Production has officially concluded on both Genesis and iThonga, the Mzansi Magic telenovelas that have each delivered 260 episodes. Genesis will continue to air until April 2026, keeping viewers engaged as its storyline unfolds. iThonga will also reach its natural conclusion on Friday, 27 February at 8:30pm, with all episodes now completed.
“We are so excited to see how fans enjoy the rest of the respective seasons of Genesis and iThonga,” says Tebogo Matlawa, Head of Scripted Content: Middle & Mass at MultiChoice Group a CANAL+ company “These shows were written with fixed storylines and character arcs in mind and produced to the highest level of quality for our viewers to enjoy. As those stories have now run their charted courses, they’ll take their place in the Mzansi Magic library of thrilling telenovelas, with exciting new shows in the works to take their place”.
Genesis, which has captured the hearts of Mzansi Magic viewers with its portrayal of the world of the gospel music industry, was first of its kind. “Now that production is complete, we have to applaud the incredible writers from Singa Vision Productions who used all 260 episodes to their absolute full to tell the powerful, well-researched and impactful story of these amazing characters,” says Matlawa.
“Genesis was about setting a relatable world and characters that people could identify with. We felt we had a fresh approach to bringing back gospel music in our homes, while showing that it’s as much a business as the rest of the music business,” says Sinini Mati, the show’s Executive and Series Producer. “We set ourselves the goal of bringing in topics that were compelling and engaging to the audience at large – and I feel we did just that – and we were thrilled to be able to bring in genuine local gospel music artists, including Mmatema Moremi, Thinah Zungu, Mjakes Thebe, Lebo Sekgobela, Xoli Mncwango, Mthokozisi Dube, Mpumi Mtsweni and Mzansi gospel queen Rebecca Malope – to help bring the story to life”.
Reflecting on iThonga Matlawa said: “iThonga has continuously showcased incredibly versatile storytelling in fully embracing some of the culture’s most sacred customs and playing them out on screen with sensitivity and respect. The cast did a phenomenal job – particularly Bonko Khoza in his dual role as twins Banele and Sanele – and portrayed traditional rituals like burial rites to issues of surrogacy, and dealing with grief, with such honour and faithfulness”.
“When we began telling the story of Sanele and Banele, we knew that it was a story that would have its beginning and conclusion in a single season,” says iThonga Creator and Writer Phathutshedzo Makwarela. “It has been an honour to witness the crafting of every character, every plot twist and every moment – and we are grateful to the viewers who have made this a pleasurable and unforgettable journey”.
“Both shows are still set to deliver plenty of drama before they conclude. We are also pleased to share that we are in preproduction on the next Mzansi Magic telenovela, and we look forward to introducing viewers to this new world and story soon,” Matlawa concludes.
For now, audiences can continue to immerse themselves in Genesis at 19:30 CAT and iThonga at 20:30 CAT every weekday on Mzansi Magic (DStv channel 161).
