The River (South African TV series)

*The River*
The River
	Season 6 poster
Genre	Drama
Created by	Phathutshedzo Makwarela; Gwydion Beynon
Developed by	Tshedza Pictures; Phathutshedzo Makwarela; Gwydion Beynon;
Written by	Various
Directed by	Various
Creative directors	Johnny Barbuzano; Bonga Percy Vilakazi
Starring	Sindi Dlathu; Presley Chweneyagae; Hlomla Dandala; Moshidi Motshegwa; Larona Moagi; Lawrence Maleka; Tinah Mnumzana; Tsholofelo Matshaba; Lunga Shabalala; Tango Ncetezo; Lunga Mofokeng; Matshepo Sekgopi; Thembinkosi Mthembu; Linda Mtoba; Zenokuhle Maseko; Galaletsang Koffmann; Thapelo Sebogodi; Thabiso Ramotshela; Siyabonga Sepotokele; Jet Novuka; Ferry Jele; Brenda Ngxoli; Nokuthula Mavuso; Seputla Sebogodi; Siyabonga Thwala; Bheki Mkhwane; Thembi Mtshali Jones; Lunathi Mampofu; Thoko Ntshinga; Chuck Shisana; Nhlanhla Kunene; Brenda Mhlongo; Vuyo Biyela; Unathi Mkhize; Tina Dlathu;
Theme music composer	Brendan Jury; Sindi Dlathu
Opening theme	Brendan Jury
Composers	Brendan Jury; Sindi Dlathu
Country of origin	South Africa
Original languages	English; Setswana; IsiZulu; IsiXhosa
No. of seasons	6
No. of episodes	1,560
Production
Executive producers	Phathutshedzo Makwarela; Gwydion Beynon; Sindi Dlathu;
Producers	Candice Tennant; Bonga Percy Vilakazi; Durani Barnardo
Production locations	Cullinan Diamond Mine; Refilwe; Silver Lakes
Editors	Bongi Malefo; Ula Oelsen
Camera setup	Multi-camera
Running time	22–24 minutes
Production company	Tshedza Pictures
Original release
Network	1Magic
Release	29 January 2018 –; 2 February 2024
Related
	The Wife; The Queen

The River is a South African television drama series created by Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon.^[2] An M-Net production by Tshedza Pictures for DStv's general-entertainment subscription channel 1Magic, it is available for streaming on Naspers' Showmax. Reruns began airing weekdays on Mzansi Magic in 2019, and older reruns began airing weekdays on Mzansi Wethu in 2021.

In 2021, series lead Sindi Dlathu was announced as co-executive producer for the show's fourth season. The River was renewed for season five, which premiered on 7 February 2022, in November 2021. The series was renewed for a sixth and final season, premiering on 6 February 2023.

The drama series is set in Pretoria against the backdrop of South Africa's mining industry. A diamond discovery in the river running between the poor township of Refilwe and the affluent neighborhood of Silver Lakes quickly turns from a blessing to a curse.

Plot

Lindiwe owns a mine, marries a police commissioner, and has two children. Mine foreman Thato Mokoena finds a $45 million diamond in the river that runs through Refilwe. Lindiwe murders Thato, places the diamond in her mine, and covers up the murder. Zweli's daughter, Nomonde, becomes Lindiwe's enemy.

Malefu Mokoena struggles to raise her children after her husband's death. Her oldest son, Thuso, is in and out of jail. Her adopted daughter, Tumi, marries Lindiwe's nephew Zolani Dlamini. Lindiwe employs Tumi at Khanyisa Diamonds. She tries to steal land in Refilwe, but Tumi foils her.

Malefu tells Tumi that she was adopted. Tumi divorces Zolani, who reveals that Lindiwe killed her father. Tumi and her new boyfriend, Lindani, return to the Dikana mansion. Tumi learns that Lindiwe is her biological mother; she is kidnapped and buried alive by Lindiwe, who knows that Zolani told Tumi about Thato's murder. Lindiwe finds Tumi's message, and attempts suicide. Lindani rescues Tumi, who files charges against Lindiwe; Lindiwe is imprisoned and acquitted.

Christo tells Zweli about Lindiwe. Zweli asks Lindiwe for a divorce, and orders her to leave with Zolani. Mbali abuses drugs; Nomonde becomes CEO of Khanyisa Diamonds, and Zweli becomes a company shill.

After rescuing Mbali, Zweli tells his children about Lindiwe. Cobra and Paulina contest an interim ward election. Percy and Oupa rig the election in Cobra's favor, and Cobra invites Paulina to join the council.

