'City' hasn't sold its soul

Already in its 10th incarnation, Soul City continues to be popular with viewers.

Starting in 1994, it has featured some of the country's most accomplished actors, including Connie Ferguson, Nandi Nyembe and Lillian Dube.

Series nine attracted more than 6 million viewers per episode, making it one of the most watched TV programmes in SA.

Nomonde Gongxeka, Sonia Sedibe, and Hakeem Kae Kazim have all starred in the drama and has furthered talent development through its Search for a Star competition. Winners such as Wandile Molebatsi, Doreen Kotsedi-Pitse and Sibongile Vilakazi were unknown until they won the competition.

Another success story is Fikile Mlomo, who won the Search for a Star competition in 2005 and who is now a successful gospel artist.

The 10th series of Soul City boasts the skills of Fana Mokoena, Stokvel's Zandile Msutwana, Vusi Kunene and David Dennis, who plays the much-loved Aids counsellor Sol, and who has been a character on the series for a long time.

Vusi Kunene has taken over from James Ngcobo in the role of Tifo, a troubled father who wants the community to back him on his quest to close down shebeens after his son is shot at one of them. His mission annoys Phil, played by Fana Mokoena, who storms out of a community meeting organised by Tifo.

Sue Goldstein, a senior executive of Soul City, attributes the show's success to the cast's hard work and the show's relevance to its target market. "We have tried different formats. The first three series were 24 minutes long, then we tried 60 minutes and now we are back to 24 minutes," she says.

Goldstein says the show's stellar results have made it easier to secure funding for each series.

"We work with the country's best production companies and they select the talent for us. But we are also very involved in the selection process."

• Soul City is on SABC1 every Monday at 8.30pm.