End of the road for DiepCity

South African telenovela DiepCity has been canned after two seasons.

According to a statement released by Mzansi Magic, the series produced by Mandla N’s Black Brain Pictures will air its final episode on March 3 next year.

The show, premised in the township of Diepsloot, north of Johannesburg, stars Dawn Thandeka King, Hamilton Dhlamini, Nozuko Ncayiyane, Mduduzi Mabaso, Obed Baloyi, Nompumelelo Vilakazi, Vele Manenje, Lebohang Mpyana, Zikhona Bali and Kgaogelo Monama.

“DiepCity was a massive winner at the 2021 Royalty Soapie Awards, taking home seven gongs including Outstanding Daily Drama, just months after its premiere.

It has been nominated for 10 South African Film and Television Awards this year, with the ceremony taking place next month.

“The series has also consistently earned praise for its stunning cinematography and incredible soundtrack,” said Shirley Adonisi, director of local entertainment channels at M-Net.

“Since its debut in April 2021, DiepCity has added colour, life and heart to our channel, and it has continued to give us dynamic and enthralling storylines.

We would like to thank the production, cast and crew for their commitment to the series, dedication to their craft and consistent hard work.”

Black Brain Pictures creative director Mandla Ngcongwane confirmed the news, saying the show would wrap up at the end of the second season in March 2023.

“The contract was supposed to be for one year, to stabilise the 8.30pm slot for Mzansi Magic, but it was so successful they gave us another year.

Now we have so many other big things we’re doing. For me the exciting part is what’s coming next,” he said.

“There’s no regret. I’m a content creator, so obviously I’ve been through this with shows such as Lockdown and huge shows such as eHostela, and all sorts of things.”

Ngcongwane said the news was announced now to prepare fans, actors and filmmakers.

DiepCity has introduced new faces to the entertainment industry with the director saying “it’s been more amazing times rather than sad times” for his team.

“We’ve developed great names that are now fully fledged in the industry.

They were new faces, it was first time for them on TV, and we groomed them . . . not only for Black Brain, but for other production houses, so you will be seeing them on other shows.

Our job as Black Brain is to discover new people and bring them into the industry,” Mandla N said.

He said they are working on a couple of movies and other huge international projects, “and that’s part of the reason we’re OK with stopping the show after the second season.