DiepCity is a South African telenovela that explores the struggle of four young women who were forced into crime while in high school just to make ends meet, trying to make their way in the world.
The world comes crumbling down for small-time house burglar Nox (played by Nozuko Ncayiyane) after her bright, straight-A student younger brother Sibusiso (Tshiamo Molobi) is fatally shot during a house robbery he was not supposed to be part of in the leafy suburbs of Johannesburg.
The robbery was set up by rogue security guard and low-level gangster Mgedeza (Mduduzi Mabaso) and carried out by Nox and her crew.
After doing time behind bars following her arrest, Nox returns to find her family still living in a shack after her alcoholic father Bonga (Hamilton Dlamini) lost his job, while her mother Thandiwe (Dawn Thandeka King) - who has not forgiven her for Sibusiso's death - continues to work as a domestic worker.
Will Nox manage to mend relations with her parents? Will her circumstances force her back into a life of crime or will she turn her life around?
DiepCity was created by Gwydion Beynon, Phathu Makwarela, Mandla N and Mpumelelo Nhlapo and is produced by Black Brain Pictures. The executive producers are Mpumelelo Nhlapo, Mandla N and Annelie van Rooyen.
The head writers are Duduzile Zamantungwa Mabaso and Mpumelelo Nhlapo, with storyliners Busi Amon and Makganwana Mokgalong and a writing team including Bafana Khumalo, Nonhlanhla Simelane, Wilson Shaddai, Paul Crilley, Thulani Sundu, Mbalizethu Zulu, Fezekile Cokile, Makanaka Mavengere and Sello Ramolahloane.
The director is Mandla N. Music is by Black Brain Pictures, 1020 Cartel, Jamela J Ross, Senzo Afrika, Kurt Slabbert and Mlindo.
Main Characters
Nokuthula 'Nox' Jele (Nozuko Ncayiyane)
Nox is Thandiwe's daughter. She has always been a smart, funny and resourceful young woman; a hustler who works hard to take care of her family.
She has a knack for fixing things and easily understands mechanical and electrical things.
She never intended to get into crime, much less housebreaking, but Elliot painted it as such an easy operation with high financial returns.
Lerato Theledi (Kgaogelo Monama)
Lerato's main focus is to get out of Diepsloot and to gain independence from Elliot. Lerato is the beauty of the group.
She is a smart slay queen who had to grow up very quickly and become a mother to her younger brother after her mother died when she was 14 years old.
When Elliot wanted to take her and her little brother in, she resisted.
She only let her brother move into Elliot's house when a boyfriend wanted her to come live with him in Sandton.
Asanda Ndungane (Zikhona Bali)
Asanda is the one with book smarts in the group - she is great with numbers.
All she ever wanted is to stay away from the life of crime so that she can be a worthy mate for her pastor boyfriend.
Asanda was raised by a deeply religious grandmother who did her best to provide and raise Asanda and her many cousins well.
Snenhlanhla (Nompumelelo Vilakazi)
To find the strength within herself to get out of her tough life, Sne has the resources within but she has given up her power.
She is the gossip of the group - the one who knows everything that's going on in the streets.
Her bubbly, open and friendly disposition makes her easily approachable and she is friendly with most people.
Thandiwe Jele (Dawn Thandeka King)
Thandiwe is a strict, uncompromising mother who rules her household with an iron fist.
She doesn't believe in sparing the rod and is determined to make sure that none of her children end up failures.
Mgedeza (Mduduzi Mabaso)
Mgedeza is a man who has learnt that no matter how good of a person you are, if you never cross the line between legal and illegal, you will always end up being a loser.
He is respected as a 'grootman' but also feared by many, and his criminal dealings are not public knowledge - but everyone knows to never mess with his wife or any of his family.