Isibaya's soapie fans in a lather

Life couldn't be sweeter for the producers and cast of the cult phenomenon Isibaya after it dominated the inaugural Royalty Soapie Awards by clinching 10 of 18 awards - including outstanding soapie - at the weekend.

Days earlier, it received 12 nominations for the forthcoming SA Film and Television Awards.

And yet another fillip - the show, originally a telenovela of 208 episodes, has, as a result of popular demand, been turned into a four-episodes-a-week soapie and has won great ratings.

Viewers will on Monday see episode 209, and a whole lot more after that.

Award-winning casting director Kutlwano Ditsele said the show was a winner because of the team's "attention to detail" and "experience you cannot buy".

"Everything is so precise that our actors will attest to the fact that scripts can sometimes be held back until the 11th hour."

The younger cast members - including Nomzamo Mbatha (Thandeka), Jessica Nkosi (Qondi), Mampho Brescia (Iris Zungu) and Ditsele - all have Twitter accounts and regularly respond to fans or live-tweets during the show's riveting moments.

It's not uncommon to come across such sentiments as: "Haven't seen #Isibaya for so long it feels like it's been years, like it's a whole other world detached from my own. I'm heartbroken" and "It's Monday and I can't wait for #Isibaya tonight".

"We're very aware of what the fans are saying on social media and one doesn't have to look too hard to see that social media play a big part in the success of a show," said Ditsele.

"We want to be involved but we can't be swayed - one day fans hate us and are threatening to never watch again, the next they want more. We must tell our story and let the audience engage with that story because there are a lot of armchair directors and writers out there."

Another winning factor is the show's cross-generational balance. Yes, there's the casual popping of Moët & Chandon bottles every morning by gold-digger Iris. But, just as likely, there is a powerful taxi owner with three wives and children who have grown up with a private education but who are often grappling with the cultural expectations placed on them by a strict and traditional family.

The writers have managed to marry it all together and shown an understanding of a society in which people's lives and experiences are changing greatly.

Upcoming developments will see Mpiyakhe returning to his family, though they will not be certain that he has his memory back. He is determined to end rumours that he is a zombie. L ovebirds Thandeka and Sbu are to get back together and the former's brother, Jabu, celebrates the birth of his son with baby momma Lerato.

• Isibaya is on Mzansi Magic on DStv at 8.30pm.