Isibaya is a South African television drama series that ran for eight seasons from 18 March 2013 to 2 April 2021 on Mzansi Magic. The show was created by Angus Gibson, Desiree Markgraaff, Teboho Mahlatsi, Catherine Stewart and Benedict Carton. Actors that have starred in the series over the years include Siyabonga Thwala, Thembi Nyandeni, Nomzamo Mbatha, Celeste Ntuli, Mampho Brescia, Bheki Mkhwane, Pallance Dladla, and Sdumo Mtshali.Gritty Soap Isibaya https://www.screenafrica.com/2014/05/02/tv-radio/gritty-soap-set-against-the-backdrop-of-taxi-industry-mesmerises-viewers/ On 22 September 2025, Mzansi Magic began rerunning the series following a viewer poll on which shows should return, in which Isibaya ranked first.
Premise The drama revolves around two powerful taxi business families in Bhubesini: the Zungus, headed by Mpiyakhe Zungu, and the Ndlovu family, led by Samson Ndlovu. Their rivalries and daily struggles are further complicated when their children—Thandeka Zungu and S'busiso Ndlovu—marry, briefly uniting the families.
A new threat emerges with the arrival of Judas Ngwenya, his wife Beauty, their children Zama and Qaphela, and Beauty’s stepson. While Judas works for Mpiyakhe Zungu, he secretly schemes against the family. The extended household also includes Beauty’s mother, Lillian Nyandeni, her eventual husband and Judas’s ally, Saddam Xaba, and Judas’s nephew, Jerry Nyandeni. Ultimately, the cycle of betrayal and violence culminates when Judas is killed by his own son, Qaphela (season 7).
Cast
Actor RoleSiyabonga Thwala Mpiyakhe Zungu Thembi Nyandeni Mkabayi ZunguBheki Mkhwane Samson NdlovuSdumo Mtshali S'busiso NdlovuNomzamo Mbatha Thandeka Zungu - Ndlovu MadlovuEnhle Mbali Mlotshwa Sizakele SibiyaBongani Gumede Mandlenkosi NdlovuAyanda Borotho Phumelele Dlamini - ZunguCeleste Ntuli Siphokazi Mthembu - Zungu Pallance Dladla Jabulani ZunguMampho Brescia Iris RasebetseMdu Gumede NtandaneAbdul Khoza Qaphela NgwenyaAndile Maxakaza Fezile Khumalo Zakhele Mabasa S'khaleni MngomezuluGcina Mkhize Khanyisile Majola- NdlovuAsavela Mngqithi Ntwenhle Ndlovu - NgubaneLerato Mvelase Sibongile Mkhize - ZunguAubrey Poo Fenyang MolefenyaneZinhle Mabena Sihle NgubaneSamukele Mkhize Mabuyi DlaminiLinda Sebezo Lillian Nyandeni - XabaLorraine Mphephi Pamela Mngomezulu Recurring cast members include
Wanda Zuma - Detective Mtho Dumisani Dlamini - Mbodla Hamilton Dlamini - Andile Sibiya Wendy Gumede - Nolwandle Amina Jack - Thokozani Zungu Thulasizwe Khubheka - Mduduzi Melusi Mbele - Bhekumuzi Londeka Mchunu - Londiwe Ngubane Siyatsheni Mdakhi - Saddam Xaba Nhlanhla Mdlalose - Bongani Zakhele Msibi - Sunday Nkabinde Thulani Mtsweni - Mpihlangene Zungu Nkanyiso Mzimela - Melusi Zungu Sihle Ndaba - Cebisile Mkhize Enerst Ndlovu - Ngwebedla Sibonelo Ngubane - Mbovu Charles Phasha - Jerry Chris Q. Radebe - Dabula Ngubane Thandeka Qwabe - Thandiwe Tisetso Thoka - Mickey Sibiya
Cast shown on opening scene Season 1 Siyabonga Thwala as Mpiyakhe Zungu Thembi Nyandeni as Mkabayi Zungu Bheki Mkhwane as Samson Ndlovu Nomzamo Mbatha as Thandeka Zungu S'dumo Mtshali as S'busiso Ndlovu Bongani Gumede as Mandlenkosi Ndlovu Tshepo Baikai as Tshepo Zungu Season 2 Siyabonga Thwala as Mpiyakhe Zungu Thembi Nyandeni as Mkabayi Zungu Bheki Mkhwane as Samson Ndlovu Nomzamo Mbatha as Thandeka Zungu S'dumo Mtshali as Sibusiso Ndlovu Bongani Gumede as Mandlenkosi Zungu Menzi Ngubane as Judas Ngwenya Abdul Khoza as Qaphela Ngwenya Ayanda Borotho as Phumelele Zungu Celeste