Cape Town – Winnie Ntshaba has returned to the soapie that helped launch her television career, stepping back into the shoes of her beloved character Khethiwe Buthelezi on Generations – The Legacy.
The actress made her return to screens on Tuesday night, September 1, marking an emotional full-circle moment more than two decades after she first appeared on the original Generations.
Ntshaba first joined the popular SABC1 soapie in 2005 at the age of 30. She played Khethiwe, a timid and conservative village girl whose journey saw her rise from humble beginnings to become a confident entrepreneur and the face of La Chocolata.
Now 51, Ntshaba is returning to the role with Khethiwe facing a very different chapter of her life.
According to SABC1, Khethiwe’s fortunes have taken a turn. The money she received following Khaphela’s death is almost gone, while Sara has taken her child. Desperate to rebuild her life, she turns to an old friend for help, but her plans soon begin to unravel.
The character’s return also marks a significant moment in Ntshaba’s own career.
Her portrayal of Khethiwe earned her a SAFTA nomination for Best Supporting Actress in a TV Soap, cementing her as one of the memorable performers from the original Generations.
Since leaving the soapie, Ntshaba has built an extensive television career, appearing in productions including The River, The Herd, Isibaya, Isithembiso, MTV Shuga, Adulting and House of Zwide. She became particularly popular with a new generation of viewers through her role as Faith Zwide in House of Zwide.
Her work has also earned her recognition outside Generations. In 2023, she received the Women in Arts award at the Gauteng Women’s Excellence Awards, acknowledging her contribution to the arts.
View this post on Instagram
Ntshaba has also made her mark behind the scenes. In 2013, she founded the Royalty Soapie Awards, an initiative created to celebrate the actors and behind-the-scenes professionals who contribute to South Africa’s television soapie industry.
Reflecting on her return to Generations, Ntshaba described the moment as a blessing and a full-circle experience.
“I was 30 years old in 2005 when I got a chance to be part of Generations, today I turned 51 after 21 years I am back to say the line I said back in 2005….. Sawubona Bhut’Tau,” she wrote on Instagram.
She added that returning to the show that introduced her to television was deeply meaningful.
“Returning to ‘Generations’ is more than an honour; it feels like a full-circle moment,” Ntshaba said in a statement.
For Ntshaba, Khethiwe is more than just another character in a long list of television roles. It is the role that became closely associated with the beginning of her career and one she now has the opportunity to bring back to life for a new generation of viewers.
Generations – The Legacy airs Mondays to Fridays at 8.30pm on SABC1.
Follow African Insider on Facebook, X and Instagram
Picture: Instagram/ Winnie Ntshaba
For more African news, visit Africaninsider.com
Compiled by Glaan Sibuyi
