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Mail & Guardian
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Mail & Guardian
Power, blood and spirits: Inside season 3 of Kings of Jo'Burg
Kingpin: Mo Masire, played by Zolisa Xaluva, in a scene from Kings of Jo'Burg season 3, which is on Netflix. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix There is no doubt that the team at Ferguson Films know how to create action in a gripping crime drama. Mzansi Magic's The Queen and Rockville are thrilling examples. In Netflix's Kings of Jo'Burg franchise they add an element of the supernatural. In the first season, which premiered in 2020, viewers were taken into the underworld of a Johannesburg criminal family, the Masires. Created by the late Shona Ferguson, who played kingpin Simon Masire in season 1, the series follows the Masires as they navigate power struggles, betrayals and supernatural forces. Led by Veronica Masire (Connie Ferguson) and Mo Masire (Zolisa Xaluva), in season 3, we see the family's continued rule over the criminal underworld, while dealing with a supernatural family curse and a new contender threatening to bring their empire to its knees. The rival gang, headed by Gavin Salat (Clint Brink), has declared war on the Masires in a bid to establish dominance in Johannesburg. To defend their turf, the Masires make a deal with their former enemy Aliko Bajo, played by Nigerian actor Enyinna Nwigwe. Executive producer Connie Ferguson and US co-executive producer Samad Davis continue their aim to create a show with a global reach. Thus, the casting for the franchise seems strategic with the inclusion of actors from South Africa, Nigeria and the US. Similar to previous seasons, which included American actors Terri J Vaughn and Michael Anthony, in this season we see new characters, such as Isador played by New York-born Malik Yoba. At first, I was sceptical about this all-star cast fulfilling my expectations, especially in the first season. But, rest assured, this is a serious series with a serious cast. With the exception of Lester's (Abdul Khoza) trivial jokes, there is no comic relief here. The overall tone from the characters, the soundtrack, and even the locations, is riveting, ominous and tense. There is no darker character than the menacing Gavin Salat who elevates the danger and supernatural factor. Complex and cold, with a robot-like wife on his side, Salat is Cape Town's saint by day and devil by night, leading a wide drug distribution network that includes prisons. Similar to Masire's Mermaid, Salat's supernatural entity is called Oom. Drawing from South African cultural heritage, Salat's gang members are tattooed with an eland — the spirit animal of the Khoisan. It is these spiritual symbols and mythical figures that set this franchise apart from what South African audiences have seen before. Unlike the Nigerian and Asian film industry, supernatural mythology is not broadly explored in South Africa. Growing up, my cousins and I were scared to death by drama series like Lesilo Rula (1987) and Ubizo (2007). Watching my grandparents' black-and-white TV, even the scenes with witches and dark spirits in Henry Cele's Shaka Zulu (1986) shook me as a boy. In recent times there have been a few films that drew inspiration from local folklore and beliefs. Norman Maake's recent award-winning Sebata: The Beast, 8: A South African Horror Story and Vuyani Bila's Deep Face, for instance, explore ghosts, spirits and other supernatural entities. A common denominator in the horror-supernatural genre is that the monsters are representative of unresolved traumas. When triggered by life events, we experience life as 'horror' as those past 'monsters' have been awakened. Kings of Jo'Burg challenges us to think about the monsters that lurk in our past and present, be it unresolved childhood traumas, envy, corrupt thoughts or fear. These negative emotions and energies, when undealt with, can turn people — alive or in the afterlife — into disruptive entities, hungry for blood and souls. The series made me wonder if family inheritances of spiritual gifts is a curse or blessing. Through The Mermaid and Oom, the series explores the idea of family legacies and spiritual warfare in protecting and enriching the family. In my village days as a child, we heard stories of shop owners burying human skulls and hands, with bony fingers creepily calling customers to purchase. Stories of people sleeping with snakes in their homes to gain success. Stories of businessmen and politicians bathing and drinking all sorts of concoctions in the shadows to amass more power and wealth. Kings of Jo'Burg prompts us to check our personal spiritual blind spots and our lineage. As hard as it might be to ask our elders about our family history, rituals and beliefs, the assignment to this generation is to ask those difficult questions, regardless. If we want to break generational curses, and embrace the beauty of family spiritual gifts, lifting the lids becomes of utmost