Lindiwe resurfaces in her childhood Refilwe shack, powerless and abandoned. Tumi sets her shack afire; Zolani rescues her, and Sis Flora takes them in.

Cobra uses his position corruptly. Nomonde struggles to keep the mine afloat, juggling her relationship with Lindani. She begins looking for a new CEO. Gail Mathabatha (Mary Ann Barlow) is hired, and soon begins a romantic relationship with Zweli. Lindiwe kills her on their wedding day.

Zweli (now in a wheelchair) asks Lindiwe to marry him again. Tumi and Lindiwe reconcile and Tumi marries her childhood sweetheart, Lindani.

Thuso, Percy, and Oupa steal Lindiwe's diamonds, and Thuso gives them to Lindani to hold. Lindani tells his friend Charlie about the diamonds; Lindiwe and Zolani torture Charlie, go to Lindani's house and find the diamonds. When Lindani comes in, Lindiwe shoots him.

Tumi and Mbali overhear Lindiwe and Zolani celebrating, and Tumi tampers with the brakes of Lindiwe's car. Mbali takes her mother's car, and is killed.

Zolani finds love with Emma. She realizes that he is Lindiwe's employee; they break up, and he reconciles with Lindiwe.

Cobra's ex arrives with their son, Morena. Morena steals from the townspeople, but Cobra does not believe them. Andile's boyfriend Njabulo returns with a friend, Mondli. Mondli and Njabulo begin a relationship, and Andile breaks up with him. Andile attempts suicide, and he and Njabulo reconcile. Mabutho and Tumi begin an affair, and Andile learns about it. Tumi ends it, and leaves her and Lindani's bedroom. The Dikanas and Lindani see her, and Mabutho admits that he and Tumi are in love. Emma returns, pregnant with Zolani's baby, and Zolani proposes to her.

Mohumi, Lindiwe's ex and Thato's friend, seeks revenge. He and his rebels hold Lindiwe and her family hostage and want to kill Tumi, but Lindiwe tells Mohumi that he is Tumi's father.

Tumi visits Mohumi after his arrest, and Lindiwe tells Detective Tshabalala to bug the room. Tumi tells Mohumi that she killed Mbali. Lindiwe goes to Mohumi's prison cell and admits killing Happy, Sheree, and Gail. Mohumi records her, sends Tumi the recording and tells her to post it on social media. Tumi shows Lindiwe the recording.

Zolani and Emma marry. Tumi, in a helicopter, wants to reveal Lindiwe's crimes at the wedding. Lindiwe tries to talk her out of it; she and Tshabalala drive to the helipad and she shoots at the helicopter, which explodes with Tumi inside it.

Elvis coerces Lindiwe to marry him, and Zweli has a letter as insurance. Zolani shoots Elvis, who is wearing a bulletproof vest and asks Zweli for protection.

Cobra is arrested. Zweli investigates Tumi's death, and Cobra is released. Lindiwe kills Elvis with a poisoned condom. Zweli learns that Lindiwe killed Tumi, and meets Nyakallo (Sis Flora's niece); they marry, but Lindiwe kills Nyakallo and they reconcile.

Cast

Season 1–mid-season 2:

Presley Chweneyagae as Thuso "Cobra" Mokoena
Moshidi Motshekgwa as Malefu Mokoena
Hlomla Dandala as Zweli Dikana
Lawrence Maleka as Zolani Dlamini
Lunga Shabalala as Lindani Dlomo
Larona Moagi as Itumeleng "Tumi" Mokoena^[3]
Sindi Dlathu as Lindiwe Dlamini-Dikana

Early season 2–season 3:

Presley Chweniyagae as Thuso Mokoena
Tinah Mnumzana as Flora Moloi
Hlomla Dandala as Zweli Dikana
Lawrence Maleka as Zolani Dlamini
Lunga Shabalala as Lindani Dlomo
Larona Moagi as Tumi Dlomo
Sindi Dlathu as Lindiwe Dikana

Season 4-early Season 6:

Presley Chweneyagae as Thuso Mokoena
Tina Mnumzana as Flora Moloi^[4]
Hlomla Dandala as Zweli Dikana
Lawrence Maleka as Zolani Dlamini
Thembinkosi Mthembu as Mabutho Dimba
Tsholofelo Matshaba as Kedibone Mokoena
Sindi Dlathu as Lindiwe Dlamini-Dikana

Season 6 (mid-to-late):

