Showbiz Reporter
South African telenovela DiepCity which replaced Isibaya that came to an end in April, is leading the Royalty Soapie Awards with a strong 33 nominations.
The nominees were unveiled on Wednesday on SABC 1.
In their fifth edition, the Royalty Soapie Awards recognise all major contributors to the South African daily TV drama entertainment industry. The all-inclusive awards celebrate actors, make-up artists, costume designers, producers and all those involved in the making of shows.
DiepCity’s fast-rising actor, Zimbabwean Chrispen Nyathi who acts as Pastor Charleston, an illegal immigrant has been acknowledged as he is nominated in two categories. These are Outstanding Newcomer and Viewers Choice:
Best Actor. Nominated alongside Nyathi in the Outstanding Newcomer category are DiepCity actors Nompumelelo Vilikazi (Snenhlanhla); Lebohang Mpyana (Khelina) and Luyanda Shezi (Lu).
Also nominated from the telenovela are actors Mzikayise Makroti (Fistos) in the Supporting Actor category; Vele Manenje (Maureen) for Supporting Actress and Tshiamo Molobi (Sibusiso) for Young Performer.
Established actors Hamilton Dlamini (Bonga) and Mduduzi Mabaso (Mgedeza) are nominated for Lead Actor and Male Villain respectively. Akhona Ndlovu (Herbert) and Nozuko Ncayiyane (Nox) are nominated for the Outstanding Onscreen Couple award.
In the Viewer’s Choice: Best Actor category, Nyathi is nominated alongside Ndlovu, Dlamini, Mabaso, Makroti, Mpyana, Shezi, Vilikazi, Ncayiyane and Manenje.
This new telenovela has definitely been a good replacement for Isibaya as it has become a hit among TV viewers.
Speaking at the nominees’ announcement event, Winnie Ntshaba, founder and CEO of the Royalty Soapie Awards said: “We are proud to celebrate the diverse and calibre of nominations from all over South Africa. It has been a difficult period in which the industry had to deal with a crippling global Covid-19 pandemic, but we have come this far.
“It is through film and television that life became bearable in difficult times, and for that, we thank our actors who continue to redefine, reinvent and reimagine their crafts for the viewers.”
“The five-year milestone has been a fantastic journey of seeing a dream coming to fruition. As an actress, I saw a need to create a platform where we celebrate the hard work of individuals and productions behind the soapie industry and the success it is enjoying in the television industry,” she added.

The awards slated for September 18, at the Radisson Hotel & Convention Centre OR Tambo, Johannesburg, this year introduced two new categories to the public vote category list. The public can now vote for their favourite nominated actors in the Viewer’s Choice Best Actor and Viewer’s Choice Best Actress as well as their favourite show.
Public voting lines opened on Wednesday and will close on September 14. To vote, one has to visit the royaltysa website. The red carpet and awards ceremony will be broadcast on October 2 at 8PM on SABC 1.
Below is the Royalty Soapie Awards nominees list:
Outstanding Art Direction
7de Laan
Binnelanders
Getroud met Rugby
Imbewu
Suidooster
The Estate
Outstanding Directing Team
Arendsvlei
DiepCity
Imbewu
Isono
The Estate
The Queen
Outstanding Editing Team
7de Laan
DiepCity
Skeem Saam
The Estate
The Queen
uBettina Wethu
Outstanding Lighting Direction
7de Laan
Arendsvlei
DiepCity
Isono
The Estate
uBettina Wethu
Outstanding Casting
Binnelanders
DiepCity
Imbewu
Isono
Suidooster
The Estate
Outstanding Cinematography
Arendsvlei
DiepCity
Imbewu
The Estate
The Queen
uBettina Wethu
Outstanding Sound Mixing & Editing
Arendsvlei
DiepCity
Getroud met Rugby
Imbewu
Suidooster
The Estate

Outstanding Makeup & Hair Styling
DiepCity
Gomora Season 2
Imbewu
Isono
Muvhango
The Estate
Outstanding Writing Team
DiepCity
Gomora Season 2
Imbewu
Skeem Saam
Suidooster
The Estate
Outstanding Wardrobe
DiepCity
Gomora Season 2
Scandal
Suidooster
The Estate
The Queen
Outstanding Supporting Actor
Emmanuel Castis, Binnelanders
Mzikayise Makroti, DiepCity
Senzokuhle Radebe, Isono
Wayne van Rooyen, Scandal!
