The Mzansi Magic drama series continued its dominant run of form this awards season, claiming the trophies for outstanding set design, writing team, wardrobe, directing team, editing team and lighting, as well as the judges’ award for the best of the current crop of South African soapies – Outstanding Soapie.

The glittering awards ceremony saw A-list celebrities and entertainers working the red carpet to celebrate South Africa’s robust homegrown soapie industry, which provides work for hundreds of actors, technicians, writers and creatives and continues to raise the bar with high-quality production values and compelling storylines.

The big surprise of the night came when SABC2 soapie 7de Laan, which had been among the Royalty Soapie Awards frontrunners with 14 nominations, failed to take home a single trophy.

With Isibaya dominating the technical categories, the remainder of the evening’s spoils – voted for by the soapie-loving public after the judging panel had selected the finalists – were shared among e.tv’s Scandal and kykNET’s Villa Rosa (three awards each), and SABC3’s Isidingo (two awards).

Villa Rosa won the coveted public vote for Most Popular Soapie of the Year, as well as the awards for Outstanding Female Villain (Therese Benadé as Astrid Wentzel) and Outstanding Male Villain (André Lotter as Liam le Roux).

But these were bittersweet victories, because the long-running Afrikaans soap has been cancelled, with filming on the 11th and final season wrapping up in July. The awards ceremony was therefore an emotional occasion for the programme’s actors and creators, and a fitting send-off.

Isidingo’s Motlatsi Mafatshe, who plays Sechaba Moloi, was named Outstanding Lead Actor, while Scandal’s Masasa Mbangeni, who plays Thembeka Shezi, was crowned Outstanding Lead Actress. Scandal also took home the awards for best supporting actress and actor, for Mapaseka Koetle (Dintle Setuke) and Andile Sithole (Ndumiso Ngcobo) respectively.

Isidingo’s Izak Davel, who plays Bradley Haines, was named Outstanding Newcomer.

The Royalty Soapie Awards also honoured two industry veterans with Lifetime Achievement Awards: 7de Laan creator and production maven Danie Odendaal, and eThekwini living legend, trailblazing beauty queen and Muvhango actress Cynthia Shange.

The 2015 Royalty Soapie Awards were a glamorous and star-studded affair, with stellar entertainment provided by eThekwini and national music “royalty”, interspersed with comic relief from Goliath & Goliath. Mainly, it was a celebration of South Africa’s vibrant soapie industry – long may the drama continue.

For more information on the Royalty Soapie Awards, visit www.royaltysa.com.

The Royalty Soapie Awards 2015 thanks its partners: the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Arts and Culture, the National Department of Arts and Culture, Mzansi Magic and Ukhozi FM, and SMG - BMW Durban.