importance. The supernatural aside, the action in series 3 is enthralling. In last year's Heart of the Hunter, a Netflix production also starring Ferguson, viewers saw how big-budget production can push the boundaries of action when it comes to fight scenes, car chases, weapons and explosions. The South African film and TV industry is indeed improving on that front. I was, however, not moved by the hyperbolic scoring in convincing audiences of the danger and thrill. Sure, it's a crime-action series, with plenty of bullets, blood, demons and drugs, but did the soundtrack have to be ominous in every scene? The overall sound design was off-putting, especially in the calmer and more emotive scenes. In one scene, when Veronica and Keneilwe (Thembi Seete) are talking about the glow of pregnancy, the music is imposingly eerie and mismatched. What am I as the viewer supposed to feel, exactly? The scene between Outjie (Maurice Paige) and Mo in the prison cafeteria also could have been made without music to allow the actors' prowess to naturally shine. The visual effects supplied by Pau Meyer from Luma Animation Studio, also the principal VFX supplier for M-Net's Shaka iLembe, immensely elevated the supernatural features in this season. The franchise has come a long way from the questionable camerawork, ambitious storyline and poor character development in the first season. Season 3 is bolder and more menacing — glowing eyes and all. Kings of Jo'Burg season 3 is streaming on Netflix.
IOL News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Connie Ferguson, Clint Brink and Malik Yoba on raising the stakes in 'Kings of Jo'burg' season 3
Connie Ferguson stars as Veronica Masire in Netflix's "Kings of Joburg". She also served as its executive producer. Picture: Supplied/Netflix Image: Supplied/Netflix The third season of the Netflix series 'Kings of Jo'burg' has finally arrived after a long wait from fans. Season three features an impressive all-cast that includes Zolisa Xaluva, Connie Ferguson, Abdul Khoza, Maurice Paige, Cindy Mahlangu, Llewelyn Cordier, Altovise Lawrence, Keenan Arrison and Enyinna Nwigwe. The third season is joined by renowned actor Clint Brink and American actor Malik Yoba. 'This season was a big task, coming from two successful seasons. We wanted to make season three even bigger, even better and that's a huge responsibility. 'We had to get the best of the best in cast, crew, and even the right pocket to do it cinematically," said Ferguson who is also the executive producer of 'Kings of Jo'burg'. The cast of season three of "Kings of Jo'burg" at the premiere hosted in Sandton, Johannesburg. 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Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Cordier excitedly admitted how he couldn't stop reading the script after getting the email "I was late for a client meeting because I was reading it on my phone and needed an hour just to sit and finish it. It was that gripping," he said. Brink was just as excited after reading the script and wanted to jump straight into shooting. 'It's ballsy, it's gutsy, it's brave, it's courageous, and the execution went along with the visions.' The new season explores several themes, family, mystical, kingdom and legacy and as actors they need to serve the characters to their best to bring all those elements together. Brink explained that if you serve the truth of your character and story and play things truthfully, things align. 'All you can control is being present in the moment, after that, it's in the hands of editing, PR, and marketing. 'Everyone came with a really honest, sincere, heartfelt, intentional, loaded performance, you know, with dynamic and range of variety, and made it special. Paige revealed that the show's sauce is putting a lot of heavyweight actors in one show. 'There's no one person in South Africa, in Nigeria, or the whole of Africa – or even internationally – who won't see and feel this." Collaboration was a word the entire cast echoed at the 'Kings of Jo'burg' press junket, with the actors all being able to come together and understand the main goal of delivering a great project. "We were really, hard on this, but the teamwork made the dream work. After shoots, we'd get together, print out scenes, and brainstorm. So when you got to set, you were already in the moment," said Cordier. Yoba joined the cast, can only be described as serendipity, while he watched the first season and during his trip to the country in 2024, through his connection with American film producer and director Samad Davis, who is also an executive producer of 'Kings of Jo'burg'. "It all felt divine. I came here to screen a documentary on real estate, and somehow ended up in 'Kings of Jo'burg.' This was bigger than just doing a job, it was about connection, community, and purpose." 'Kings of Jo'burg' also delivers a product that showcases South Africa, especially Jo'burg, in an interesting light. 