Although Skeem Saam has long been a mainstay in South African homes, it appears that viewers are growing a little tired of it. The show’s audience has been steadily declining as of late; in September 2024, it had over 440,000 viewers as opposed to 4.3 million in August. What took place?
Words like “bring back Lehasa!” and “where’s Lehasa?” are flying in. Character relationships are missed, and others think the contemporary plotlines are too complicated to follow.
Opinions on why this beloved show is struggling are circulating on social media. Disappointed fans have vented their frustration on social media sites like Twitter. It is evident that this decline is largely due to the storyline. Words like “bring back Lehasa!” and “where’s Lehasa?” are flying in. Character relationships are missed, and others think the contemporary plotlines are too complicated to follow.
Skeem Saam continues to rank as the third most watched program on SABC 1 despite the drop in viewership. However, if audience opinions keep getting worse, the creators may have to reconsider how they want to go with the plot.
Viewer dissatisfaction reached a new level, with many fans threatening to leave for good until the tales improved. What this means for the renowned program remains to be seen, but it is a call to action. Will Skeem Saam bring Lehasa back, or will they continue to test their audience’s patience? Time will tell!