Muvhango's lead actor, Gabriel Temudzani, who played the role of Chief Azwinndini, made his last appearance in this popular television soapie on Monday, 8 May, to the consternation of many Muvhango fans. In the episode, Azwinndini is shot and killed in front of his childhood lover and now ex-wife, Susan, by his rival cousin, Tendamudzimu Mudau, who is planning to exact revenge against everyone who sent him to jail.
Temudzani, who originally hails from Tshivhilidulu village in Nzhelele, joined the Tshivenda telenovela 23 years ago, when he was only 20 years old, and ever since he had been a favourite of the fans. Saying his goodbyes, he wrote on his official Facebook page: "For me, it was not about having the skill to act. It was more about having the will, desire and commitment to be my best in telling stories with an African narrative that is very much familiar and relatable to/by the masses of our people and the world at large. To the loving Muvhango viewers, thanks for the continued support over the years. To my colleagues and crew from SABC, cheers. The journey continues and Muvhango lives on. I will remain a big fan."
In an interview with Limpopo Mirror, he said he had learned a lot from being Azwinndini. "Azwinndini loved and embraced his children, and he also cared for his family. This role also taught me that no man is an island, and to always listen to other people."
He said the biggest highlights of his career were when Azwinndini was crowned, and the time when he had to fight for his family's legacy.
Temudzani is yet to announce his next move in the acting industry. "It is still early to say where I am going from here. I don't want to count my eggs before they hatch. I have many other projects that I want to focus on now, like my travel agency and raising my children," he said.
Temudzani has also been farming on the side since 2016.
One of the community leaders at Tshivhilidulu village, Mr Ntshengedzeni Robert Mamphasa, said they could not be prouder. "He is our celebrity, and we are very proud of him. We saw him growing up in our village and, for the past 23 years, we were happy to see him on our television screens. We encourage him to always remain humble and disciplined wherever he goes, and he must never forget his roots," said Mamphasa.