'It's beautiful to see how the execution is coming up at a time where we can project that quality, that beauty, that excellence to the world from South Africa. 'It shows how we can collaborate, having Nigerian, South African, and African-American actors, proving we can be connected globally through storytelling,' said Nwigwe. With prison seasons also included in the third season viewers get to see another side to the ruthless world of the 'Kings of Jo'bug'. Khoza says that this element pushed him as an actor and left him with goosebumps. 'Each challenge brought about an opportunity to learn, to feed off the cast that was there and, you know, the safety of the crew was there and all that allowed you to be at your best at any moment,' said Khoza. 'Kings of Jo'burg' was the creation of late actor Shona Ferguson. His wife Connie opened up about being in a much stronger place than she was when she was filming season two. 'Season two was hard, losing him (Shona) between two and three meant rewriting everything. But for season three, I was more intentional. There's a legacy to uphold, and I believe he's smiling, proud of what we've done.' IOL Entertainment
News24
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Kings of Joburg season 3 drops — Connie Ferguson and Malik Yoba bring the fire
Kings of Joburg, which premiered in December 2020, is now set to release its third season. The series features Connie Ferguson, who is also the executive producer, Zolisa Xaluva and Thembi Seete, among others. Ferguson says they invested in the show because they believed it was not a one-hit wonder. Season 3 of one of SA's most loved series, the star-studded Kings of Joburg, hits Netflix screens in just a few hours. Executive producer, Connie Ferguson, led a tight ship and kept this going even after her husband Shona's passing in 2021. The iconic actress, who plays Veronica Masire in the series, said that, although viewers thought they knew what to look forward to, based on the first two seasons, they were in for a surprise. Supplied Season 3 will see the Masire family facing new challenges and an enemy who wants to take down their empire. When asked whether they had expected Kings of Joburg to gain momentum the way it had, the former Generations and Generations: The Legacy actress laughed and said: 'Definitely!' She said they believed in the show and were willing to invest in it and the partnerships went a long way. We hoped for it. We had high expectations, but you never know how the public will receive it. It was a risk, what we did with Kings of Joburg [season] 1, but how it was received was such a pleasant surprise because it said to us, we were on the right track. Connie Ferguson She added that, when they developed the first season, they had other seasons in the pipeline. She said season 1 had been a test and they had passed it with flying colours. Ferguson, who recently celebrated her 55th birthday, shared that Netflix was a supportive partner and her US co-executive producer, Samad Davis, brought knowledge about the international film and television space. 'Our approach of bridging the gap between SA, the rest of Africa and America paid off. We didn't know how that would be received, but it was received very well. As much as Kings of Joburg is a South African show, we believe it is a world show.' Ferguson said season 3 would showcase how her character had developed and would do anything to protect her family. Supplied Part of Veronica's development includes revealing her sensitive and loving side. This will introduce US actor Malik Yoba, who plays Isador, Veronica's love interest. Yoba, who was in SA for the season 3 press junket, the launch and Ferguson's birthday party, said he was honoured to be part of the show. He said filming on the continent as an African American was also an honour. 'I don't think I have done this before in a character, where a woman holds the power and the man is in support of that power, which is a nice dynamic.' The actor said his first visit to Johannesburg had been in 1996, adding that this was his sixth. Supplied Veteran actor Abdul Khoza shocked many in May when he announced that he had quit acting after 14 years of bringing different characters to life. At the time, he also shared his last self-tape audition, saying it was for aspiring actors to see what it took to get a role. Talking about his character Lester in Kings of Joburg, Khoza said he experienced physical strain and endurance. In this season, Lester had had to run and fight a lot, but he did his best. 'It was exciting to play Lester. I enjoyed that there was a story for me to finally play as Lester and discover more of Lester myself. With the first season, I only had a glimpse of what my character was really about, the story I had,' he said. Thembi Seete, Busisiwe 'Cici' Thwala, Clint Brink, Enyinna Nwigwe, Maurice Paige and Zolisa Xaluva round up the cast. Season 3 was launched in Sandton last week, with Ferguson assuring viewers that this would be the most thrilling and amazing project. The new series starts streaming on Netflix on Friday.
