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Muvhango cast.
The end of the SABC’s flagship Tshivenda soapie has been met with mixed emotions by residents of Thathe-Vondo in Limpopo, where some of the scenes were filmed.
Muvhango was decommissioned after being flighted on SABC 2 for 28 years. The show was based on a fictional Vhavenda chieftainship located in the mystical village of Thathe.
Some of the scenes were filmed in the sacred Thate-Vondo forest.
The show’s plot focused on the fictional Mukhevho royal family as they fought over the throne, with a theme of a magical lion named Nethathe that oversaw the crown.
One of the show’s recurring cast members, Reginah Nesengani, has reminisced about her time on the soapie. Nesengani has played the role of Masindi, the chief’s mother, since 2008.
She says watching the show’s final episode was a bittersweet moment.
“It was painful to watch the last episode. It felt like my life was ending as the show ended. It was like the entire nation was also ending, and there was no other show that we could watch,” says Nesengani.
Curtains
We want to send a heartfelt thank you to all of you who have been with us from the very beginning and throughout our journey. We are humbled by the love you’ve shown us all these years. *Sithi thina as a family from Word of Mouth/ Muvhango okungapheli kuyahlola!* pic.twitter.com/MeQ4xlhJ3P
— Muvhango (@MuvhangoSA) August 12, 2025
Residents of Thathe-Vhondo believe the show taught viewers countless valuable lessons.
“I am deeply saddened by the end of our show because we loved that it was in our beloved mother tongue of Tshivenda,” says Alvinah Madunga, Thathe-Vondo resident.
“We learnt a lot from the show. They would show about traditional healers who were able to heal and those who did not,” says Alice Libak, Thathe-Vondo resident.
[WATCH] After nearly three decades, Tshivenḓa telenovela Muvhango airs its final episode on Tuesday, 12 August at 9 PM on SABC2. Maumela Mahuwa, Innocentia Manchidi, and Dr. Xolisa Tshongolo reflect on its cultural impact. pic.twitter.com/2adSIXKbfq
— SABC News (@SABCNews) August 10, 2025
Another Muvhango cast member, Suzan Ravuku, says being on the show has helped develop her community activism.
“I’m a community activist. Then I’m helping victims of rape, domestic violence, those who are living with HIV and AIDS, not forgetting orphans and vulnerable children. So, I was working behind, but since I joined Muvhango in 2014, I can say most of the people recognise me when I do my work. They can believe me. In some of the cases, when we have campaigns at the schools, most people come out. They break the silence because some of them don’t trust their teachers and their parents, but immediately when we get involved, a lot of cases come out because they trust me,” says Ravuku.
The show’s cast members believe it contributed immensely to the development of the Tshivenda language and culture.
“The show taught many people Tshivenda from reading the subtitles. As VhaVenda, we felt proud. Those who were shy of speaking the language started talking it openly. Our language was no longer looked down upon, and we were very proud,” says Nesengani.
The last Muvhango episode was broadcast last week.
VIDEO | Muvhango bows out after 30 legendary years: Dr Xolisa Tshongolo