Presley Chweneyagae as Thuso Mokoena
Tina Mnumzana as Flora Moloi
Siyabonga Thwala as Bangizwe Zwane
Bheki Mkhwane as Bukhosi Hlophe
Matshepo Sekgopi as Dimpho Mokoena
Tsholofelo Matshaba as Kedibone Mokoena
Sindi Dlathu as Lindiwe Dlamini-Zwane

Actors	Characters	Seasons
Actors	Characters	1	2	3	4	5	6
Sindi Dlathu (Sindiswa Dlathu)	Lindiwe Dlamini-Dikana	Main
Presley Chweneyagae	Thuso Mokoena	Main
Siyabonga Thwala	Bangizwe Zwane	Does not appear					Main
Tinah Mnumzana	Flora Moloi	Main
Tsholofelo Matshaba	Kedibone Mokoena	Does not appear	Main
Matshepo Sekgopi	Dimpho Mokoena	Main
Galaletsang Koffman	Beauty	Main
Dr Thembi Jones	Thandeka Dlamini	Does not appear					Recurring
Lucky Kunene	Ndumiso Zwane	Does not appear					Main
Thapelo Sebogodi	Khabzela	Main
Thabiso Ramotshehla	Morena Mokoena	Does not appear		Recurring	Main
Chuck Shisane	Sbusiso Tshabalala	Recurring			Main
Ferry Jele	Veronica Dlamini	Recurring
Tshepo Seogiso	Charlie	Guest	Recurring

Former cast members
Actors	character	Seasons
Actors	character	1	2	3	4	5	6
Larona Moagi	Tumi Mokoena	Main			Does not appear
Hlomla Dandala	Zweli Dikana	Main					Main
Lunga Mofekeng	Andile Dikana-Sibiya	Main
Linda Mtoba	Nomonde Dikana	Main				Recurring
Bheki Mkhwane	Bukhosi Hlophe	Does not appear				Main
Brenda Mhlongo	Nomafu Hlophe	Does not appear				Main
Tina Dlathu	Khewzi Hlophe	Does not appear				Recurring	Main
Unathi Mkhize	Nkanyiso Hlophe	Does not appear				Main
Vuyo Biyela	Mlilo Hlophe	Does not appear				Main
Lunathi Mampofu	Emmarentia Dlamini	Does not appear		Recurring	Main		Does not appear
Jessica Sithole	Nyakallo Kgomo	Does not appear			Recurring	Does not appear
Ayanda Borotho	Zanezulu	Does not appear					Recurring
Mary-Anne Barlow	Gail Mathabatha	Does not appear	Recurring	Does not appear
Siya Sepotokele	Njabulo Sibiya	Recurring
Lawrence Maleka	Zolani Dlamini	Main					Does not appear
Tango Ncetezo	Paulina Dlomo	Main					Does not appear
Moshidi Motshegwa	Malefu Mokoena	Main		Does not appear
Kagiso Rathebe	Kieth	Does not appear					Recurring
Lunga Shabalala	Lindani Dlomo	Main			Does not appear
Don Mlangeni Nawa	Thato Mokoena	Recurring	Does not appear
Jet Novuka	Walter	Recurring	Does not appear
Mavuso Magabane	Ntsizwa	Does not appear		Recurring	Does not appear
Zenokuhle Maseko	Mbali Dikana	Main		Does not appear
Kenned Sted	Goliath	Recurring	Does not appear
Seipati Motshwane	Augustine	Does not appear			Recurring	Does not appear
Renate Stuurman	Sheree	Recurring	Does not appear
TK Sebothoma	Happy	Main	Does not appear
Anele Zondo	Faith	Main	Recurring	Does not appear		Recurring	Does not appear
Fezile Makhanya	Mqobi	Does not appear				Recurring	Does not appear
Zolani Phakade	Mkhize	Recurring	Does not appear
Sannah Mchunu	Matilda	Recurring		Does not appear
Lebohang Tlokana	Dora Phakathi	Recurring		Does not appear
Sello Maake Ka Ncube	Sechabe	Guest	Does not appear	Guest	Does not appear
Warren Masemola	Oupa	Recurring				Does not appear
Zenzo Ngqobe	Percy	Recurring				Does not appear
Thabo Malema	Ten Ten	Recurring		Does not appear
Seputla Sebogodi	Mohumi Ditshweni	Does not appear		Recurring		Does not appear
Patric Shai	Phasha	Does not appear			colspan="1"{{c
Connie Ferguson	Harriet Khoza	Guest	Does not appear

