Season 1
Imbewu: The Seed is a South African soapie created by Duma Ndlovu which revolves around the Bhengu family, who must live in the shadow of a potent secret stemming from ancient traditional practice.
One side of the Bhengu family has been keeping a secret from the other for many years, with treachery and tumult never more than a step away.
Brothers Zimele and Phakade are both honorable men, but one will feel betrayed when he learns of a deep secret that could leave a stain on the legacy he hopes to leave for his four children.
Ambitious business tycoon, Zimele "Ngcolosi" Mkhize, has his heart set on becoming South Africa's first black oil baron, a legacy he wants to leave to his four children.
But things take an unexpected turn when he makes a shocking discovery. Will the truth tear his life and family apart or will he suffer silently and pass his legacy on to another man's seed?
The series follows Ngcolosi Bhengu, a self-made millionaire, who along with his two business partners, Pranav Rampersad, and Zane Johnson; have built Maluju Oil; an oil company worth a hundred million rand.
Pranav and Zane are not mere shareholders and business partners to Ngcolosi - these are men with whom he's travelled a long journey; men he considers brothers.
In his younger years, Ngcolosi was driven by his raw ambition and a single-minded desire to succeed. Now a man in his late forties and still full of energy and zeal, his focus is on consolidating power and leaving a legacy. Not only is the continuation of the family name important to him, but its natural association with prestige and wealth.
Knowing that neither of his brothers will willingly relinquish their equity, he knows that this can only be achieved through, heavy-handedness, cunning or deceit.
If this were against any other person, it wouldn't matter. It certainly wouldn't be the first time Ngcolosi has used any of these strategies, but the difference this time is that these are men he considers family.
The second, and more crucial event is the shock discovery by Ngcolosi that the children he's raised, that bear his name – are not his biological children.
A few years into their marriage, MaZulu, Ngcolosi's wife, had not produced any children, much less a boy. At this stage, Ngcolosi had already been talking about children and she began to suffer under the pressure of expectation.
Scared and fearing that the problem was with her, MaZulu sought medical intervention, only to find that she was fertile, which meant that the problem was with Ngcolosi. He was the one that was impotent.
This was a truth MaZulu could not tell her husband, and instead brought the matter before her mother-in-law and family matriarch MaNdlovu. With all other avenues closed, MaNdlovu, a strong and decisive woman sought a traditional solution.
Though Phakade is the bearer of the seed, the custom dictates that Ngcolosi bears full paternal rights to the children. Custom furthermore forbids that the beneficiary ever know that such a ritual was practiced.
The world of Imbewu: The Seed is a reflection of the unique interaction between rural and urban lifestyles in South Africa. It aims to showcase the struggles and conflicts between home and corporate settings and the emotional tension created by the economic gap between the haves and have-nots.
One of the families central to the plot of the shows is the Bhengu family, comprising MaZulu (Leleti Khumalo), MaNdlovu (Thembi Mtshali-Jones), Ngcolosi (Mpumelelo Bhulose), Zithulele (Raphael Griffiths), Priscilla (Fundi Zwane) and Khanyo (Nqobile Ndlovu).
The family also features Vuyokazi Tshona as Buhle, Nokubonga Khuzwayo as Zakhithi, Xolani Mfeka as Nganono, Sandile Dlamini as Phakade and Nokwanda Khuzwayo as Futhi.
Imbewu: The Seed was created by Duma Ndlovu and is produced by Grapevine Productions in association with Word of Mouth Pictures, Videovision Entertainment and Luyks Productions. The executive producers are Anant Singh, Leleti Khumalo and Duma Ndlovu and the series producer is Greig Buckle. Molefi Lebone is the executive producer for e.tv.