Matli Mohapeloa, The Estate
Sparky Xulu, The Estate
Outstanding Supporting Actress
Quanita Adams, Arendsvlei
Vele Manenje, DiepCity
Melissa Massyn, Getroud met Rugby
Elizabeth Serunye, Skeem Saam
Nadia Valvekens, The Estate
Linda Sebezo, The Estate
Outstanding Onscreen Couple
Clayton Evertson and Jolene Martin, Arendsvlei
Germandt Geldenhuys and Je-ani Swiegelaar, Binnelanders
Akhona Ndlov and Nozuko Ncayiyane, DiepCity
Zolisa Xaluva and Thembi Seete, Gomoroa Season 2
Sydney Ramakuwela and Liteboho Molise, Muvhango
Sdumo Mtshali and Jo-Anne Reyneke, The Estate
Outstanding Newcomer
Chad Baai, Arendsvlei
Chrispen Nyathi, DiepCity
Nompumelelo Vilakazi, DiepCity
Lebohang Mpyana, DiepCity
Luyanda Shezi, DiepCity
Na-Aymah Ally Samaai, Suidooster
Outstanding Young Performer
Caiden Bouwer, Binnelanders
Roxanne Bornman, Binnelanders
Tshiamo Molobi, DiepCity
Ditebogo Ledwaba, Generations: The Legacy
Eyethu Mkhwanazi, Imbewu
Bahle Tsepo Hadebe, The Estate
Outstanding Lead Actor
Hamilton Dlamini, DiepCity
Ayanda Daweti, Scandal!
Africa Tsoai, Skeem Saam
Aubrey Poo, The Estate
Themba Ndaba, The Queen
Masoja Msiza, Uzalo
Outstanding Lead Actress
Hildegardt Whites, 7de Laan
Nompumelelo Vilakazi, DiepCity
Katlego Danke, Gomora Season 2
Nthati Moshesh, Isono
Lusanda Mbane, Scandal!
Shoki Mmola, Skeem Saam
Outstanding Male Villain
Dirk Stoltz, 7de Laan
Erik Holm, Binnelanders
Mduduzi Mabaso, DiepCity
Vusi Kunene, Generations: The Legacy
Jack Devnarain, Imbewu
Emmanuel Castis, Isono
Outstanding Female Villain
Keabetswe Motsilanyane, 7de Laan
Ilse Klink, Arendsvlei
Nqobile Sipamla, Imbewu
Moshidi Motshegwa, Isono
Jessica Nkosi, The Queen
Ayanda Bandla, uBettina Wethu
Outstanding Daily TV Drama
DiepCity
Imbewu
Skeem Saam
The Estate
The Queen
Uzalo
Most Popular Show
7de Laan
Arendsvlei
Binnelanders
Die Sentrum
DiepCity
Durban Gen
Generations: The Legacy
Getroud met Rugby
Gomora Season 2
Imbewu
Isibaya
Isono
Lingashoni
Muvhango
Rhythm City
Scandal!
Skeem Saam
Suidooster
The Estate
The Legacy
The Queen
The River
uBettina Wethu
Uzalo
Viewer’s Choice: Best Actor
Africa Tsoai, Skeem Saam
Akhona Ndlovu, DiepCity
Aubrey Poo, The Estate
Ayanda Daweti, Scandal!
Chad Baai, Arendsvlei
Chrispen Nyathi, DiepCity
Clayton Evertson, Arendsvlei
Dirk Stoltz, 7de Laan
Emmanuel Castis, Binnelanders
Emmanuel Castis, Isono
Erik Holm, Binnelanders
Germandt Geldenhuys, Binnelanders
Hamilton Dlamini, DiepCity
Jack Devnarain, Imbewu
Masoja Msiza, Uzalo
Matli Mohapeloa, The Estate
Mduduzi Mabaso, DiepCity
Mzikayise Makroti, DiepCity
Sdumo Mtshali, The Estate
Senzokuhle Radebe, Isono
Sparky Xulu, The Estate
Sydney Ramakuwela, Muvhango
Themba Ndaba, The Queen
Vusi Kunene, Generations: The Legacy
Wayne van Rooyen, Scandal!
Zolisa Xaluva, Gomora Season 2
Viewer’s Choice: Best Actress
Ayanda Bandla, uBettina Wethu
Elizabeth Serunye, Skeem Saam
Hildegardt Whites, 7de Laan
Ilse Klink, Arendsvlei
Je-ani Swiegelaar, Binnelanders
Jessica Nkosi, The Queen
Jo-Anne Reyneke, The Estate
Jolene Martin, Arendsvlei
Katlego Danke, Gomora Season 2
Keabetswe Motsilanyane, 7de Laan
Lebohang Mpyana, DiepCity
Linda Sebezo, The Estate
Liteboho Molise, Muvhango
Lusanda Mbane, Scandal!
Luyanda Shezi, DiepCity
Melissa Massyn, Getroud met Rugby
Moshidi Motshegwa, Isono
Na-Aymah Ally Samaai, Suidooster
Nadia Valvekens, The Estate
Nompumelelo Vilakazi, DiepCity
Nozuko Ncayiyane, DiepCity
Nqobile Sipamla, Imbewu
Nthati Moshesh, Isono
Quanita Adams, Arendsvlei
Shoki Mmola, Skeem Saam
Thembi Seete, Gomora Season 2
Vele Manenje, DiepCity



