Season 1
JAB is a South African coming-of-age television drama series created by Lucilla Blankenberg and Paul Ian Johnson and set in the world of competitive boxing, as experienced through the eyes of a young black woman from Langa.
Bee Sondlo (Vanessa Ntlapo) lives with her mother, Gladys, and disabled older brother, Mandla (Mzu Ntantiso). A low-key loner who tries to live her life honourably despite the financial hardships of life in an area riddled with crime, drugs and gangsterism, Bee's private dedication to boxing is her only solace.
When the threat of losing her home leaves her no other option but to fight for money, Bee surprises everyone with the skill and ferocity of her boxing talent.
Her dramatic success sparks an unlikely journey towards the top in the seedy, dangerous world of professional fighting; where every fight in the ring is matched by her fight to keep her soul intact.
Other cast members include Lemogang Tsipa as local gangster Smiley who has a particular interest in Bee's boxing career, Faniswa Yisa as Bee's mother, Gladys, and Zingi Mtuzula as her boxing coach, Conference Johnson.
JAB is produced for SABC by Community Media Trust amd was created by producer/director Lucilla Blankenberg and screenwriter Paul Ian Johnson. The theme music is by Daniel Eppel.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Vanessa Ntlapo ... Bee Sondlo
Mzu Ntantiso ... Mandla Sondlo
Zingi Mtuzula ... Conference Johnson
Lemogang Tsipa ... Smiley
Faniswa Yisa ... Gladys Sondlo
Recurring / Guests
Quanita Adams ... Mrs Adams
Morne Visser ... Federation Official
David Muller ... Kallie Coetzee
Slumko Ndyalivane ... Promoter
Lwandile Sompontsha ... Junior
Thembekile Komani ... Khetso
Patrick Lavisa ... Samson
Amy Trout ... Lavinia Jacobs
Yanga Jikela ... Zed
Anele Situlweni ... Sergeant
Thembani Luzipho ... Samkelo Sondlo
Mehboob Bawa ... Dr Khan
Rushda Mallick ... Rushka Mohammed
Khanya Gagu ... Lundi
Vakele Genu ... Zed's Sidekick
Carissa van der Merwe ... Lizelle Botha
Kirsten de Wit ... Yolanda
Zizipho Kuza ... Mahlengi
Ayanda Soboyisi ... Karabo
Rudy Gibbons ... Ring Announcer