'Generations: The Legacy' Still Ranks Among Top Soap Operas in Mzansi
- Entertainment commentator Phil Mphela recently revealed that Generations: The Legacy was the second most-watched show in South Africa
- The legendary soap opera, which has been on our screens since 1994, was beaten by its longstanding rival, Uzalo
- The show's continued success came as a surprise to online users, with many accusing its viewers of having "bad taste"
Source: Getty Images
It has long been considered the Mother of all Soaps, after it consistently ranked amongst the most-watched local television shows.
Generations: The Legacy, which was created by Mfundi Vundla, continues to live up to its reputation. It recently reclaimed its spot as the second most-watched show in South Africa.
The news was shared on X by entertainment commentator Phil Mphela. He revealed that SABC1's Uzalo still topped the list:
"The number one spot is still held by Uzalo, which continues to be a juggernaut with an episode median audience pull peak of around 3.5 million!"
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Mphela added that the legendary soap knocked Skeem Saam, which had held the position for most of the year, out of its spot.
Online users react to the statistics
Netizens found the news hard to believe, with many mocking Generations' viewers for having "bad taste".
@mzalwanewabantu wrote:
"Simply because South Africans can’t afford paid channels."
@Xolani_khabazel added:
"Generations in 2025? Some people have time."
@moth80094 asked:
"Who still watches generations?"
The legacy of Generations lives on
The soap made headlines more than a decade ago when it was revealed that its entire cast had got the boot after a falling out over salaries.
At the time, it was the country's longest-running soap opera and had around seven million fans glued to their screens every night.
But 2014 marked the end of a 20-year era when disputes started between the show's execs and its actors. The cast went on strike, demanding higher salaries and compensation for when the show featured in other African countries.
Execs were willing to negotiate but required that the cast continue filming. When none of the 16 actors pitched for work, they were fired, and a completely new cast was hired.
Mfundi Vundla told Talk Radio 702 at the time that the actors were replaceable.
"Generations will go on; it doesn't mean the demise of the series."
Mfundi's words may have seemed cold at the time, but he wasn't wrong.
In 2016, Generations: The Legacy garnered more than eight million viewers and was once more crowned the top soap in Mzansi.
Over the years, it's been in a standoff with Uzalo for the top spot, so much so that Mfundi once accused Uzalo of sabotaging his show by stealing his storylines.
Source: Getty Images
Where is Chichi Letswalo?
In a previous entertainment news article, Briefly News reported on former Generations actress Chichi Letswalo.
Chichi, who took time off from acting, had fans speculating on her whereabouts after her hiatus lasted longer than expected.
According to TshisaLIVE, the 44-year-old moved to America to study arts in New York City.
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Source: Briefly News