The head of story on the production is Carol Shore, with head writer Loyiso Maqoma. Storyliners include Marina Bekker, Ben Johnson, Matthew Jankes and Bradley Katzen. The series premiere was directed by Duma Ndlovu.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Leleti Khumalo ... Nokubonga Bhengu
Mpumelelo Bhulose ... Ngcolosi Bhengu
Thembi Mtshali-Jones ... MaNdlovu Bhengu (as Thembi Mtshali)
Sandile Dlamini ... Phakade Bhengu
Jailoshini Naidoo ... Nerupa Rampersad
Koobeshen Naidoo ... Pranav Rampersad
Recurring / Guests
Fundi Zwane ... Priscilla Bhengu
Kajal Maharaj ... Shria Rampersad
Nqobile Ndlovu ... Khanyo Bhengu
Vuyokazi Tshona ... Buhle Bhengu
Huey Louw ... Zane
Xolani Mfeka ... Nganono Bhengu
Raphael Griffiths ... Zithulele Bhengu
Nokubonga Khuzwayo ... Zakithi Bhengu
Mduduzi Nombela ... Phunyuka
Nokwanda Khuzwayo ... Futhi Bhengu
Mishka Gounden ... Mira Rampersad (as Mishka Gouden)
Nonsindiso Gcaba ... Zethu Khanyile
Ntokozo Mzulwini ... Lindiwe Msweli
Gugulethu Mzobe ... Nomusa Mkhize
Sindiswe Zondo ... Sibongile Mseleku
Brightness Zulu ... Celiwe
Thanda Gcwensa ... Thando
Kaylin Soobramainia ... Thu Sheleni
Langalakhe Zwane ... Macingwane (Sangoma)
Qiniso Zuma ... Jomo
Simo Dlamini ... Mnyamane
Shine Madela ... Friend 1
Portia Ncwane ... Friend 2
Sbu Shozi ... MC
Joseph Mahola ... Swenka 1
Mongezi Lunda ... Swenka 2
Simphiwe Ndlovu ... Swenka 3
Dumisani Ngcobo ... Swenka 4
Thwaleyakhe Zuma ... Swenka 5
Vela Gwala ... Swenka 6
Thokozile Gumede ... MaKhumalo (Sangoma)
Thabile Msomi ... Samkelisiwe Buthelezi
Shannon Kenny ... Belinda
Aiden Brice ... Brent Silver
Carl Mhlongo ... Mpilo / Henchman
Sthabiso Dlamini ... Msizo (as Stabiso Dlamini)
Samkelo Dlomo ... Funani
Sheila Khumalo ... Mthandazeli
Prudence Madinane ... Church Lady 2
Msizi Magoso ... Security Guard
Zama Shozi ... Secretary
Nishal Singh ... Judge 3
Alex Largatzis ... Judge 4
Ntsika Mchunu ... Wonga Boy
Barbara Khumalo ... Vendor (as Babrah Khumalo)
Mondli Makhoba ... Shukela
Sne Sabelo ... Waitress 1
Anathi Gobeni ... Lindokuhle
Mandla Mhlongo ... Msobho
Zamo Kubeka ... Bab'Ndlovu
Michaela Hardstone ... Cynthia
Njabulo Dlamini ... Teenage Ngcolosi
Ntsiki Mchunu ... Teenage Phakade / Wonga Boy 2
Jimmy Magubane ... Candidate 1
Elzette Smith ... Candidate 2
Winnie Sibiya ... Candidate 3
Tshatha Ngobe ... Bangizwe
Nombuso Gcabashe ... Bongi
Ravi R ... Dinesh Naicker
Nokwanda Mchunu ... Patron 1
Aiden Bruce ... Brunt Silver
Percy Smith ... Logan Taylor
Lungani Mabaso ... DJ Ice
Mawuena Geyevu ... Patron 2
Raylene Maris ... Patron 3
Mpilo Sibisi ... Buyer
Ashkelon Megnath ... Jithu (as Ashkelon Meganarth)
Shakila Ramdeen ... Mrs Acharya
MJ Khanyile ... Junior Accountant
Jacobus van Heerden ... Adam
Lucky Hadebe ... Bra Tiny
Sibongiseni Shozi ... Dumisani
Nazmeera Rashid ... Staff Member 1
Lungile Biyela ... Staff Member 2
Silindile Sithole ... Staff Member 3
Thembinkosi Phowa ... Worker 1
Sandile Cibane ... Unknown Man
Mlungisi Shabalala ... Zenzele
Jack Devnarain ... Mr Maharaj
Minehle Mncunu ... Guy 1
Sbu Mngoma ... Guy 2
Nduduzo Ngwenya ... Chester Khuzwayo
Mlamuli Mbili ... Sinister Man
Sifiso Mchunu ... Lungani Maphumulo
