‘Uzalo’ actress, Nompilo Maphumulo as Nosipho. Image via Instagram @uzalo_sabc1
‘Uzalo’ loses millions of viewers amidst gender-based violence storyline
The SABC 1 soapie that once had 10 million viewers, only managed 6,879, 581 million viewers in September.
‘Uzalo’ actress, Nompilo Maphumulo as Nosipho. Image via Instagram @uzalo_sabc1
SABC 1’s most-watched soapie, Uzalo has lost over a million viewers in the past five months.
The Broadcast Research Council of South Africa has reported that the show that once had 10 million viewers only managed 6,879, 581 viewers last month (September).
The show began losing viewers in June when it was sitting on 8,024,208 and dropped to 7,776,154 in July.
The spokesperson for Uzalo, Nomfundo Zondi stated that the soapie is still the most-watched show in the country even though the numbers have dropped.
“Viewers are still enjoying Uzalo. Reaching 10 million was a miracle.”
“We made history. With the interesting upcoming storyline, we believe we are going to gain more viewers.”
GBV STORYLINE
Legendary actor and motivational speaker, Patrick Shai, has scored a cameo role on Uzalo.
Daily Sun has reported that Shai’s character will get involved with the gender-based-violence storyline and will make a debut on the SABC 1 soapie on 8 November.
Shai is the founder and director of Khuluma Ndoda (Men Talk) which is an organisation that encourages men to speak out against gender-based violence.
Also read: ‘Uzalo’ November Spoilers: Njeza gets 10 years for assaulting Nosipho
Zondi stated that Shai will be joining the show on a cameo role basis as the show aims to educate viewers about gender-based violence.
“We have a storyline where a boyfriend (Njeza played by Nkanyiso Makhanya ) abuses his girlfriend (Nosipho played Nompilo Maphumulo).”
“Gender-based violence is a huge issue in Mzansi, and we had to do something about it, like the show.”
Zondi said Shai will talk to the men of KwaMashu and plead with them to protect women.
“We hope that with this storyline, there will be a decrease in the number of gender-based violence incidents.”
Also read: UZALO: Tonight’s episode, Friday 22 October 2021 – E165 S7
