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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.
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.
News24
02-06-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
From Kings of Joburg to what's next: Abdul Khoza reveals upcoming ventures
Abdul Khoza stars as Lester in the upcoming third season of Kings of Joburg. He is looking to do more behind-the-scenes work with producing, writing and directing. Abdul reaffirms that his passion will always lie with the arts. ________________________________________________________________________ We've still got a whole lot more to see from this captivating thespian. Abdul Khoza stole the country's hearts with his memorable performances in hit shows like Isibaya and The Wife. Now we can look forward to another deep and complex act in the upcoming third season of Kings of Joburg. Starring alongside acting greats like Connie Ferguson and Zolisa Xaluva, Abdul gives us a teaser into his role as the criminal Lester. 'It happens to be a time where my character is more or less trying to get himself back on top because he is at the bottom you find him in season three because you find him in prison. This is where he also meets up with Mo's character (played by Zolisa Xaluva) and both of them have formed an alliance together to get themselves out of the prison,' Abdul says. 'It's very complex, I won't lie. It's a complex and complicated story right now. But a beautiful, beautiful journey between the two characters of Mo's character and Lester's character. We get a bit of more of a brotherhood that happens between them, which is interesting. Something that I think could also enhances their relationship.' Many are still crossing their fingers to see Abdul's star power continue to shine, especially with the 37-year-old creative and father of two announcing his departure from acting to pursue his love for behind-the-scenes work, sharing some insightful words reflecting on the entertainment industry and his last audition take. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brotha Abdul Rahman Khoza (@abdul_khoza) View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brotha Abdul Rahman Khoza (@abdul_khoza) Although Abdul tells us that he's still getting all his ducks in row before sharing his reasons for leaving acting, his creative prowess expands more than just in front of the camera. He counts himself as a writer as well who is looking to produce and direct his own work. He shares, 'I want to produce, I want to direct some of my things as well because I'm also a writer myself. So, I'm trying to elevate myself as an individual. Trying to just walk on another path that promises a lot of growth and that's just my journey right now.' Abdul goes on to say, 'I'm always passionate in everything I do, so I do believe that there will be success in this journey as well and I'm just throwing myself in there because I feel like we need more Black producers and more Black directors and so forth in the industry ... I don't want to try to do this when I'm too old. Yeah, I don't wanna be the old director or old producer,' he laughs. 'So I wanna still do it while I know that I'm also able to be relevant to the youth. So, that's also a market that I feel like - if we don't enhance our stories or make them more impactful for them, we might lose them as an audience.' Off the cuff What's an acting tip that you always stand by? It's really just presence, being present 100 percent. Always has been the key of any actor to take, of just making sure that you live in the moment as honestly as you can. What's your favourite way to unwind by yourself? It's usually when I choose to sort of get myself in a workout. A good workout always does it for me and then after is more or less just listening to music or making music. What do you love to do with your family with Father's Day coming up? If I have my kids with me, I am the happiest father ever because they are everything. So, definitely spending the day with my kids and just having those cuddles. Abdul's career journey has taken more detours than many realise, with the actor starting off his working career in the army and the fire brigade before pursuing his dream working in the arts. On how he plans to grow and evolve in his new ventures with all of his experience, Abdul says, 'Well, my passion really would be the arts because I put myself in the space of acting but not only did I focus on acting solely, I was just able to also be a little bit behind the scenes, see what directors do on set, see how things are brought together for a production to function and all of that. 'So I've learned a lot from my experience as an actor because I've had the privilege of being able to also have personal conversations with directors and with producers that I've worked with. I've had a lot of knowledge and information that I myself would've never had if I never stepped on a set before.' He is currently busy working on his theatre debut, starring in the critically acclaimed production The Zulu by Mbongeni Ngema from 8 to 22 June 2025 at the Joburg Theatre. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Joburg Theatre (@joburgtheatre)
News24
07-05-2025
- Entertainment
- News24
Abdul Khoza bids farewell to acting after 14-year career
The harsh realities of the acting industry have taken yet another toll, as award-winning actor Abdul Khoza shocks fans with his decision to quit. Like many before him, Khoza's departure highlights the struggles and pressures that come with pursuing a career in the spotlight. South African actors have been increasingly vocal about the challenges they face, and Khoza's exit serves as a poignant reminder of the industry's darker side. In a heartfelt and unexpected announcement, award-winning actor Abdul Khoza, known for his roles in TV series like 'The Wife,' 'Isibaya,' 'Kings of Joburg,' and 'Shaka iLembe,' revealed that he's stepping away from the acting world, after years of captivating audiences on screen. The news comes after a series of cryptic and introspective posts on Instagram, where Khoza shared his thoughts on the industry and his personal journey. Leading up to his decision, Khoza's Instagram posts hinted at his growing disillusionment with the acting world. Fans noticed a change in the tone, with Khoza sharing more about his personal struggles and the pressures of the industry, however, despite that they didn't expect him to announce his expeditious exit. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brotha Abdul Rahman Khoza (@abdul_khoza) In his final post, Khoza shared a video from one of his last auditions, giving a glimpse into behind-the-scenes of his craft, but mostly giving aspiring actors a peek into the audition process. The caption reads, 'So, I decided to share one of my last auditions that I did this year before I decided to simply quit acting. This is a way for me to show those who still wish to pursue a career in acting that we all go through the audition processes. For an actor to get a role they are required to audition, and this is my last self-tape. I hope that it gives you a better understanding of the process and how we do it.' Moreover, expressed his gratitude to his fans for their constant support and acknowledged the impact acting had on his life. 'Last but not least: Thank you to everyone who ever supported my journey as an actor, i am honored to have been able to share my talents with you. I would have never known my own talent without you.' View this post on Instagram A post shared by Brotha Abdul Rahman Khoza (@abdul_khoza) And as expected, the comments section was a bitter-sweet moment as the acting community and fans are reeling from the news, with many extending their heartfelt gratitude to Khoza for his contributions and wish him well on his future endeavours.
