Season 1
Tshisa is a South African television youth drama series produced by Moja Movie Factory which focuses on two young people – Bafana and Ayanda – who win the job of presenting a sizzling new TV show and set against the backdrop of life choices, the price of fame, the allure of bling, the downward spiral of drugs, overcoming disability, love, relationships, HIV, families and the traditional ties that bind.
The series premiered on SABC1 on Thursday 21 September 2006, at 21h00. See "Seasons" below for seasonal broadcast dates and times.
The first season aired on SABC1 from 21 September to 14 December, 2006, on Thursdays at 21h00. New episodes broadcast weekly. There are 13 hour-long episodes in the first season.
Season 1
Tshisa plays off within popular youth culture.
It focuses on two young people – Bafana (19) and Ayanda (20) – who win the job of presenting a sizzling new TV show. Their boss is the stylish and determined young TV producer Vinolia.
Bafana also works the recording studios and the nightclubs with a troupe of dancers as his career as a kwaito star takes off. Ayanda, meanwhile, is establishing herself as a model.
The story moves out of the TV station and into the daily reality of the characters’ lives: Bafana’s family in Mondeor; his girlfriend, Precious, raised by a strictly traditional Ndebele grandmother; and Ayanda’s mother who has been growing progressively blind and must now learn to live with total blindness.
Tshisa is a story of how our choices affect those we love – especially the effect of drugs on those choices.
Tshisa is a tale of life choices; the price of fame; the allure of bling; the downward spiral of drugs; overcoming disability; love, relationships and HIV; families and the traditional ties that bind.
Each episode of Tshisa follows three lead characters in three big story arcs – Bafana, Ayanda and Vinolia. A smaller story features a celebrity appearance.
Celeb Appearances
Episode 01: Sbu Leope
Episode 02: Mafikizolo
Episode 03: Azania
Episode 04: Lira
Episode 05: Mzambiya and Msawawa
Episode 06: Zamajobe
Episode 07: Thebe
Episode 08: Ntando
Episode 09: Simphiwe Dana; Lebogang Mashile
Episode 10: MXO and Sliq Angel
Episode 11: Zubz and Ella Buta (fashion designer)
Episode 12: Tuks; Brickz and Sash
Episode 13: Malaika
Seasons
Series exclusive to SABC1
Season 1 (13 episodes)
Premiere: 21 September 2006 | Finale: 14 December 2006 | Thursdays, 21h00
Season 2 (26 episodes)
Premiere: 9 September 2008 | Finale: 3 March 2009 | Tuesdays, 20h30
Season 3 (26 episodes)
Premiere: 25 May 2012 | Finale: 23 November 2012 | Fridays, 20h30