On Friday, 3 February 2023 The River just concluded its fifth season. A polarising and saddening season as it marked the departure of three fan-favourite characters from the telenovela. This includes Tango Ncetezo who played the beloved character of shebeen queen and unlucky in love, statement eyebrows Paulina.
Ncetezo took her final curtain call as her last episode aired.
Tonight at 20:00 she bids you farewell.
It’s been a pleasure.
Thank you♥️#TheRiver1Magic pic.twitter.com/nB06IWLk5R— Tango Ncetezo (@TangoNcetezo) February 3, 2023
Moreover, there was the simultaneous exit of Lawrence Maleka who played the kasi boy and right-hand man to the lead character Lindiwe Dlamini-Dikana, Zolani Dlamini. Similar to Ncetezo, Lawrence, who is normally a social media recluse, took to Twitter to interact with all the farewell messages as The River ends a prolific era with his exit.
We bid farewell to Zolani this evening at 8pm channel 103 on @1MagicTV @DStv #AnEraEndsZolani let’s all tune in 😉
— Lawrence (@Lawrence_Maleka) February 3, 2023
You’ve been there too every step on the way https://t.co/0eu78Lol2m
— Lawrence (@Lawrence_Maleka) February 3, 2023
Additionally, there is the exit of Hlomla Dandala as Lindiwe’s uLala a.k.a Zweli Dikana. While the character’s life hangs on the balance within the world of the story currently. Dandala has been the most forthcoming in terms of explaining why he left after he confirmed his exit last year towards the end of the year.
With the Dikana mansion all but empty except for co-executive producer and lead Sindi Dlathu as Lindiwe, there has been another confirmation of a Dikana family member leaving the mansion and telenovela as a whole.
Andile Dikana has been played for five seasons and counting by Lunga “Luchy” Mofokeng. He currently stands as the only remaining Dikana original child to have survived all five seasons into the upcoming fifth season. This is as previous seasons had the deaths of Mbali, Tumi, and now Zolani.
As such, when he took to Twitter recently. His post seemed to leave many confused as to whether he was bidding farewell to his exiting cast members or he was announcing his own departure from the show.
It’s been good! Farewell my good friends #TheRiver1Magic
— Lunga Luchy Mofokeng (@lunga_luchy) February 3, 2023
Seeing as many were confused, it would make sense that Luchy addressed the matter. However, this has been his last post since.
The whole show is leaving nje
— Ongeziwe Zondani (@MissONGI) February 3, 2023
I hear you😭🙌🏿🙌🏿
— 🍂S e B a B a T s O🌻 (@_Sebarbie) February 4, 2023
Yeyi gape ke maketse ke re maybe ke nna ke sa understandeng 😂
— 📚🍎Ma’am Mpho🍎📚 (@Mpho_nki) February 4, 2023
However, when looking at the teasers for the month of February 2023, Luchy’s character will play an integral role in pushing the story forward. This is as he will be named the CEO of Khanyisa Diamonds as Lindiwe deals with the loss she has experienced.
Monday 13 February 2023: Episode 6
Life must go on
Dimpho is forced to confront the truth and Andile takes on a lot more than everyone thinks he can handle.
Whether this means he will stay the whole season remains to be seen. However, whatever the case is, The River is using this upcoming season as its last as it was reported yesterday:
The River cancelled?
Leading entertainment commentator Phil Mphela was the one to break the story that allegedly The River has not been renewed for a seven season. This means that following the upcoming sixth season we will be bidding farewell to Khanyisa Diamonds and Sindi Dlathu as the now iconic and villainous Lindiwe Dlamini-Dikana.
STATEMENTS
Shirley Adonisi — Director, Local Entertainment Channels (Mnet)
Phathu Makwarela — Executive Producer (Tshedza Pictures) pic.twitter.com/NpZXrpcuUq
— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) February 3, 2023
While it was initially believed that the cancellation was a decision made by M-Net, Phil Mphela shared an update suggesting that the decision to end the telenovela after six seasons was one that was mutual as explained by the blurb by Phathu Makwarela in the official statement on the end of The River.
UPDATE:
I am told the decision to end the show was at the request from Tshedza Pictures to not do another season.
The cancellation was a mutual agreement from channel and producers. #KgopoloReports https://t.co/ixoTXn8XkN pic.twitter.com/5QWPTzHXTf
— Kgopolo (@PhilMphela) February 3, 2023
Source: News365.co.za
In other news – Big disappointment in Dineo Ranaka’s party on the ship
Dineo Ranaka’s party ship turned into a nightmare for people who paid handsomely to be a part of the cruise. The radio personality hosted a ship cruise from Durban to the Portuguese Island, but many were left disappointed as the ship didn’t get to the island.
The “Cruise With Dineo & Friends”, which started at the MSC New Durban Harbour on 27 January was scheduled to return on 30 January. Learn More
