Rockville 4 premieres on Mzansi Magic this Sunday (10 July) at 20h00 with a crowd of new characters. As we mentioned last month, Sello Maake Ka-Ncube, Themba Ndaba and Ayanda Thabethe have joined the show as new characters.
There are also various other new personalities in the action who have important relationships to the starring roles.
Here's a blow-by-blow of who's who:
Rolex Ngidi (played by Sello Maake Ka-Ncube)
Rolex is an MEC in Gauteng, with aspirations to be the Premiere of the province.
He is known for being a man of the people, and a philanthropist - supporting many charities in his private capacity. But beneath the surface, Rolex is an evil, violent self-serving maniac who is obsessed with power, and who runs a network of criminal enterprises.
When JB inadvertently steals money from Rolex, he becomes a pawn in a political war that threatens everything he loves…
Vicky Mofokeng (played by Gail Nkoane Mabalane)
Vicky is an existing character who left the action in Season 2. She returns for Season 4 when she offers JB a chance at redemption.
Vicky, after years trying to make her way in the world as a reformed prostitute, finally finds herself working at Paradise - an upmarket strip club in Sandton.
When the owner of the club dies, she spots an opportunity, and goes to JB with a proposal to take over the club, and operate as co-owners.
Aliyah (played by Ayanda Thabethe)
When JB and Vicky buy Paradise, the most valuable asset at the club is the gorgeous stripper and pole-dancer Aliyah. Aliyah is a woman with a mission.
She grew up poor in Diepsloot, and with the income she earns from stripping, she supports her grandmother and puts her younger brother through private school.
But when JB comes onto the scene, she finds him irresistible - particularly when he seems to take a fatherly interest in her. But do her dreams of romance stand a chance against a backdrop of danger and betrayal?
Mmabatho (played by Seipati Motshwane)
Mmabatho is Mavis’ legendary battle axe of a mother from Taung. Mavis has rarely spoken about her mother, and now we know why - Mmabatho is a difficult woman, constantly complaining about Mavis and her life choices, and finding fault with everything she does.
When she speaks her mind, she doesn’t shut up. Mmabatho has come to Rockville to try and negotiate peace between Mavis and her estranged sister Olga.
Olga (Tsholo Matshaba)
Olga is Mavis’ younger sister, and despite all her failures and shortcomings, Mmabatho’s favourite daughter, who can do no wrong in her mother’s eyes.
Olga is Mavis’ polar opposite. She is arrogant, self-regarding and irresponsible. But she is also funny and charming, and over the years has gotten really good at hiding her worst qualities behind a veneer of sweetness.
Her feud with Mavis has lasted a dozen years or more, and stems from a terrible betrayal that neither woman is capable of talking about.
Bassie (played by Kamo Modisakeng)
Bassie is Mavis’ beautiful and naive niece - Olga’s 16-year-old daughter from Taung. She comes to stay with Mavis’ family after Mavis’ mother pleads with her to take her in andto keep an eye on her.
Bassie is the picture of innocence, but she soon finds herself falling in love with a much older man, in a dangerous and doomed romance that threatens everything.
Azania Dlamini (played by Kgomotso Christopher)
Azania is an extremely accomplished prosecutor working at the NPA, and an old friend of JB from before his legal problems. She fears nobody, and will stop at nothing to get to the truth.
She is also recently divorced, and finds herself drawn to JB, even as JB is forced by his association with Rolex to betray the only woman who can offer him salvation.
Africa Mbatha (played by Loyiso MacDonald)
Africa is the cleanest politician in the province, with a perfect life story to boot: a loving fiancé, and a bright future ahead of him.
However, in putting his name forward for provincial Premiere, he is putting himself on a direct collision course with the dangers of Rolex Ngidi.
Station Commander Ngema (played Themba Ndaba)
Ngema is a man known throughout Rockville for being deeply committed to his community - a policeman who will go above and beyond the call of duty. He enters as a hero, but we soon discover that Ngema is a dangerous and disturbed man, who’s desire quickly turn to obsession.
Jabu (played by Austin Shandu)
Jabu is a veteran criminal, with particular expertise in cash-in-transit heists. He and JB have become close since JB fell on hard times, and Jabu offers JB an opportunity to turn his life around by returning to a life of crime.
Coco (played by Robby Collins)
Coco is a returning character from Season 3, given a new direction by comedian Robby Collins. The character was previously played by David Johnson. Coco and JB became fast friends in prison, connected in their mutual friendship and affection for Sipho.
In Season 4, Coco returns as an aide to JB and Vicky, as they battle a dangerous new enemy, with Coco always keen to provide some jokes and comic relief (when he isn’t distracted by the male waiters at Paradise).