows of its time.

And, in agreeing to play the role of great Zulu warrior, King Shaka kaSenzangakhona, Cele cemented his career and remained an icon for viewers. Sadly, he passed away on November 2, 2007.

Nimrod Nkosi

Henry Cele

Frank Opperman

GAVIN HOOD

He may be a Hollywood heavyweight these days but in 1993, he was a young actor cast in The Game, a 13-part series. Honestly, I remember tuning in every week to watch it but, for the life of me, I can’t remember the premise other than it involved the game of rugby. He played Charlie Bates. The show also starred Zane Meas, Mark Mulder and Ashley Hayden.

JOE MAFELA

When it came to comedy in SA, the late Mafela was the go-to guy. And he killed it. Whether it in the Zulu-language comedy, ‘Sgudi ‘Snaysi, or Going Up, he was a hoot. And, let’s be honest, can you really look at a Chicken Licken ad without him and his larger-than-life personality coming to mind? Back then, he was fondly referred to as the Bill Cosby of SA television.

NIMROD NKOSI

He was the yin to Vinolia Mashego’s yang on Jam Alley. This was the show for the youth in South Africa. And Nkosi was celebrated as one of the coolest (that word was hip back then, don’t judge) presenter in town. He also proved himself a great actor in the Zulu drama, Ubambo Lwami, in 1994.

FRANK OPPERMAN

This well-known South African actor was a riot in Orkney Snork Nie, which was a popular Afrikaans comedy, which aired from 1989 to 1992.

MARY TWALA

A tour de force in theatre and film, the late Twala started making inroads in the growing TV industry. She bagged roles in Die Sonkring II (1993) and Inkom’ Edla Yodwa (1989). Of course, as the years wore on, she was cast in some of the biggest homegrown shows.

TINA JAXA

She was one of the standouts in the soap world. She started out in SABC1’s Generations as Priscilla Mthembu before joining SABC3’s Isidingo: The Need as Lorraine Dhlomo. When it came to getting her hustle on, Jaxa was in her element. The characters she played saw jaws drop and she was unapologetic about it. Talk about a livewire personality.

SEPUTLA SEBOGODI

Although he started out in local Pedi drama Bophelo Ke Semphekgo, playing the role of Nkwesheng, who had a roving eye, it was the hit sitcom, Suburban Bliss, where he shot to fame. This show got the entire country laughing over the daily misunderstandings and frustrations between the Dwyer’s, a white family, and the Moloi’s. Sebogodi was the patriarch in the black family. This show was big.

STRINI PILLAI

He was one of the first Indian actors to feature on a soap. He played the devilishly handsome Deven Maistry on Generations. Thahira Syed played his wife, Shaan. They were such a cute couple.

JOHAN STEMMET

Stemmet is synonymous with Noot vir Noot on SABC. He hosted the popular Afrikaans game show from 1991 until 2018. In the ‘80s, he presented a variety of music shows. He also presented A Word Or 2, which ran on SABC2 for nine years, as well as Wise Up, on the same channel.

Seputla Sebogodi

Strini Pillai

Selo Maake Ka-Ncube

Shaleen Surtie- Richards

SELLO MAAKE KA-NCUBE

I can still picture his disarming smile as Archie Moroka on SABC1’s Generations. Back then, he had short hair and later dreadlocks. In fact, he was rather dashing and a sex symbol in SA. His rich baritone voice made him even more unforgettable. Aside from doing an unusually high number of movies, he also appeared in Homeland as Vusi (1996) and Hearts & Minds as Pietrus (1995).

SHALEEN SURTIE-RICHARDS

She is best remembered for her role as Ester (Nenna) Willemse on M-Net’s Egoli: Place of Gold. In fact, she is one of the few actors who were with SA’s first soapie, the longest. She was that aunty, everyone could identify with. She was a no-nonsense person. If anyone stepped out, she was quick to bring them back in line. And she enjoyed the regular banter, where she caught up on the latest gossip. Viewers loved her.

PAMELA NOMVETE

As I write this, I’m having a flashback to Nomvete as Ntsiki Lukhele on SABC1’s Generations. Back then she was celebrated as the “super-b***h” of the small screen. I can still remember those crazy eyes and teeth grinding when she was enraged. It felt as if her head was about to explode and that’s when MARAH LOUW

The singer and actress stole the limelight as Catherine Mukwevho on SABC2’s Muvhango. She was a powerhouse character along with the late Candy Moloi, who played VhoMakhadzi.

