While it may not have made an indelible impression at the fifth South African Film and Television Awards ceremony earlier this year, SABC1’s Generations continues to rule the soapie roost.
Sadly, just as soap addicts have come to accept Connie Ferguson’s (Karabo Moroka) departure – she joined M-Net’s new soap, The Wild, in a matriarchal role as Marang Lebone – they are hit by another bombshell. Yep, our notorious media mogul antagonist Kenneth Mashaba, played brilliantly by Seputla Sebogodi, will soon cease to exist on the small screen.
“I’m going to do some industrial theatre and road shows. I am also doing the Grahamstown National Arts Festival. Right now I just want to take a break from TV.
“Sometimes you need to sit on the backseat and watch others in the driver’s seat,” explains Sebogodi.
Squashing any room for speculation around his early exodus, the actor, who courted much popularity in the hit comedy TV series, Suburban Bliss, adds: “I have a really wonderful working relationship with Mr Mfundi Vundla, whom I must thank profusely for allowing me to mesmerise with my character. When I told them what I wanted to do it wasn’t one of those ‘we will see you in court’ situations.”
Just to jog the memory, the influential Mashaba clan were introduced after the demise of resident baddie Jack Mabaso (Vusi Kunene).
On his six-year spell, Sebogodi shares: “It was quite a journey. The character was one I researched well and I had fun playing him. Basically, I got to do things I wouldn’t do in real life.
“Working with such a great team of writers and directors made it easy for me.
“I’m going to do some industrial theatre and road shows just to take a break. Who knows, I might be back.”
With Siyabonga Twala (Paul Mashaba) also exploring other avenues, it means that Dineo (Katlego Danke) is the only Mashaba left. How will the change influence her character’s growth and lifespan?
Head writer Chris Blomkamp enlightens on their plans for Dineo. “By the time Paul and Kenneth have left Dineo’s life for good, Dineo will realise she is a Mashaba by name only.
“Kenneth and Paul’s departure will cause Dineo to stop and take stock of her life. On a journey of self-discovery, she returns to the past for answers and, the more she digs, the more she realises she may have opened a can of worms.”
As Sebogodi prepares to focus more on his stage work and his gospel music career, he admits he will miss the arrogance of Kenneth.
“I am a very bashful person in real life,” he smiles.
Meanwhile, Blomkamp says a lot of thought has gone into penning the actor’s exit.
“Kenneth is such a well-loved character, it would be ‘suicide’ to get rid of him. So no coffins or shootings. The opportunity will always exist for him to return. What we can say is that Kenneth may finally get what’s long been coming to him.”
And the head writer is confident the soap will absorb the blow of another loss.
Blomkamp adds: “The only constant in life is change. Even though the era of the Mashaba family is coming to an exciting end, its demise has created a great and challenging opportunity for a new generation of characters and storylines. Just as superbitch Ntsiki Lukhele, evil Jack Mabaso and conniving Julia Motene left and made way for the everyone-loves-to-hate villain, Kenneth, and his good-guy brother, Paul, so too will Kenneth step aside and pass on his baton.”
By the way, Kenneth’s departure will, aside from drawing in fresh faces, have a profound impact on the lives of Senzo Zondo, arch-rival Sibusiso “Ngamla” Dlomo as well as his friend and part-time lover, Ruby Dikobe.
lSeputla Sebogodi’s legacy as Kenneth Mashaba ends in August.