SAFTAs celebrate cream of the crop

Local talent was in the spotlight on Saturday at the South African Film and Television Awards (SAFTAS).

The star-studded evening was held at the Gallagher Convention Centre under the theme, "One Story. One Industry. One Future."

Cape Town soap opera Suidooster bagged the award for best scriptwriting at the 19th annual SAFTAs on Saturday night.

Producer Bradley Joshua said the award was a well-deserved accolade for the soapie's writing team.

"As Suidooster, we've been doing this for 10 years, we've done more than 2,500 episodes, and it's hard work to make the stories relatable to the public to make people love our characters."

In the best actor for telenovela category, Bonko Khoza won big for his role in iThonga.

Khoza said: "It feels good; I think I'm South Africa's telenovela boy now. I don't take it for granted that every night, people welcome me into their homes."

Zenande Mfenyana spearheaded female talent, winning the award for best supporting actress for her role in the telenovela Inimbi.

"I'm feeling absolutely amazing; I'm so honoured to finally have a golden horn after 19 years in the industry, I'm really blessed," said Mfenyana.

In the Youngins award for directing a telenovela, Themba Mfeba won the best achievement award.

"We had such a beautiful cast of young kids, some of them first-timers, some of them really experienced, and I guess this shows that it does actually work, so I'm really excited."

This year’s SAFTAs ceremony also celebrated the 50th anniversary of the SABC’s first official television broadcast.