SABC2 drama 7de Laan was voted the best soapie at the South African Film and Television Awards at the State Theatre in Pretoria on Saturday.
SABC2 drama 7de Laan was voted the best soapie at the South African Film and Television Awards at the State Theatre in Pretoria on Saturday.
7de Laan's impressive performance was against two leading soapies, Generations and Isidingo. This category was the only one of which the fate was decided by television audiences who voted through SMSes.
Other notable winners included Katlego Danke, who romped home with the Best Actress award, and fellow actor Seputla Sebogodi, also known as Kenneth Mashaba on Generations, who took the Best Actor award. The SABC1 production A Place Called Home, won five awards. Isidingo also did well and so did Sokhulu & Partners.
Veteran actor John Kani, whom the judges gave a Lifetime Achievement award, and who was also declared a winner in the Best Feature Film category, complained about why South Africans had not been given the opportunity to play Nelson Mandela or his former wife Winnie, while Americans have been given these roles.
"South Africans have always competed very well internationally. Why can't I play Mandela?" Kani said amid applause.
This year's awards were attended by guests who included mainly actors from television and film dressed to impress. After the ceremony it was time to party, with delegates showing off their dancing skills.