Season 1
Bay of Plenty is a South African drama series which follows the lives of a mix of beach people including lifeguards, beach babes, surfers and holidaymakers on a Durban beach.
It premieres on SABC1 on Wednesday 31 October 2007, at 20h30.
There are 26 episodes in the first season.
Synopsis
Shot on location at Bay of Plenty (one of Durban's most popular beaches) and in Durban's township of Lamontville, Bay of Plenty tells the story of a fictitional group of lifesavers and their friends.
We follow their dreams, their exploits and betrayals, against the high-stake, high-risk dramas played out on the beachfront each day.
Characters
Jabulani Mchunu
With his sexy good looks and charm, the girls love this friendly, easy-going, laid-back champion body boarder. He lives in a beachfront flat through which people such as visiting overseas surfers are forever coming and going. He’s the senior life guard of the team.
Ciao Ngwenya
Ciao is a not-always-so-silent version of the strong, silent type, who guards his personal space as vigilantly as he guards the beach. He’s 23 years old and lives in an RDP house with his girlfriend Lihle.
Orphaned as a child he lived on the streets of Durban, hanging around the beachfront until, as a teenager, he was befriended by a “soul surfer”, Grant. Grant taught Ciao to surf and let him work in the surfboard factory until he got a job as a lifeguard.
Phindi Bulunga
The daughter of a taxi driver and mechanic, Phindi’s journey to become a life guard has not been an easy one. Surrounded by a group of older gangster brothers Phindi is a rebel and a tomboy.
Mandla Nyawose
Wheelin’ and dealin’ Mandla is seriously ambitious, both as a lifeguard and in business. Always cooking up some business venture, Mandla's out to make a name for himself one way or another.
Ashwin Pillay
The fifth of the lifeguards, Ashwin's father owns the local Bait and Tackle corner café. Ashwin used to be an obsessive fisherman. Now he’s a bit of a “joller” and generally a good “connection” of the surfers - even though no one has ever actually seen him surf.