Florence Masebe is temporarily joining the cast of Skeem Saam, taking over from Harriet Manamela to play Meike Maputla.
The channel announced on Wednesday that Manamela will be absent from the show for a while due to ill-health.
Masebe will start appearing on the show on 15 May 2024.
Manamela will be on screen until the end of “Skeem Saam” season 12.
“The decision came after Manamela needed to be placed on sick leave for an extended period. Manamela’s last scene for the season will air on April 5. From May 15 the character of ‘Meikie Maputla’ will be played by Florence Masebe,” read the statement.
Masebe is well-known for her TV roles. She’s starred in shows such as “Generations”, “Soul City”, “Muvhango” and “The Republic”.
Last year, actor and dancer Hungani Ndlovu debuted as the prodigal Maputla son, Thabo.
Ndlovu was cast to take over the character of Thabo, popularly known as Tbose, from Cornet Mamabolo, who left the show in 2021.
NEW TIMESLOT FOR SKEEM SAAM
SABC1 announced that the popular daily drama Skeem Saam will move to the new timeslot of 19:30, starting 4 March 2024.
The channel said the decision to move Skeem Saam to 19:30 is in line with SABC Video Entertainment’s strategy to amplify its primetime local drama offering to its viewers from 19:30 to 21:30 with SABC1s Skeem Saam, Generations- The Legacy, Uzalo and SABC2s Muvhango.
The SABC will host two hours of back-to-back drama on the SABC Video Entertainment platform, intentionally targeting a broader audience and ensuring the platform remains competitive.
“For years, the SABC1 audience has made a plea, requesting to change the Skeem Saam timeslot, stating that the show timeslot is too early for some as the show broadcasts during the travelling time for a lot of the viewers. For SABC1, we see this as an opportunity to make the channel edgier and braver and adapt to the audience’s needs. The world of television is an exciting platform where we should not be afraid to adapt while upholding our responsibility to shape the youth and societal roles.” – SABC1 Channel Head: Ofentse Thinane.
“A timeslot change in our 12th season will definitely be a big change for us and it is something we will have to adjust to. However, we are positive that the change will give us an opportunity to expand and reach a larger audience. We have great stories lined up, and we can’t wait for our viewers to tune in.” – Peu Communications Solutions Publicity Manager: Sumaya Petersen Mogola.
With the new timeslot comes intriguing storylines full of suspense and intense drama. A Human Trafficking drama unfolds in Turfloop, someone goes down for murder, a soccer star blows up his millions, and there is a new hot couple in town.