Revisiting the soul of a nation: Soul City's classic programmes stream on SABC Plus

This collaboration celebrates the legacy of a decades long partnership that began in 1994 with the launch of the original Soul City drama series, a cultural phenomenon that transformed how South Africans engaged with health, gender and social justice issues.

From its inception, Soul City Institute has been a pioneer of edutainment, a storytelling model that blends powerful drama with life-saving information and social behavioural change messaging. Over the years, this approach has reached millions, influencing public opinion, shaping policy and inspiring community-led action on issues such as HIV prevention, gender-based violence, reproductive health and youth empowerment.

“We are thrilled to extend our partnership with the SABC into the digital era, ensuring that a new generation can access the stories that shaped our nation’s conversations about justice, equity and health. As we celebrate our 30th anniversary this year, this moment honours the impact of our legacy television programmes and the audiences who grew up with them.” said Pontsho Pilane, Communications and Advocacy Manager at Soul City Institute.

For three decades, the institute’s productions have demonstrated the transformative power of storytelling, creating relatable characters, tackling taboo subjects and sparking nationwide dialogue. The SABC Plus rollout ensures that these archival series remain accessible to both long-time fans and first-time viewers, preserving their educational and cultural impact.

“This partnership with Soul City is aligned with the SABC’s mission of providing edutainment to our audiences across a multitude of devices and platforms. We think SABC Plus is the perfect home for Soul City programmes and will resonate with our audience,” relates Khanyisa Melwa, Digital Marketing Manager at SABC.

This re-release of archival content comes as the Soul City Institute prepares to make its television comeback in 2026 with a brand-new drama series focused on preventing Violence Against Women and

Girls (VAWG). The forthcoming production forms part of Shay’indlela (Turn the Tide) Programme, a multi-pronged project funded by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) under the What Works to Prevent Violence: Impact at Scale (What Works II) Programme.

Now Streaming on SABC Plus

• It’s a Feminist Thing: An unapologetic talk show centering feminist voices from South Africa, tackling patriarchy, culture and gender politics through bold, intergenerational conversations.

• Rise Talk Show: An intergenerational lifestyle show created for young women aged 14–25, exploring their challenges, aspirations and activism while fostering self-efficacy and sisterhood.

• Soul City (Classic Series): Set in the fictional township of Soul City, this landmark drama tackled the country’s most pressing social and health issues, from maternal health and HIV to financial literacy and disability inclusion, across 12 powerful seasons.

• Soul Buddyz: A groundbreaking edutainment drama that championed the wellbeing of children and young people. Through relatable storylines, Soul Buddyz brought urgent conversations about sexuality, mental health, racism and empowerment into homes and classrooms nationwide.

• Buddyz on the Move: A mobile spin-off of Soul Buddyz, bringing real life stories and educational content to schools and communities, inspiring children and families to take action.