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Connie Ferguson

Bongani Ndlovu Showbiz Correspondent
THE revamped South African soapie Generations: The Legacy has been met with disappointment by some viewers over its new storyline. The popular soapie made a return to screens on Monday at its usual 8PM slot on SABC 1 replacing Skeem Saam which had been holding fort for the show after it went off air two months ago.

A few minutes into the screening of the first episode, viewers had taken to social networking site Twitter to express their displeasure. Whether it was from fear and dislike of change or exposure to better shows, South African viewers seemed less than impressed with Mfundi Vundla’s sequel to the much loved soap.

@FistazMixwell wrote: “Don’t normally watch #Generations but I must agree kuthi it looked like a ‘sketch’”. @myopinionkim conquered saying: “It’s like I’m watching a low budget Muvhango.”

Vundla, the executive producer and writer of the soapie, made holistic changes to its lineup and storyline after 16 actors and actresses of the old Generations were axed for staging a strike over salaries.

Some Twitter users and sympathisers of the fired cast vowed to never watch the soapie again.

þ@MbuleloFalakhe: Totally boring, Mfundi Vundla should have paid his actors n stuck with them. I’m done with Generations 4Gud!”

A hashtag #BringBackSkeemSaam was also created, with one of the 16 axed Generations actors Sophie Ndaba joining in the fun.

Though she did not comment, she simply preferred to retweet all the bad reviews of the show.

She retweeted @shireenorrie’s tweet: “Sorry, there is no #Generations without @Sophie_Ndaba. I shall give it a miss! Disappointed.”

Cosatu secretary-general Zwelinzima Vavi stood up for the canned actors saying: “I am not watching Generations ever again – in solidarity with dismissed actors”.

Meanwhile, the South African soapie has gone back to having the Moroka family as the rich and powerful family whose daily lives the audience will follow. The Morokas replace the Dlomo family.

However, recognisable actors and actresses such as Karabo Moroka played by Connie Ferguson and Tau Mogale played by Rapulana Seiphumo are a couple that fans immediately identified. In the new storyline they have children and will be grooming them to take over their media empire in the near future.

The first episode took viewers back in time with the opening scenes showing Karabo Moroka and Tau Mogale walking hand in hand to attend Paul Moroka’s memorial service.

Audiences were also introduced to Vuyo Dabula, playing Gaddifi, who some call the new Sibusiso Dlomo.