Season 1
Traffic! is a South African detective drama television series produced by Penguin Films which deals with the underbelly of Cape Town - drug trafficking and human trafficking - and follows Detective Lungi Mlaba who, in the course of a murder investigation, finds her own integrity is severely put to the test.
Despite being a brilliant cop, she is first and foremost a compassionate human being with her own needs and insecurities, trying to balance the demands of her home environment in the township with her working life in the suburbs.
Like every working mother, she is faced with tough choices about where her priorities lie. Lungi is deeply disturbed by the murder of two young girls in her Table View precinct: one an apparently homeless teenage street walker, the other, nineteen-year-old Mia Joseph, a beloved daughter from a "good home".
In Lungi's eyes, the two victims should be given identical treatment, regardless of their social standing. As more young girls' bodies are discovered and other young girls in the area disappear, Detective Lungi is in a race against time to catch the killer.
At the same time, she is trying to protect her own child against her dangerous ex-boyfriend, S'bu.
Detective Mlaba and her partner, Detective Sibanda (Mbutuma), want to ensure that victims of crime are given the same treatment, regardless of their social standing.
They approach their work in a complementary manner, as Detective Sibanda is a pragmatist who takes a more objective view to crime and Mlaba, although objective, tends to get her emotions entangled in cases.
They both have the responsibility of ensuring that in the course of duty they do not burn out due to the high demand of policing in Cape Town.
Produced by Penguin Films, the creative producers of Traffic! were Roberta Durrant and Kaye Ann Williams and the executive producer for e.tv was Lynn Gaines. The story is by Shirley Johnston with additional storylines by Roberta Durrant, Kaye Ann Williams, Justine Loots and Johnston. The directors on the series were Heleni Handt, Jenna Bass and Ferdi Burger.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for actor bios)
Starring
Bonnie Mbuli ... Lungi Mlaba
Bongo Mbutuma ... Songezo Sibanda
Sandile Kamle ... Detective Captain Thando Sifile
Mbulelo Grootboom ... S'Bu Baloyi
Anthony Oseyemi ... Pastor Antonia Adunola
Kagiso Rakosa ... Andiswa Mlaba
Recurring / Guests
Lemogang Tsipa ... Dini Masilela
Bjorn Steinbach ... Jacques du Plessis
Zoliswa Kawe ... Leah Ndlovu
Pierre Malherbe ... Roy Davids
June Van Merch ... Auntie Tossie Cupido
Poseletso Sejosingoe ... Karabo Nama
Sylvia Mngxekeza ... Nomosonto Mlaba (Gogo)
Merlin Balie ... Wesley Cupido
Clayton Evertson ... Constable Vergotini
Ndoni Khanyile ... Lucy Mwrebo
Wiseman Sithole ... Nkuli Masilela
Sherman Pharo ... Nathi Hendricks
Nhlanhla Den Mkhwanazi ... Shadrack Ndlovu (later as Nhlanhla Mkhwanazi)
Trudy Van Rooy ... Mia Joseph
Amrain Ismail-Essop ... Isobel Joseph
Oscar Peterson ... Johnny Joseph
Lauren Joseph ... Josie Halliday
Milissa Potter ... Angel (Milissa Jean Potter)
Angel Baptista ... Bongi
Romario Solomon ... Kleinjan (Street Kid)
Tjeripo Njembo ... Poppie (Street Kid)
Mihle Mkonto ... Precious
Olwethu Manayi ... Sugar (Street Kid)
Elvis Mahomba ... Thulani
Nastassja Dowman ... Vi (Street Kid)
Sikelelwa Vuyeleni ... Zen
Sibusiso Dyanti ... Thug 1
Patrick Lavisa ... Thug 2
Nolufefe Lujabe ... EC Woman 1/Aggressive Woman
Sylvia Mdunyelwa ... Keketso
Danielle Bottoman ... Phiwe
Pauline Aaron ... Plus Size Customer/Woman in Boutique
Lana Daniels ... Vinette
Abulele Mafuya ... Hooded Dealer
Mfundo Tshazibane ... Liquor Delivery Man
Pisto Msongelwa ... Thami Masilela
Mandilakhe Yengo ... Taxi Driver