Mzansi Magic’s first ever telenovela, Isibaya is coming to an end in April 2021 after eight seasons on our screens. Since its inception in 2013, viewers have walked the journey with each character and witnessed these characters' special moments.
Read More| Isibaya's head writer pays tribute to fellow colleagues as the show comes to an end
Some of our favourite plots were of characters' falling in love – making for beautiful love stories.
Let's take a walk down memory lane and look back at some of the greatest love stories from Isibaya.
We were first introduced to Thandeka (played by Nomzamo Mbatha) and Sbu (played by Sdumo Mtshali) in the very first episode of Isibaya where the two first met at the village river and took a liking to each other.
At the time, Thandeka was an educated girl from the city while Sbu was the complete opposite. The pair fell in love and were faced by the challenge of their families being rivals. Eventually they overcame that challenge, got married and had two children.
Thandeka was then tragically killed and died in Sbu’s arms.
Qondi (played by Jessica Nkosi) and Fezile (played by Andile Mxakaza) fell in love while both working in the Zungu household – Qondi a helper and Fezile a hitman for the family. The two made things official when Fezile planned a romantic night at a hotel for himself and Qondi but soon things fell apart when Qondi was taken away by King Ngubane and she was married into royalty.
Since then, Fezile had to love Qondi from a distance and soon the two moved on from each other, even though they still had love for each other.
After everything that happened between them, Fezile decided to finally let Qondi go in a bittersweet ending to their love.
Similar to Thandeka and Sbu’s love story, Jabu (played by Pallance Dladla) and Zama (Linda Mtoba) found love with each other even though their families were in war with each other.
The two fought to be together against all the obstacles they faced. Jabu changed his playboy ways for Zama and the couple was deeply in love. In a tragic turn of events, Zama was shot and killed during her and Jabu’s umembeso (traditional wedding).
Zweli (played by the late Andile Gumbi) unexpectedly found love in the hands of Sihle (played by Zinhle Mabena) after his father, King Bhekifa Ngubane (played by Vusi Kunene) died, and he had to take the reigns.
With no interest of prolonging his father’s legacy, Sihle helped groom Zweli into falling inlove with the chieftaincy and the two got married, becoming king and queen of Bhubesini.
However, after a while Sihle’s evil ways made Zweli lose interest in her and once he wanted out of the relationship, Sihle plotted his death.
Buhle (played by Mbali Maphumalo) and Ntandane (played by Mdu Gumede) ’s love story was a sweet but very short-lived one as Buhle was accidentally killed in a shootout that occurred at the Zungu household. It took Ntandane years to get over the death of his first love and he bought himself a taxi, which he named after Buhle.
Pam( played by Lorraine Mphephi) and Skhaleni(Zakhele Mabasa) fell inlove while both working in the Zungu’s city household. Pam was a helper and Ntandane, a driver of the taxis owned by the family. The pair started off as colleagues who annoyed each other but eventually, Skhaleni won over the heart of Pam and they got married and are still happy together.
The true definition of a ‘Bonnie and Clyde’ type of relationship, Zanele (played By Sibusisiwe Jili) and Qaphela (Abdul Khoza) fell in love with each other’s flaws. They were both scheming individuals and Zanele supported and planned some of Qaphela’s evil deeds.
She died after overdosing on drugs.
An unlikely love story – Saddam (Simon Mdakhi) who was a hitman for the Ngwenya family, fell in love with his boss’ mother in-law, Lillian (Linda Sebezo). The two’s relationship was disapproved by many but they overcame that challenge and their love is still going strong.
