Giyani: Land of Blood


Giyani: Land of Blood is a South African telenovela drama series created by Tshedza Pictures. It is the very first Xitsonga drama series made since the advent of Television in South Africa. It began airing on 1 April 2019 on SABC 2. Season 2 began airing on the 1st of November 2021, on SABC 2 from 21:30 to 22:00 pm.
Season 3 aired from 13 March 2023 till 8 November 2023 Mon-Wed 21:30.

Plot

Season 1
During apartheid, a piece of land had been allocated to the Van Reenen family who made their wealth by starting a banana plantation which worked with major supermarkets in South Africa.
Now in the present, the land reclaimed by the community after a successful restitution claim, and is renamed Tiakeni as a memento to the perseverance of the fictional Risinga community and success in taking back their land. The series focuses on a feud between the Mudau and the Baloyi families.
According to Tshedza Pictures, The series brings to life the ageless themes of love rivalries, forbidden passion, stolen land and corruption.

Season 2 plot

Two years later Richard Mudau got out of prison after he got arrested for fraud but he got out poor and he met this wonderful women Manoko Ledwaba. Khensani who is Richard's daughter moved to Joburg and she got in love with a Zulu guy Fezile. Musa who is Khensani's ex married to Tiyiselani who later got killed by Manoko. Mhani Tsakani became a chef and Mhani Dayina, who is up to no good.

Characters

Source:

The Baloyis

  • Musawahosi "Musa" Baloyi
Eldest son of Mike and Tsakani Baloyi. Although there was little money to further his studies, his mother paid an enrolment fee, thus he followed his passion to be a lawyer at the University of Limpopo. He now runs a small firm along with his friend, Tiyiselani.
His life is thrown off-balance when he finds out the government has allocated the rights to curator the reclaimed farm to Richard Mudau, a former MK and former cabinet minister, who is accused of corruption, He plans to stop the man from swindling his community.
  • Gezani Mike Baloyi - "Bra Mike"
An MK veteran who was once friends with Richard Mudau
  • Thulare Tsakani Baloyi
Mike's devoted wife who has loved him since she was 16. She previously worked in the banana plantation to be able to put food on the table, while Mike drank himself to a stupor.
  • Mahlori "Pero" Baloyi
Tsakane and Mike's youngest child and the “born free” who scoffs at anything related to apartheid.

The Mudaus

  • Sello Richard Mudau
An MK veteran who met Mike Baloyi and his then girlfriend Gladys Chavalala. He is painted by the community as their saving grace but deep down he is a swindler.
  • Tutu Gladys Mudau
Richard's wife. They skipped the country to join MK in Maputo, where Gladys and Mike met Richard. She is a selfish, greedy and ruthless woman driven by the need for more.She later got killed by her friend Nthath Moshesh
  • Manoko Ledwaba
Richard's second wife after his wife died.She is a criminal and owns a game lodge.She kills rhinos and sell the horns.She has a g-- stepson Mahlatse and she is pretending holier than thour
  • Khensani Mudau
Daughter of Richard and Gladys. She wants to please her father not knowing that she is being used as a pawn in her father's deadly game of greed. She has a love interest in Musa Baloyi
Mahlatse
He is manoko's greedy g-- son and he thinks he charms.

The Chavalalas

  • Hlengani Joseph Chavalala
Gladys's older brother and Richard's brother-in-law whose dream is thwarted when Richard hired his own daughter Khensani instead.
  • Ringani Ruth Chavalala
Hlengani's long-suffering devout Christian wife who hopes that one-day God will soften her husband's bitterness.
  • Kokwana Chavalala
Gladys and Hlengani's mother - Richard's mother-in-law. A pensioner, who once worked on the plantation.

Other characters

  • Vukosi Moyo
The Municipality Ward Councillor of Giyani. Richard's right-hand man, who fancies himself as more powerful than he actually is.
  • Tiyiselani Mabasa
Childhood friend and partner of the law firm with Musa.
  • Johnny Risenga Homu
Previous foreman of the banana plantation
  • Dayina Topisa Homu
Shebeen Queen and Johnny's wife known for her sharp tongue.
  • Matimba
Vukosi' PA. A loyal- worker to Vukosi. She threatens to reveal Musa and Khensani secrets lover affairs to Vukosi.
  • Cawuke
Vukosi's assistant. A family man with morals. He threatens to reveal Richard and Vukosi's secret.