Like father like son?
Gxabhashe disappeared four seasons ago when
actor Mpumelelo Bhulose was fired in a blaze of smoke and now he lives on through his long lost son Thulani.
He's played by Thulane Shange (Ifalakhe, iKani) and he puts an exclamation mark on Season 6 when he arrives this Wednesday (5 February 2020).
The new season premiered last night (Monday, 3 February) and features three new headline characters who debut across February:
- the timid but suspicious Thulani,
- Khehla’s mother and Qhabanga's former flame Nomcebo, played by Nombulelo Mhlongo (Ifalahke, Skeem Saam),
- and savvy businessman Mpumelelo, played by Fezile Makhanya (Zone 14, Rockville, Tempy Pushas).
TVSA got access to exclusive first look screengrabs and insider character insights to give you the ultimate lowdown on the three.
Enjoy!...
Thulani Mbhele
Debuts: Wednesday, 5 February 2020
Charming to a fault, 30-year-old Thulani comes across as very polite, respectful, trustworthy and reliable. He never raises his voice when he speaks, not even when he's angry or threatening someone.
We first meet Thulani when he kidnaps MaMlambo and we’re not sure why he does this.
He later resurfaces at the Shisa Nyama, where he takes an immediate liking to Nosipho (Nompilo Maphumulo). The two hit it off and seem to be headed to paradise together.
Then Nosipho arrives home to find Thulani sitting with MaNgcobo (Dawn Thandeka King) who reveals that Thulani is Gxabhashe’s long-lost son.
But is he really?...
Nosipho’s dreams of a romance with Thulani are crushed.
MaNgcobo takes pity on Thulani, who reveals he was rejected by Gxabhashe’s family because they never met him when Gxabhashe was alive. So, she lets him stay with the family until he figures things out.
Mpumelelo “Mpume” Hlatshwayo
Debuts: Monday 17 February 2020
Affectionately known as Mpume, 30-year-old Mpumelelo is a well-groomed young man, as evidenced by the fact he always wears smart-casual.
He's eloquent in speech, looks people in the eye when he talks to them, and has a very firm grip when shaking hands.
This and his other masculine attributes make it difficult for people to detect that Mpume is gay.
People often have stereotypical ideas of what homosexual men look and sound like which means that many people are taken aback when they learn that Mpume is gay... they’re expecting a flamboyant, over-the-top character - not the ‘man's man’ that Mpume is.
A savvy businessman, Mpume is into property. He convinces poor people to sell their RDP houses to property investors, and then gets a good commission for himself.
As soon as Mpume arrives in KwaMashu, he develops a crush on Sbu (Simphiwe Majozi), who initially thinks Mpume is just the friend he’s been looking for.
He's happy to take whatever Mpume offers - and Mpume offers a lot. It’s this generosity on Mpume’s part that makes Sbu refuse to accept that Mpume is gay. Instead, he launches Operation Convert Mpume.
Nomcebo “Cebo” Meyiwa
Debuts: Monday, 24 February 2020
Khehla’s mother is a MaNzuza type woman. She is beautiful, respectful, graceful.
She is very funny at home, amongst family and friends, and doesn’t mind being the centre of attention. But in public, Nomcebo is the epitome of dignity and class. And this makes her irresistible to men.
Nomcebo and Qhabanga were childhood sweethearts. She fell pregnant while Qhabanga was in college and they were happy to be parents.
But, when he started working, he was so determined to go up the ranks as a police officer, their relationship suffered.
She eventually found love in the arms of another man, Mkhushulwa Biyase, and broke up with Qhabanga.
She moved with her new man to his home in Etshenilenduna, Highflats, and Qhabanga lost all contact with her. But she never stopped loving him, which caused problems between her and her new man.
They eventually broke up and Nomcebo chose to stay single and just raise Khehla by herself.
When she comes to KwaMashu, she has a strong feeling her son is dead, and just wants to find his body so she can bury him.
Flash fact: Khehla, played by Thobani Nzuza, will be leaving the show.