After more than a decade away, actress Winnie Ntshaba has returned to Generations: The Legacy, bringing back one of the soapie’s most recognisable characters, Khethiwe Buthelezi.
Ntshaba made her comeback on Tuesday, 1 September 2026, 21 years after she first joined the original Generations in 2005. She was 30 when she first landed the role and is now 51.
Khethiwe was introduced as a timid and conservative village girl before undergoing a dramatic transformation. She eventually became a confident entrepreneur and the face of La Chocolata.
Her return, however, comes as her life takes another difficult turn.
According to SABC1, Khethiwe’s inheritance following Khaphela’s death is almost finished, while Sara has taken her child. Desperate to rebuild her life, she turns to an old friend for assistance, but her plans quickly begin to unravel.
The character is expected to bring a mixture of ambition, vulnerability and drama back to the popular soapie.
Ntshaba described her return as a “full-circle moment”, saying Generations played a major role in launching her television career.
She said Khethiwe remained close to her despite the years away from the show and that she could not turn down the opportunity to tell another chapter of the character’s story.
Ntshaba originally left Generations in 2014 after being among 16 actors fired following a dispute involving salaries and contracts. Her return has therefore been welcomed as a nostalgic moment for viewers who remember the original era of the soapie.
Khethiwe is also not the only familiar face making a comeback. Jo-Anne Reyneke has returned as Refilwe, adding another former character and a new storyline to the show.
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