The Herald
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald
Connie Ferguson speaks on how she is taking SA to the world with 'Kings of Joburg' season 3
When King of Joburg made its debut on Netflix in 2020, it changed the tapestry of South Africa's film industry, transcending conventional boundaries. Ahead of the premiere of its highly anticipated third season, the executive producer of the show, actress Connie Ferguson has spoken about what people can expect to see in the action-packed show. 'There was only one objective [with season 3], it was to outdo season one and season two. We had exceptional seasons but this is our third. We had a lot of learnings from season one and season two, now we had to come back and show exactly what the kings of Joburg are made of,' she told TshisaLIVE. 'Based on season one and season two, you guys think you know what to expect but trust me, you do not know what's coming. It's an all-round entertaining and adrenaline rush type of show, something that you've never seen before in SA, that's all I can say.' Connie went on to speak about the vision and journey of Ferguson Films with the show. 'You can achieve so much more when you collaborate with other people when you are not working on your own. Ferguson Films has done a lot of local productions working with my late husband Shona Ferguson and myself. 'We created Kings of Joburg, we had a bigger picture, we wanted to cross over the borders of SA, we didn't just want to focus locally. We got together with the producer Samad Davids, we sat, brainstormed together, talked about taking SA to the continent and to the world, and bringing the world to SA. I believe that's exactly what we did with this show.' The series has featured American stars. American actress and director Terri J. Vaughn played a pivotal role and now, in this coming season, Malik Yoba is set to make his debut on the show. American film producer and director Samad Davis, who has always been part of the show, spoke of how he's proud to see and be a part of something that can compete internationally. 'Hollywood is not a destination, it's a level of execution. This is Hollywood, this is what Hollywood is about. It's not about making it to LA, it's about doing great work where you are. These actors can work anywhere on this planet and they are fantastic. Just as much as we have rockstars on the show, there are other people working hard behind the scenes.'
TimesLIVE
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Connie Ferguson speaks on how she is taking SA to the world with 'Kings of Joburg' season 3
When King of Joburg made its debut on Netflix in 2020, it changed the tapestry of South Africa's film industry, transcending conventional boundaries. Ahead of the premiere of its highly anticipated third season, the executive producer of the show, actress Connie Ferguson has spoken about what people can expect to see in the action-packed show. 'There was only one objective [with season 3], it was to outdo season one and season two. We had exceptional seasons but this is our third. We had a lot of learnings from season one and season two, now we had to come back and show exactly what the kings of Joburg are made of,' she told TshisaLIVE. 'Based on season one and season two, you guys think you know what to expect but trust me, you do not know what's coming. It's an all-round entertaining and adrenaline rush type of show, something that you've never seen before in SA, that's all I can say.' Connie went on to speak about the vision and journey of Ferguson Films with the show. 'You can achieve so much more when you collaborate with other people when you are not working on your own. Ferguson Films has done a lot of local productions working with my late husband Shona Ferguson and myself. 'We created Kings of Joburg, we had a bigger picture, we wanted to cross over the borders of SA, we didn't just want to focus locally. We got together with the producer Samad Davids, we sat, brainstormed together, talked about taking SA to the continent and to the world, and bringing the world to SA. I believe that's exactly what we did with this show.' The series has featured American stars. American actress and director Terri J. Vaughn played a pivotal role and now, in this coming season, Malik Yoba is set to make his debut on the show. American film producer and director Samad Davis, who has always been part of the show, spoke of how he's proud to see and be a part of something that can compete internationally. 'Hollywood is not a destination, it's a level of execution. This is Hollywood, this is what Hollywood is about. It's not about making it to LA, it's about doing great work where you are. These actors can work anywhere on this planet and they are fantastic. Just as much as we have rockstars on the show, there are other people working hard behind the scenes.'
