This fan favourite soapie has been watched by millions of South Africans for 21 years, who’ve been entertained with loveable characters like the Matabane family and villains like Barker and Cherel Haines. The soapie also aired one of the first weddings of an interracial couple, when Derek and Philippa welcomed their nearest and dearest for the wedding of the year in Horizon Deep.
For now, here are a few of the biggest moments that had fans glued to their screens in 2019.
The return of Cherel
Cherel de Villiers-Haines-Le Roux-Holmes returned to Isidingo: The Need for the soapie’s 21st anniversary celebrations.
Portrayed by Michelle Botes, her name is a mouthful, for the villain fans loved to hate.
With her scheming and manipulative ways, Cherel often let fans fuming, until her next scheme.
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Michelle left the soapie in 2007 when Cherel was sent to a mental asylum, but returned briefly in 2010, before leaving again.
Her return to Horizon Deep was more than welcome, to fans of the long-airing soapie.
Weza brings Angolan flair
Weza Solange became a household name across the continent, after making her TV debut and representing her country Angola in the hit reality show Big Brother Africa. Since then she’s pretty much stayed in the public eye as a TV personality and model.
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She joined Isidingo as Florence Attoh, a Ghanaian immigrant, whose story echoes so many realities for so many people.
Surprise! I’m pregnant
Soapies are notorious for their twists and turns that no one sees coming.
This was the case for Sechaba and Phindile, once a happy couple inlove.
Fans were super excited when these fan favourites got engaged – it was an emotional setting as both Sechaba and Phindile proposed marriage to each other.
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With both of them accepting, their happiness didn’t last long.
Palesa showed up to let Sechaba she is pregnant and that he is the father.
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Unbeknownst to her, Phindile’s life changed and her future with Sechaba was unclear.
Of course, Sechaba had his doubts, demanding Palesa take a paternity test. And while Sechaba is keeping this secret from Phindile, it’s just a question of when she’ll find out abut the pregnancy.
Shame… it’s been a tough year for Sechaba, who also resigned as mayor of Horizon Deep.
But for Motlatsi Mafatshe, who portrays the character of Sechaba, it's been a big year. Not only is he a musician, but he also stepped into the director's shoes, directing a few episodes of Isidingo: The Need.
Portraying this character for more than nine years also earned him a Royalty Soapie Award for Outstanding Lead Actor.
A beautiful and bold visitor
Fans of Isidingo: The Need were in for a major surprise, with a guest appearance from an actress whose been part of South African soapie fans lives for decades.
Katherine is of course well-known for her portrayal of Brooke Logan-Forrester of The Bold And The Beautiful.
She was in the country to participate in the gruelling Iron Man contest, and the soapie’s producers asked her if she’d like to appear on the soapie as herself.
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Katherine was in two episodes of Isidingo: The Need, and the photos of her hanging out with the cast on set was so special.
Of course, this isn’t the first time Hollywood stars make their appearance on Mzansi’s soapies.
Hollywood A-lister Samuel L Jackson and singer Chris Brown have both made acting appearances in another long-standing soapie, Generations.
Fan favourite says ciao and then hello
In 2018, fans welcomed Jo-Anne Reyneke as Lungi Biyela in Horizon Deep, falling in love with her almost immediately.
But less than a year later, Jo-Anne said goodbye, leaving her character in limbo.
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During her short stint on Isidingo: The Need, Jo-anne became a fan favourite. And her character Lungi faced a few troubles, especially after her significant other pulled all of the strings to bring her brother Manqoba to Horizon Deep.
Little did Lungi’s partner, Lincoln Sibeko, this would be the start of the end of their relationship.
Lungi hadn’t spoken to her brother Manqoba since their mother’s passing, and when he arrived in Horizon Deep and the siblings started talking, it didn’t take long for Lungi to find out it was her brother who killed her mother.
Although Jo-Anne said goodbye to her role as Lungi, rumours quickly swirled and was then confirmed that she will soon return to Isidingo: The Need.
