Season 1
Red Ink is a South African thriller miniseries which unfolds when publicist and ex-journalist Lucy Khambule receives an unexpected call from a convicted serial killer, leading her life to take a dramatic turn.
PR powerhouse Lucy Khambule's (Nunu Khumalo) life is in crisis behind the scenes.
Her marriage has cracked thanks to her husband's constant cheating, and her boss has backed out of their partnership agreement.
To make it worse, she's facing these struggles as a mother.
Then, at the moment when her life is at its most chaotic, South Africa's most notorious serial killer, Napoleon "The Butcher" Dingiswayo (Bonko Khoza), phones her to demand a meeting.
After 13 years behind bars the spotlight is back on The Butcher following the discovery of the corpse of one of his missing victims.
And he wants Lucy to write his story.
Red Ink is an adaptation of Angela Makholwa-Moabelo's novel of the same name.
The story is partly inspired by Angela's own early days as a crime reporter, during which she tried to interview jailed serial killer Moses Sithole.
Eight years later, while she was working at the PR company she founded, Sithole reached out to her.
She visited him in prison over the course of eight months with the idea of writing a book about him.
Red Ink is a Showmax Original series produced by Britespark Films in collaboration with Bomb Productions. The series was created for television by Angela Makholwa and Andy Petersen.
The screenplay was written by Thishiwe Ziqubu; the director is Zeno Petersen.
The producers are Thabo Boom and Gavin Joubert; the executive producers are Angela Makholwa and Desireé Markgraaff.
The music composers are Ludvig Gawell and Hamilton Eklöf.
Main Characters
Lucy Khambule (Nqobile Nunu Khumalo)
Ex-journalist and would-be author Lucy is now a PR powerhouse, living the beige life in the suburbs.
Life is a crisis, 24/7, in the world of high-end reputation management and Lucy's private life is starting to fall apart, too.
Her boss and ex-best friend Patricia seems to have forgotten about their partnership agreement.
Her cheating husband Gary has broken countless promises, but Lucy's stuck with him since he's a great dad to their son, Khaya (Retshepile Masola).
Lucy has untapped potential and courage, and she's going to need both.
Napoleon "The Butcher" Dingiswayo (Bonko Khoza)
This quiet gentleman with the glasses seems charming and polite.
He's a gospel music-loving, Bible-reading man who's meticulously tidy.
But Napoleon Dingiswayo is not husband material; he's seething with rage and contempt for the world.
He harbours a deep-seated misogyny, believes that women's sexuality is inherently sinful, and that he has the right and duty to "cleanse" them by raping and dismembering them.
Behind bars, Napoleon watches people strictly with a view to how he can manipulate them.
He will attack verbally, then physically when he get him what he wants.
Detective Morapedi (Lorcia Cooper)
This brilliant, compassionate young detective is not easily shaken.
She's quick to see connections, detail oriented and has a long memory for everything from what a missing person was wearing, to the looks on the faces of a victim's family.
She's bold enough to face down a serial killer and look him in the eye, but is she smart enough not to get too close?
KG (Kwenzo Ngcobo)
Charming, ambitious newshound Kagiso is an old friend of Lucy's and one she feels she can turn to when she's desperate.
He's pulled back into Lucy's orbit after he blackmails her into granting one of his reporters an on-screen interview about Napoleon.
Kagiso is an old-school journalist who openly admires Lucy for her skill, and enjoys her quick wit and humour.
Patricia (Jo-anne Reyneke)
PR manager Patricia used to be Lucy's BFF... until they went into business together at The Publicist.
As Red Ink begins, she has become Lucy's so-called friend, and her promises of 40% equity in the firm have come to nothing.
While she might pull the big clients, Lucy's the one who really sorts out the mess.
Patricia can turn the tears on and off in a blink.
Gary (Yonda Thomas)
Lucy's husband is charming, handsome, selfish and a player.
He has sophisticated tastes in everything from suits to alcohol and cooking ingredients.
He's a great listener, great dancer, great in bed, a great dad, but a lousy husband.
Gary watches porn on his laptop, can't be trusted behind closed doors at a party, and is a messy and careless cheat.
He plays golf and only ever reads non-fiction. He's going to be hard to get rid of.
Fundi (Tsholofelo Maseko)
Fundi is Lucy's hype woman, her BFF and the yin to her yang.
She holds Lucy's hand through those major life changes, like dumping your cheating husband's stuff on the street.
Fundi might be the only sane person in Lucy's world.
Why listen to what a serial killer has to say, when he's exactly where he needs to be?
But Fundi's love life is dangerously messy.
Kofi Motaung (Themba Ndaba)
Kofi is a politician who's running for Premier, hoping to oust MEC Khumbane (Jeffrey Sekele).
He has fingers in every proverbial pie and a network of secret alliances, from the businessmen who front for him, to loyal inkabi who do his dirty work.
It's dangerous to go digging in Kofi's past; too much dirt can bury a person.
KK (Bongile Mantsai)
KK is one of those rich businessmen who's forever throwing parties for the city's movers and shakers.
He's a man of many connections, most of them shady.