Ntuli as Siphokazi Zungu Jessica Nkosi as Qondisile Buthelezi-Shezi Vusi Kunene as Bhekifa Shezi Mampho Brescia as Iris Rasebetse - Zungu Pallance Dladla as Jabulani Zungu Muzi Mthabela as Duma Ngema Andile Maxakaza as Fezile Khumalo Zakhele Mabasa as Skhaleni Mngomezulu Mdu Gumede as Ntandane Thuli Thabethe as Beauty Ngwenya Linda Sebezo as Lillian Nyandeni Samson Khumalo as Kgokong Lorraine Mphephi as Pamela Mngomezulu Linda Mtoba as Zama Nyandeni Season 3 Siyabonga Thwala as Mpiyakhe Zungu Thembi Nyandeni as Mkabayi Zungu Bheki Mkhwane as Samson Ndlovu Nomzamo Mbatha as Thandeka Zungu - Ndlovu S'dumo Mtshali as Sibusiso Ndlovu Bongani Gumede as Mandlenkosi Ndlovu Menzi Ngubane as Judas Ngwenya Abdul Khoza as Qaphela Ngwenya Ayanda Borotho as Phumelele Zungu Celeste Ntuli as Siphokazi Zungu Jessica Nkosi as Qondisile Buthelezi - Shezi Vusi Kunene as Bhekifa Shezi Mampho Brescia as Iris Rasebetse Andile Mxakaza as Fezile Khumalo Zakhele Mabasa as S'khaleni Mngomezulu Mdu Gumede as Ntandane Thuli Thabethe as Beauty Ngwenya Season 4 Siyabonga Thwala as Mpiyakhe Zungu Thembi Nyandeni as Mkabayi Zungu Bheki Mkhwane as Samson Ndlovu Nomzamo Mbatha as Thandeka Zungu - Ndlovu S'dumo Mtshali as S'busiso Ndlovu Bongani Gumede as Mandlenkosi Ndlovu Menzi Ngubane as Judas Ngwenya Abdul Khoza as Qaphela Ngwenya Ayanda Borotho as Phumelele Zungu Celeste Ntuli as Siphokazi Zungu Jessica Nkosi as Qondisile Buthelezi - Shezi Vusi Kunene as Bhekifa Shezi Mampho Brescia as Iris Rasebetse Andile Mxakaza as Fezile Khumalo Zakhele Mabasa as S'khaleni Mngomezulu Mdu Gumede as Ntandane Thuli Thabethe as Beauty Ngwenya Linda Sebezo as Lillian Nyandeni Samson Khumalo as Kgokong Lorraine Mphephi as Pamela Mngomezulu Season 5
Season 6
Season 7 Siyabonga Thwala as Mpiyakhe Zungu Thembi Nyandeni as Mkabayi Zungu Bheki Mkhwane as Samson Ndlovu Nomzamo Mbatha as Thandeka Zungu S'dumo Mtshali as Sibusiso Ndlovu Bongani Gumede Season 8 Siyabonga Thwala as Mpiyakhe Zungu Thembi Nyandeni as Mkabayi Zungu Bheki Mkhwane as Samson Ndlovu S'dumo Mtshali as Sibusiso Ndlovu Bongani Gumede as Mandlenkosi Ndlovu Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa as Sizakele Sibiya Ayanda Borotho as Phumelele Dlamini Celeste Ntuli as Siphokazi Zungu Mampho Brescia as Iris Rasebetse Andile Mxakaza as Fezile Khumalo Zakhele Mabasa as S'khaleni Mngomezulu Mdu Gumede as Ntandane Gcina Mkhize as Khanyisile Ndlovu Asavela Mngqithi as Ntwenthle Ndlovu - Ngubane Lerato Mvelase as Sibongile Mkhize - Zungu Aubrey Poo as Fenyang Molefenyane Chris Q Radebe as Dabula Ngubane Zinhle Mabena as Sihle Ngubane Samukele Mkhize as Mabuyi Dlamini Amina Jack as Thokozani Zungu Sibonile Ngubane as Mbovu Siyatsheni Mdakhi as Sadam Xaba Nkanyiso Mzimela as Melusi Zungu Londeka Mchunu as Londiwe Ngubane
Former cast members Vusi Kunene as Bhekifa Shezi Nomzamo Mbatha as Thandeka Zungu - Ndlovu Menzi Ngubane as Judas Ngwenya Muzi Mthabela as Duma Ngema Tamara Jozi as Mazondi Andile Gumbi as Zweli Shezi Jessica Nkosi as Qondisile Buthelezi Thuli Thabethe as Beauty Nyandeni - Ngwenya Linda Mtoba as Zama Nyandeni Sibusisiwe Jili as Zanele Tumisho Masha as Jackson Senzo Vilakazi as Mehlomamba Florence Makgatsi as Lerato Samson Khumalo as Kgokong Koketso Mophuthing as Kaone Kamogelo Mampe as Nurse Ditsele
References
External links https://www.screenafrica.com/2014/05/02/tv-radio/gritty-soap-set-against-the-backdrop-of-taxi-industry-mesmerises-viewers/ https://www.tvsa.co.za/shows/viewshow.aspx?showid=1996