Everybody and their mother has been struck by Jonasi’s gross infidelity and conduct on Netflix’s The Polygamist. Unfortunately, Jonasi is just a drop in the ocean of characters involved in infidelity in South African television. Over the years, crime and cheating have ruled the soap-opera/television world of South Africa. It is almost hard to believe that this is the same country that boasted iconic sitcoms such as City Ses’La and S’gudi S’naysi. The lack of lighthearted, humorous media in mainstream SA television is definitely noticeable. So, what happened to the South African sitcom world?
Sitcom is short for “situation comedy”. It revolves around a recurring cast navigating everyday life in a consistent setting. They have the ability to highlight the funny aspects of everyday life. Varying social experiences regarding relationships, work, etc. are brought to the screen in an entertaining manner. There is no better feeling than sitting back after a long day and being guided by a laugh track. In a South African society navigating hardships of all scales, sitcoms have the ability to showcase the amusing and positive aspects of life.
Currently, soapies are the dominant genre in SA. Veteran shows like Generations: The Legacy and Uzalo pull in millions of viewers every evening. These soapies have increasingly turned to storylines riddled by varying societal ills such as crime and infidelity, often in conjunction with each other. Similarly, on Netflix – a worldwide offering – SA-based media on the platform tends to rely heavily on these tropes to create stories. This is the version of the country that is most accessible to the world – a crime-ridden, cheating society. The international popularity of The Polygamist has heightened this portrayal. Comedy, although very characteristic of South Africa, is few and far between.
Attempts at sitcoms in our modern landscape, such as the How To Ruin… franchise on Netflix, also regularly feature these troubling elements. This is obviously what pays. “Low-brow” sitcoms have been phased out by explosive dramas that maintain interest for an extended period, as seen with how long soapies stick around on South African television. An industry heavily constrained by dwindling budgets has no choice but to chase maximum profit. Shocking and gripping content is more financially profitable than lighthearted television that follows a similar formula every episode.
Many have taken to social media to mourn the lack of sitcoms on mainstream television. However, it seems the days of Stokvel are gone, leaving a quiet void in South African comedy.