LILIAN DUBE

Who could forget Dube as Sister Bettina in the hit drama, Soul City? She was such a remarkable actress. She slipped into the skin of her character with complete ease. The gripping series was set in a fictional township, where social, health and development issues were tackled. It represented the struggles of SA’s poverty-stricken communities. Viewers will also remember her as Masebobe in Generations, too.

BRÜMILDA VAN RENSBURG

The award-winning actress graced the covers of many magazines. While fans remember her as Louwna Edwards on Egoli: Place of Gold, she was in a few Afrikaans shows, too. She was in Ballade vir ‘n Enkeling II (1993) and Die Binnekring (1990).

CONNIE FERGUSON

The darling of the soapie world. That was Ferguson for you. While she is a powerhouse producer these days, back then she stole the hearts

Marah Louw

of South Africans as Karabo Moroka on Generations. When it came to being a role model, she was exactly that for female viewers. She stood her ground as Karabo in what was arguably a male-dominated world.

SOPHIE NDABA

She now goes by the name of Sophie Lichaba, but this veteran actress will forever remain Queen Moroka in the hearts and minds of fans of Generations. Her loquacious, not forgetting meddlesome personality, was more endearing than annoying. She spoke her mind and was always camera ready.

MICHELLE BOTES

This inimitable South African actress was celebrated as the ultimate female villain on SABC3’s Isidingo: The Need. She stole the show as Cherel de Villiers. Nothing got in her way. She had plenty of blood on her hands but her conscience justified her actions.

In the early 80s, she was also in popular Afrikaans series like Liewe Hemel, Minnaar Onder die Wapen and Triptiek. These days, she holds her MARTIN BAILIE

He hosted Telly Fun Quiz, a popular game show back in the 90s. The spectacle-wearing presenter had a very calm demeanour as he went through his list of questions. Whichever team hit the buzzer and answered correctly got to choose a telly, which contained their prize for that round.

Eddie Eckstein was part of the cast including a gorgeous female, whose name escapes me.

RUDA LANDMAN

She fearlessly co-anchored Carte Blanche with Derek Watts when it started airing on M-Net in 1988.

It was and still is, one of the leading investigative current affairs shows. She left in 2007.

Sophie Ndaba Martin Bailie

Brümilda Van Rensburg

Michelle Botes

Revisiting the history of television

Before viewers were spoilt for choice, the TV landscape only boasted a handful of channels COMPILED BY KEDIBONE MODISE

BELIEVE it not, television has been in South African for just over 40 years. TV was introduced in 1971 in spite of the government’s hostility towards what they referred to as “the little black box”.

Initially, the proposal was for two channels, one in English and in Afrikaans, aimed at a white audience. The second channel, TV Bantu, was aimed at black viewers.

However, when it was finally introduced, there was only one main channel, dubbed TV 1, with airtime divided evenly between English and Afrikaans. In 1976, the first official broadcast aired.

In 1982, two services were introduced, TV2 broadcasting in Zulu and Xhosa and TV3 broadcasting in Sotho and Tswana,

aimed at a black urban audience.

In 1985, TV4 was introduced, carrying sports and entertainment programming, using the channel shared by TV2 and TV3, which ended transmissions at 9.30pm.

In 1986, the SABC’s monopoly was challenged by the launch of a subscription-based service known as M-Net.

However, as part of its licensing restrictions, the channel could not broadcast news programmes. It started broadcasting a current affairs programme called Carte

Blanche in 1988.

In 1992, TV2, TV3 and TV4 were combined into CCV (Contemporary Community Values).

A third channel was introduced known as TSS, or Topsport Surplus, Topsport being the brand name for the SABC’s sports coverage, but this was replaced by NNTV (National Network TV), an educational, noncommercial channel, in 1994.

In 1984, Bop TV, run by the former Republic of Bophuthatswana in South Africa, was established. The station primarily transmitted

imported programming, mostly from the US.

In 1998, e.tv, the first and only privately-owned free-to-air television station in South Africa, launched. It is the fifth terrestrial television channel in the country, following three channels that are operated by the SABC and M-Net.

Satellite television expanded when M-Net’s sister company, MultiChoice, launched its digital satellite TV service (DStv) in 1995.

| SABC ARCHIVES