Star-crossed zombies

Tonight more than 1.5 million hearts will climb into mouths as the telenovela-cum soapie Isibaya Season One reaches its dramatic climax.

Over the past year the show's protagonists have grappled with the high drama of the taxi industry, unrequited love and zombies.

Since it first aired the show has become one of the most popular programmes on South African television screens.

It is one of the few programmes in its genre that is shot almost exclusively on location, and its seamless blending of our country's rural and urban stories has endeared it to fans.

If there is one way to gauge that popularity it is in the Twitter universe, where Isibaya regularly has "tweeps" chattering about the latest twist in the Zungu versus Ndlovu saga.

For those who have spent the last year hiding under a rock, Isibaya tells the story of two rival families, the Zungus and the Ndlovus. The wealth of both families, which was once in cattle, now lies in the taxi business. The taxi industry refers to fleets of taxis as esibayeni, a symbol for wealth and power.

Isibaya is a distinctly South African story with a heavy Shakespearean flavour in the form of two star-crossed lovers from either side of the family feud.

The tale mixes the drama of Johannesburg's taxi industry with the supernatural mystery of abomkhevu, zombies, in a way that chills even the most sceptical viewer. Shooting on location has given Isibaya a much more authentic feel than programmes shot in studios.

We were invited behind the scenes, and found a surprising mix of anxious calm and an upturned ant hill.

With the rain lazily colliding with the driveway of the prominent new character Bhekifa's (Vusi Kunene) house, actors shared hushed whispers in the garage as a scene was shot in the plush home behind them.

If I had not known better I would have thought they were the victims of an aborted house party.

The real activity was on the other side of the house, where compelling scenes from the next season were unfolding under the production staff's watchful gaze. An army of black-clad film crew and actors scurried around making sure that all was in readiness for the moment when the director shouted ''action". Only in this case it was the director of photography, not the director.

Once that word is spoken, the entire room holds its breath.

Tonight's finale may finally answer questions about the undead Mphiyake Zungu's fate but the introduction of a host of new characters promises to turn the entire Isibaya world on its head.

Season Two starts on Monday at 8.30pm and will air Mondays to Fridays on Mzansi Magic, DStv channel 161

Key Characters

Mpiyakhe Zungu (Siyabonga Thwala)

Before we saw him as umkhovu (a zombie), he was a high-profile taxi boss and head of the Zungu family. He has three wives.

Samson Ndlovu (Bheki Mkhwane)

He is the main villain. A fierce taxi owner - and rival to Zungu - from the West valley. He is also a proud father who wants to teach his son, S'bu, principles and family honour.

Mkabayi Zungu (Thembi Nyandeni)

Similar to Dowager Countess Violet Crawley in the Brit series 'Downton Abbey', Mkabayi is a no-nonsense, authoritative matriarch and Mpiyakhe's sister.

Iris Zungu (Mampho Brescia)

One of Mpiyakhe's wives, but very different from the other two. She is a 'city wife', sexy, fashionable and well-spoken. On the flipside, she's also very calculating and manipulative - and deeply flawed.

S'bu Ndlovu (Sdumo Mtshali)

Samson's son who falls in love with Zungu's daughter, Thandeka. He is being groomed to take over the taxi business from his father.

Thandeka Zungu (Nomzamo Mbatha)

Mpiyakhe's beautiful and well- educated daughter, whose romance with S'bu is immediately doomed.

Shadrack (Samson Khumalo)

The Zungus' even-mannered yard manager (and a close friend of Mpiyakhe), who wants peace in the valley. He is also very attracted to Mkabayi.

Andile Ndlovu