Awards and nominations

Year	Award	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref.
2019	South African Film and Television Awards	Best Telenovela	The River	Won	^[5]
		Best Actress - Telenovela	Moshidi Motshegwa	Won
		Best Actress - Telenovela	Sindi Dlathu	Nominated
		Best Actor - Telenovela	Presley Chweneyagae	Won
		Best Actor - Telenovela	Hlomla Dandala	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor - Telenovela	Lawrence Maleka	Won
		Best Supporting Actor - Telenovela	Zenzo Ngqobe	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress - Telenovela	Ferry Jele	Nominated
		Best Achievement in Directing - Telenovela	Johnny Barbuzano, Catharine Cooke, Zolani Phakade and Ferry Jele	Won
		Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – Telenovela	Gwydion Beynon & Phathutshedzo Makwarela	Won
		Best Achievement in Original Music/Score – Telenovela	Brendan Jury	Won
		Best Achievement in Editing – Telenovela	Ula Oelsen, Bongi Malefo & Matodzi Nemungadi	Won
		Best Achievement in Sound – Telenovela	Ben Oelsen, Lele Seate & Tladi Mabuya	Won
		Best Achievement in Cinematography – Telenovela	Gaopie Kabe & Trevor Brown	Won
		Best Achievement in Wardrobe − Telenovela	The River	Won
		Best Achievement in Hair & Make-Up − Telenovela	The River	Won
		Best Achievement in Art Direction − Telenovela	The River	Nominated
	47th International Emmy Awards	Best Telenovela	The River	Nominated
2020	South African Film and Television Awards	Best Achievement in Directing - Telenovela	Ferry Jele, Catharine Cooke, Zolani Phakade & Johnny Barbuzano	Won	^[6]
		Best Achievement in Scriptwriting - Telenovela	Gwydion Beynon, Phathutshedzo Makwarela, Christa Biyela, Lebogang Mogashoa & Mamello Lebona	Won
		Best Achievement in Editing - Telenovela	Bongi Malefo, Matodzi Nemungadi & Ula Oelsen	Won
		Best Achievement in Sound - TV Soap/Telenovela	Ben Oelsen, Juli Vanden Berg & Tladi Steven Mabuya	Won
		Best Achievement in Cinematography - Telenovela	Trevor Brown	Won
		Best Achievement in Wardrobe - TV Soap/Telenovela	Alice Mataboge	Won
		Best Achievement in Make-Up and Hairstyling- TV Soap/Telenovela	Bongi Mlotshwa	Won
		Best Actress - Telenovela	Sindi Dlathu	Won
		Best Supporting Actress - Telenovela	Mary-Anne Barlow	Won
		Best Telenovela	The River	Won
2021		Best Achievement in Scriptwriting	The River	Won	^[7]
		Best Achievement in Original Music/Score		Won
		Best Achievement in Editing		Won
		Best Achievement in Sound		Won

References

^ "The river". Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
^ Mbonambi, Buhle. "The River Telenovela". Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
^ Kinuthia, Peter (21 July 2022). "Who is Larona Moagi? Biography, age, child, husband, career, profiles, net worth". Briefly. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
^ Gitonga, Ruth (22 June 2021). "Tinah Mnumzana: age, husband, career, P.O.B., The River, net worth". Briefly. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
^ Shumba, Ano (4 March 2019). "SA Film and Television Awards 2019: All the winners". Music in Africa. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
^ Engelbrecht, Leandra. "All the winners at the 2020 Saftas". channel 24. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
^ Keshia Africa (22 May 2021). "All the 2021 Safta winners". Independent Online. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.

External links

The River at IMDb
The River in TVSA

[1] "The river". Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 28 January 2018.

[:0-2] Mbonambi, Buhle. "The River Telenovela". Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 31 January 2018.

[moagi-3] Kinuthia, Peter (21 July 2022). "Who is Larona Moagi? Biography, age, child, husband, career, profiles, net worth". Briefly. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.

[Mnumzana-4] Gitonga, Ruth (22 June 2021). "Tinah Mnumzana: age, husband, career, P.O.B., The River, net worth". Briefly. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.

[5] Shumba, Ano (4 March 2019). "SA Film and Television Awards 2019: All the winners". Music in Africa. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 23 March 2020.

[6] Engelbrecht, Leandra. "All the winners at the 2020 Saftas". channel 24. Archived from the original on 23 September 2020. Retrieved 18 September 2020.

[7] Keshia Africa (22 May 2021). "All the 2021 Safta winners". Independent Online. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 23 May 2021.

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