Thabiso Bapela's character promises to shake things up on 'Muvhango's' last season
Thabiso Bapela has joined the cast of 'Muvhango'.
Image: Supplied
Thabiso Bapela, this June will be making his debut on SABC 2's 'Muvhango'.
Bapela takes on the character of Letlotlo Maribe, a role that invites reflection on love, masculinity, and emotional truth in a society still wrestling with what those words mean.
'I'm drawn to people who are trying to figure themselves out,' Bapela says.
'They might look like they've got it all together, but beneath the surface, something deeper is always at play. That's real. That's human.'
Bapela doesn't offer spoilers when it comes to his newest character, but his perspective hints at what audiences might expect. 'He is bold. He walks into a room like he belongs there.
'But you start to realise, not everything he projects is as certain as it seems. There's something unresolved beneath all that confidence.'
As an actor, Bapela is no stranger to Mzansi screens he has had roles on 'Gomora', 'Giyani - Land of Blood', 'The Queen' and 'Kings of Jo'burg'.
His 'Muvhango' character Letlotlo arrives at a time when audiences are craving more than surface-level characters. 'He fits into this world, but he also shakes it a little,' Bapela reflects. 'And I think that's the point.'
In a country where public conversations about gender, love, and emotional accountability are becoming more urgent, Letlotlo is a timely addition. His character does not represent perfection or resolution, but rather the honest messiness of figuring it out.
'He's a man of this moment,' Bapela explains. 'Someone who challenges the idea that being strong means having it all figured out. He is honest, sometimes to a fault. But deep down, he is still looking for acceptance.'
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This is something Bapela connects with on a personal level. 'I know what it's like to carry expectations, to try to make sense of how you were raised and what kind of man you want to become. Letlotlo is flawed, sure, but he's searching. And I think that's deeply human.'
While some viewers may be drawn to the character's charm, others may find themselves confronting their own assumptions. And that, according to Bapela, is exactly what makes the role worth playing.
'This isn't just about entertainment. If it gets people talking or thinking differently about how to show up in relationships, then the character has done his work.'
The long-running soap "Muvhango" is in its final season, ending in August, and will be saying goodbye to viewers with a bang.
Bapela remarks that the show's success was achieved through blending indigenous traditions, European influences, and global trends, in resonant storytelling that is made by Africans, for Africans, with excellence.
Bapela debuts as Letlotlo Maribe on Muvhango, Monday, June 2, on SABC 2.
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