Multi-talented TV star Lawrence Maleka has bid farewell to Mzansi's favorite telenovela The River.
Read More: Lawrence Maleka’s Official Farewell From The River [WATCH]
Read More: Lawrence Maleka’s Official Farewell From The River [WATCH]
The actor took to his Instagram account to pen a heartfelt message to his fans, expressing his gratitude for their support. Lawrence who plays Zolani Dlamini in the 1Magic Telenovela has signed out of the show in style. His departure leaves many fans heartbroken, but sadly they will have to accept that Zolani is no more.
"To the fans, those who gave me the confidence to stick with it, those who encouraged my perfect blend of self-delusion and ego to think I can succeed where others have failed, those who vote, like, retweet, and pray for me, I thank you. With this character many of you saw people you know, loved ones, siblings and friends, and fond and painful memories; you celebrate me because I am of you! I love you all! #AnEraEndsZolani," he wrote.
His fans took to the comments section to give him his flowers and bid farewell to him.
mandy.lungu wrote "Aww man 😢 You are a true talent and took us on this journey with you. Iconic moments we will miss. Please return to the screens again in another role 👏👏👏 THANK YOU AND YOU WILL BE MISSED. ZO."
coeventscharacters commented "hope you come back as zombie or something please the river won’t be the same without you"
molebogeng_porogo wrote "You did well Lawrence, thank you for sharing your craft with us. The very best for the foreseeable future."
As previously reported, The River is coming to an end with its sixth season. The show has scooped 26 SAFTAs out of 31 nominations, and with one 47th International Emmy Award nomination to its name, it still remains the most-awarded telenovela in South Africa.
“At M-Net Local Entertainment Channels we would like to extend our most sincere gratitude to the cast and crew of The River for a memorable five years. Their hard work, dedication, and brilliance have led to the telenovela’s success. The final season is going to be the show’s most epic one yet. The drama will be bigger and better, setting the stage for the ultimate finale,” said Shirley Adonisi, Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net.
Phathu Makwarela, Executive Producer at Tshedza Pictures, said: “When we created The River seven years ago, we knew that we wanted to tell a story that will have a definite ending. Now on its sixth season, we feel the time is right to bring the story of these beloved characters to an end, on our own terms and when viewers still treasure the show. As the saying goes, ‘a good dancer always knows when to leave the stage’, and now it’s that time for The River.
Over the years, The River has given top names a platform to shine, while unearthing new talent who have gone on to enjoy fruitful careers. New talent such as: Zenokuhle Maseko; Larona Moagi; Lunga Mofokeng; Thabiso Ramotshela; Jessica Sithole; and most recently, Unathi Mkhize, Vuyo Biyela, and Tina Dlathu. While actors like Lawrence Maleka, Thembinkosi Mthembu, Lunga Shabalala, and Lunathi Mampofu’s careers grew even further due to the prominent characters they played on the show.
Image Cred: Twitter
Image Cred: Twitter