SABC3's new telenovela The Estate premieres on Monday 5 April at 19h00, which means it's time to warm-up for it with a jam-packed snack pack of the scenario, Who's Who and the first teasers.
As you may have seen on the
TVSA Show Page, the series is set in a gated community called Echelon Estate, landscaped by a golf course, clubhouse, gym and all the fixings that such estates have.
Of course this perfect world is riddled with cracks. The biggest is a land claim against the estate from the neighbouring Thembalethu township community.
This makes the residents of gatesville feel less and less secure, which raises themes of identity and heritage, truth vs lies, money (old and new), historical disempowerment and the fight for true economic freedom.
The characters in the story consist of South Africans from all walks of life - the super elite, the middle class and the working class people who service the estate.
They're played by an all star cast consisting of many actors from two shows that have suffered
The Curse of the "I"s: Isidingo and Mzansi Magic's Isibaya, which ends two days before The Estate starts.
See your favourite actors and find out who they're playing:
Phakathwayo Family
Sdumo Mtshali as Muzi Phakathwayo
The MD of consultancy and construction company Isikhathi Sethu Investment Holdings, Muzi is a patriarch who will go to great lengths to succeed.
His secret weapon is how he manages people.
Jo-anne Reyneke as Lwandle Phakathwayo
Lwandle is Vuyo's wife, who is sophisticated, smart, sassy, creative, loyal, loving and ambitious.
She came from money and fell in love with Vuyo's seemingly insatiable drive to succeed.
Sparky Xulu as Siya Phakathwayo
Siya is Vuyo's younger brother - a livewire who is unpredictable and dangerous with a charming edge, and has a wicked sense of humour.
He is freshly out of prison and Vuyo sets him up with a security job in the Estate.
Linda Sebezo as Goniwe Phakathwayo
Goniwe is Vuyo's aunt who is tough, fierce, rooted in idealism, passionate and compassionate.
A stalwart of the movement, she was instrumental in quelling the ANC/IFP 90s violence.
She is much loved and respected in the movement.
Zenokuhle Maseko as Sindi Phakathwayo
Vuyo and Lwandle's daughter, Sindi is conscientious, pampered, sassy, independent and a dreamer.
While she is a proud Phakathwayo, she feels the pressure to be the 'son' Vuyo never had.
Aubrey Poo as Castro Kamanga
The MMC of transport and a taxi boss, Castro is duplicitous and cunning with a great sense of humour, at the same time dangerous, arrogant and self-righteous.
A seeming ally to the Phakathwayo household, Castro deeply resents the family and all they stand for.
He will do anything to see the eventual demise of Goniwe and her family.
Mokobane Family
Don Mlangeni Nawa as Shadrack Mokobane
Shadrack is Mmathsepo's husband and Dumisani's father; a respected community leader in Thembalethu.
Shadrack wants a better life for his son than he has and is prepared to sacrifice everything to achieve this.
Clementine Mosimane as Mmatshepo Mokobane
Shadrack's wife, Dumisani's mother and the domestic worker for the Phakathwayo household, Mmatshepo is resourceful, friendly, nosy, persistent and a gossip.
She wears her heart on her sleeve and wants her son to be a prominent lawyer and upgrade their living circumstances.
Mpho Sibeko as Dumisani Mokobane
Shadrack and Mmathsepo's son, Dumisani is a law graduate in love with Sindi Phakathwayo. He is a young firebrand who is socially conscious, bright, loyal and a rule breaker.
He believes justice will win every time and that love will conquer all.
Van Wyk Family
Jacques Blignaut as Martin van Wyk
Played by
and
Carla Classen as Tessa van Wyk
Martin is a GP who lives on The Estate caring for his wife, Grace, who has a congenital heart disease.
She has become progressively worse over the past five years and is now bed-ridden in their lounge, and it's not looking good.
She maintains a brave face and keeps her spirit up for the sake of their 15-year-old daughter Tessa.
Le Roux Family
Nadia Valvekens as Suzaan le Roux
and
Charlie Bouguenon as Ryan le Roux
and
Penny Wolhuter as Leah le Roux
A housewife and mother to her 15-year old daughter, Leah, Suzaan is the Karen of the Estate - she helps out as secretary on the body corporate board, terrorizes fellow community members with 100 group WhatsApps a day and is basically the bane of everyone's existence - the nosy, gossiping neighbour.
Leah thinks she is a smother mother because she is so controlling and appearances are very important to Suzaan.
Suzaan suddenly finds herself without a husband when Ryan leaves her for another man following an embarrassing public incident in their driveway.
Heartbroken, humiliated and now a single mother, Suzaan tries to pretend all is fine, but the cracks are showing.
Molefe Family
Dineo Langa as Mmakoena Molefe
and
Matli Mohapeloa as Lesiba Molefe
Mmakoena is an ambitious, dynamic advocate, married to Lesiba, 35, a social worker.
Mmakoena is on her way to making senior partner at her firm and she's just bought the house of her dreams on the Estate.
Lesiba does not want to move from Diepkloof extension to what he sees as a nicely decorated prison.
Lesiba is a smart, sensitive and caring man who loves his wife but feels emasculated because she makes more money than he does.
Mmakoena resents that she needs to make herself small to make Lesiba feel more comfortable.
He has a saviour complex and can be self-righteous and unforgiving. He runs Sakhizwe, an NPO in Thembalethu that Vuyo Phakathwayo funds.
Through Mmakoena and Lesiba is the story about the disintegration of a marriage as two people who love each other develop different ideals and fight on the opposite sides of a land claim.
Here's a link to the first teasers:
New! The Estate Teasers - April 2021