A practised charmer and seducer, he has reasons of his own for making a play for Fundi.
Goliath (Abdul Khoza)
When Napoleon is moved out of solitary confinement into Gen Pop in prison, he strikes up a relationship with Goliath.
Napoleon might have been a butcher on the outside, but in the world of the prison, he's fresh meat to the gang bosses like Snakes.
Goliath has his own reasons for having Napoleon's back, but who makes buddies with a serial killer?
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Nunu Khumalo ... Lucy (as Nqobile Nunu K.H.)
Yonda Thomas ... Gary
Kwenzo Ngcobo ... Kagiso
Tsholo Maseko ... Fundi (as Tsholofelo Maseko)
Bongile Mantsai ... KK
Lorcia Cooper ... Detective Morapedi (as Lorcia Cooper Kumalo)
and Bonko Khoza ... Napoleon / Sifiso
Recurring / Guests
Jo-anne Reyneke ... Patricia
Phumello Khoza ... Shadrack
Chris Forrest ... Dawie
Jeffrey Sekele ... MEC Khumbane
Kabelo Moalusi ... Tshepo
Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku ... Busi
Salusile Mntambo ... Busi's Mother
Mbalenhle Mthembu ... Ntombi
Retshepile Masola ... Khaya
Brenda Duma ... Tina
Buhle Samuels ... Kopano
Jabulani Mdlalose ... Construction Manager
Andile Mhlongo ... Construction Worker
Ashley Phasha ... Prison Warder 1
Mpho Sewela ... Prison Warder 2
Lesego Maphanga ... Dr Zwane
Ntokozo Mbatha ... Policeman
Banele Mnguni ... News Video Editor
Sinazo Landingwe ... Interviewer (as Snazo Landingwe)
Yvette Moeketsi ... Studio Crew
Sihle-Isipho Nontshokweni.. TV Interviewer
Bheki Mkwanazi ... Bones (as Bheki Mkwanazi 'Bastard')
Ziya Xulu ... Neliswa
Nkosana Samane ... Head Gangster
Nokukhanya Luthuli ... Security Warden
Nkosinathi Mzila ... Prison Warden
Siyanda Ntshingila ... Prison Warden
Francois Putter ... Brian
William Sepaela ... Prison Gangster
Solomon Peqe ... Prison Gangster
Getmore Sithole ... Lucy's Father
Anisa Stockers ... Sifiso's Neighbour
Kgomotso Thaga ... Restaurant Security
Mdumiseni Mtshali ... Car Tower
Abdul Khoza ... Goliath
Themba Ndaba ... Kofi Motaung
Busiswa Mambi ... Lucy's Mother
Prince Zikhali ... Policeman 1
Mxolisi Zuma ... Policeman 2
Busisiwe Phiri ... Policewoman
Nathi Mlambo ... Detective
Nkosinathi Keswa ... Prison Doctor
Chumande Khoza ... Prison Medic / Prison Security
Mbili Khuzwayo ... Prison Thug
Siyanda Ntshingila ... Gen Pop Warder 1
Khanyile Sitsthixo ... Gen Pop Warder 2
Eugene Cele ... Thabo
Nobuhle Nukeri ... Publicist Staff
Lerato Mpogeng ... Publicist Staff
Kefilwe Cekethe ... Publicist Staff
Palesa Shongwe ... Publicist Staff
Nhlanhla Ngwane ... Barman
Ellen Bennie Mabuya ... Ntswaki
Nomvula Kubeka ... Patricia's Mother
Surprise Nkuna ... Prisoner
Salusile Mntambo ... Busi's Mother
Nicolas Ndlovu ... Marawa
Abdelkrim Oustar ... Patricia's Father
Katlego Sebei ... Pinky
Basetsana Moila ... Mrs Zodwa
Mlungisi Mathe ... Casting Director
Thamsanqa Mdletshe ... Producer
Thuli Zulu ... Ethel (as Monica Thuli Zulu)
Josias Moleele ... Publisher (as Josias Molele)
Ernest Ndlovu ... Napoleon's Old Landlord
Themba Manganyi ... Club Manager
Jabulani Mthembu ... Puso
Ntombizodwa Mzimela ... Harriet Khuzwayo
Ntandoyethu Zondi ... Young Napoleon / Sifiso
Patricia Nche ... Lady with Bag
Kabelo Tsimane ... Shop Owner
Phumlani Nxumalo ... Gang Leader
Tom Dlamini ... Gang Member
Nokwazi Gumede ... News Reader
Jacob Ntshangase ... David Khosi
Bongani Nkosi ... Sundown Supporter 1
Njabulo Sfiso Khoza ... Sundown Supporter 2
Given Mashego ... Street Beggar
Nkululeko Mabaso ... C-Max Warden
Diana Maseko ... Doctor
Zodwa Nkosi ... Kofi's Aunt
Joseph Singo ... Mpala
Menzi Skhosana ... Uniform Police Officer
Lungile Moyake ... Paramedic
Ntando Khuzwayo ... Autograph Hunter
Angela Makholwa ... Herself
Reotshepile Mohutsiwa ... Eswatini Lodge Porter