By : Lloyd Mahachi

The 18th annual South African Film and Television Awards (Saftas) took place on Saturday, October 26, with Shaka iLembe emerging as the biggest winner of the evening. The historical drama scooped numerous awards, dominating the television drama categories.

Shaka iLembe’s impressive haul included Best Achievement in Make-up and Hairstyling, Wardrobe, Art Direction, Sound, Original Music/Score, Editing, Visual Effects, Cinematography, Scriptwriting, and Directing. Thembinkosi Mthembu also took home the award for Best Actor in a TV Drama for his role in the series.

Other notable winners included Skeem Saam, which won Best TV Soap, and Outlaws, which took home the award for Best Telenovela. Elizabeth Serunye won Best Actress in a TV Soap for her role in Skeem Saam, while Presley Chweneyagae won Best Actor in a Telenovela for his role in The River.

The Saftas also recognized excellence in documentary filmmaking, with !Aitsa winning Best Documentary Feature and Music Is My Life – Joseph Shabalala and Ladysmith Black Mambazo winning Best Documentary. In the feature film categories, The Fragile King emerged victorious, winning Best Achievement in Directing, Best Actor for Vusi Kunene, and Best Actress for Antoinette Louw. The film also took home the coveted Best Feature Film award.

The awards ceremony also honored industry veterans with discretionary awards, including Lifetime Achiever Awards for Arthur Molepo and Mfundi Vundla. The Youth Achiever Award went to Kenneth Vuyani Mbalula, while Tebatso Mashishi received the Outstanding Person with Disability Contributor Award. Sizwe Shabangu was recognized as the Outstanding Provincial Contributor, and Josh Crickmay received the Emerging Filmmaker Award.

In the public vote categories, Laconco won Best TV Presenter for Forever Thina S1, and Scandal! was named the Most Popular TV Soap or Telenovela. The Saftas continue to celebrate and recognize excellence in storytelling, production, and performance in the South African film and television industry.

The full list of winners showcases the diversity and talent of South Africa’s film and television industry, with awards spanning various categories, including children’s programming, educational programming, factual programming, and more. The Saftas serve as a platform to acknowledge and reward the hard work and dedication of industry professionals.

Editor : Josephine Mahachi