Sabela Awards shake-up starts fresh TV talk

The 2026 Simon Mabhunu Sabela KZN Film and Television Awards have made major changes to their nominations following an eligibility review. The decision has sparked fresh discussions in South Africa's entertainment industry, with organisers admitting that some problems should have been identified before the nominations were announced.

The KwaZulu-Natal Tourism and Film Authority confirmed that four nominations had been changed and the Best Television Production category had been withdrawn. The review followed public criticism and questions about whether some nominees met the published eligibility requirements.

Among the changes, Siduduzo Vezi's work on Uzalo replaced N3's nomination for Solum in the Best Sound Design category because Solum was not screened during the qualifying period. In Best Screenplay, Zigizendoda Yeni for Izenzo Zami replaced Mxolisi Mbhele for Kayise.

Another change affected Best Actress Film, where Thembi Mtshali Jones for Izenzo Zami replaced Noxolo Mathula for Kayise. In Best Feature Film, Amathambo, represented by Sabelo Ndlovu, replaced The Trek after a reassessment of the category's KwaZulu-Natal-related judging considerations.

The Best Television Production category was also removed. Organisers explained that Isigodlo Samatshitshi did not qualify as a television production, while Inkosinathi was screened outside the approved period, which ran from March 29, 2025, to March 28, 2026.

Chief Judge Jack Esterhuyzen said the review was necessary to ensure fairness and maintain the credibility of the awards. The judging panel worked with auditors to examine the affected entries and confirm the corrections.

Awards eligibility checks are important because they ensure that every participant competes under the same rules. They also protect deserving artists from unfair competition and help audiences trust the results.

Although the changes have attracted attention, the awards will continue as planned on November 21, 2026, at The Playhouse in Durban. The organisers say the corrections will help strengthen the process and improve confidence in future editions.