Seshen Brijmohun ... Chandran
Bassy Bhola ... Nirupa's Father
Talia Guo ... Nirupa's Mother
Liana Hassin ... Young Nirupa
Zahir Bassa ... Yuveer
Zamaswazi Mokoena ... Sizakele
Kabelo Damane ... Hooligan 1
Zothani Nzimande ... Hooligan 2
Sabelo Ngubane ... Hooligan 3
Nokuthula Mazibuko ... Gogo Zungu
Zandile Memela ... Nokuthula
Thandanani Qwabe ... Sinister Stranger
Talente Cebekhulu ... Wonga Boy 1
Preven Reddy ... Ashwin
Maeshni Naicker ... Shamila
Sthabiso Dlamini ... Messenger
Thenjiwe Moseley ... Mthandazi (as Thenjiwe)
Owethu Gambushe ... Nonhlanhla
Khayelihle Mgobhozi ... Choir Boy
Nhlanhla Mthethwa ... Male Friend / Choir
Gavin Ferguson ... Donald
Nazmera Rashid ... Worker 1
Phindile Ngubane ... Worker 1
Nelisiwe Ndimande ... Worker 1
Nirupa Singh ... Dressmaker
Hlabeyakhe Mhlongo ... Aged Face
Elia Mnyandu ... Aged Face
Anitha Luthuli ... Young Hands / Zakithi
Okhule Zuma ... Young Hands
Vusi Mdluli ... Al-Dente Waiter
Raylen Maris ... Al-Dente Hostess
Nina Mkhize ... Detective Dubazane
Mxolisi Zulu ... Police Officer
Masood Boomgaard ... Saudi Arabian Man
Benjamin Major ... Saudi Arabian Man
Fezile Zulu ... Body Guard
Senzo Bhengu ... Body Guard
Nondumiso Msomi ... Dr Sithole
Duduzile Mbuyi ... Nurse
Sandisiwe Mazibuko ... Nurse
Zamachunu Mchunu ... Jabulile
Goodenough Gumede ... Sizwe
Lwazi Pinyana ... Thabani
Martin Ziqubu ... Bab Radebe
Monica Zulu ... MaShenge
Enhle Gambushe ... Nonhlanhla
Peter Keogh ... Dr Walcott
Mduduzi Mabaso ... MaJozi
Bhekani Shabalala ... Bhekisisa
Wanda Khwela ... Pianist
Sthembiso Mkhize ... Pianist
Quraisha Mahomed Sheik ... Aditi
Schelaine Bennett ... Melissa (as Schelaine Bennet)
Nelisiwe Dlamini ... Church Congregant 1 / Church Lady 1
Nombuso Biyela ... Senior Church Congregant
Sibahle Ndlovu ... Young Lady
Senzeni Cibane ... Annoying Woman
Jabulani Jali ... Dr Nzimande
Nolwazi Mdlalose ... Young MaZulu
Sandile Makhoba ... Young Ngcolosi
Zamaswazi Mokoena ... Sizakela
Respect Mhlongo ... Paramedic 1
Mlondi Ngcobo ... Young Man 1 (as Mlondi Tigerwalk)
Savy Ramsamy ... Rampersad Aunt (as Aunt Savy Ramsamy)
Sithembiso Mhlongo ... Impound Worker
Vusi Mbongwa ... Buyer
Mohamed Ruiters ... Chop Shop Boss
Sifiso Mdluli ... Young Hunk
Busisiwe Shezi ... Lwazi
Allois Dumakude ... Thulani Zulu
Khaya Ngema ... Lungelo Zulu
Zama Zulu ... Ayanda Zulu
Babalwa Sobikela ... Random Woman
Thokozani Ndlovu ... Nomfundo
Afika Goba ... Baby Sibusiso
Gian Pierre Golden ... Security Guard
Thabo Mnguni ... Sipho
Semuhle Shangase ... Cassie
Roel Twijnstra ... Uwe Jansen
Buhle Samuels ... Zandile
Melusi Yeni ... Manqoba Dlamini
Thabani Mahlobo ... Malibongwe
Mzwandile Hlongwane ... Sifiso
Goodenough Gumede ... Boyfriend
Malusi Mbokazi ... Gospel Artist (as Melusi Mbokkazi)
Lunique Sithole ... Shabalala
Natasha Thahane ... Liyana
Thandeka Khumalo ... Umthakathi
Sandile Makhanya ... Flymotion
Enver Mall ... Arab Man
Kwanda Radebe ... Aspirant Comedian 1
Melissa Jinks ... Aspirant Comedian 2
Kazeem Taiwo ... Adebo
Monde Blose ... Young Comedian
Duke Mabaso ... Mzwandile
Nesan Pather ... Date 1
Rohani Maharaj ... Date 1 Mother
Imran Omar ... Date 2
Mmeli Ngcobo ... Date 3
Nkanyiso Mchunu ... Nkululeko