ISSUE 2 | JULY–SEPTEMBER
IOL
ENTERTAINMENT
Ladies level up in the industry
Keep a lookout for industry newcomer, Nefisa Mkhabela This 20-year-old beauty has been cast as Ona Molapo in e.tv’s exciting new high-fashion drama series, House of Zwide, which is produced by Bomb Productions and VideoVision Entertainment. This rags-to-riches story revolves around the Zwide family, helmed by patriarch Funani (Vusi Kunene), who is the founder and the owner of fashion label, House of Zwide. This series unpacks ambition, deception, passion, challenges and successes of the fashion world, where dreams are made, tested and crushed. ♦ House of Zwide debuts on e.tv on Monday July 19, 2021. It will run weekly at 7pm.
Inside... ‘Jiva!’ lead actress lets her feet do the talking...
4-5
5 female powerhouses owning the stage
6-7
Gabrielle de Gama’s star shines bright
8-9
Songbirds hitting all the right notes...
10-11
Jayan Moodley’s chance entry
12-13
GOSSIP CORNER: Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha 14-15 Harriet Gavshon shares the other side of showbiz
16-17
5 female TV directors ruling the roost
18-19
SPOTLIGHT ON: Connie Ferguson
20-21
3 production houses steered by women
22
Seasoned actresses making their comeback
23
CONTACT US PUBLISHER | Vasantha Angamuthu vasantha@africannewsagency.com EDITOR | Debashine Thangevelo debashine.thangevelo@inl.co.za EXECUTIVE LIFESTYLE EDITOR | Nelandri Narianan nelandri.narianan@inl.co.za PRODUCTION | Renata Ford renata.ford@inl.co.za DESIGN | Mallory Munien mallory.munien@inl.co.za BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT | Keshni Odayan keshni.odayan@inl.co.za SALES Charl Reineke | charl@africannewsagency.com GENERAL ENQUIRIES | info@anapublishing.com
FROM THE EDITOR WHERE has the time gone, we are already on the second issue of our quarterly IOL Entertainment magazine. In this issue, we pay homage to the powerful women raising the bar and setting benchmarks in the entertainment industry. And there is no better time to applaud their successes than now, a few weeks shy of Women’s Month. After all, there was a time when it wasn’t common practice to have females as directors, producers, heads of production houses, and TV leads. Thankfully, times have changed and it has ushered in a long-overdue shift in mindsets. In this edition, we look at newcomers as well as the trailblazers with the same revering eyes. We celebrate them by retracing their footsteps into the limelight, irrespective of it being in front of or behind the camera. Walking this fertile ground of creativity are industry legends Harriet Gavshon and Connie Ferguson. Some find success later on in life and that’s true of Jayan Moodley’s journey with the Keeping up with the Kandasamys franchise. She tells us more. In M-Net’s highly-anticipated crime drama series Reyka, 14-year-old Gabrielle de Gama proves to be a marvellous find. The teen star delivers a mind-blowing performance. Our cover story is on Noxolo Dlamini, who is the talk of the town after her dazzling performance as the lead in Netflix’s Jiva! This role is a big career move for her. We also reveal the artists topping the trends list as well as the veterans making their acting comeback. I hope you are as inspired by the gamechangers we are raising a glass to. Stay safe!
Debashine
Stealing the show!
Noxolo Dlamini
‘Jiva!’ lead actress lets her feet do the talking... DEBASHINE THANGEVELO
NOXOLO Dlamini exudes this infectious energy. It was unmistakable during our virtual chat. And it goes without saying that her livewire personality sealed her fate in landing the role of Ntombi, a gifted street dancer from Umlazi, in Netflix’s critically-acclaimed dance drama, Jiva! Ntombi’s dreams were upended when her father committed suicide. At the time, she was on the brink of landing her big break - an opportunity to tour as a dancer. As such, her then boyfriend Bheki (Zamani Mbatha) took her slot and became an overnight star. Encouraged by her uncle Bra Zo (Tony Kgoroge) and her ride or die, Vuyiswa (Candice Modiselle), Ntombi decides to give her dream one last shot by entering the fifth Jiva! Loxion competition as The Trollies. Jiva! is Dlamini’s breakthrough role. She previously appeared in Isibaya and Liberty. When she was in Grade 7, she, helped by her drama teacher, secured a spot at the National School of the Arts, where she spent two years. She then moved to Dominican Convent School as the competitive environment at NSA left her somewhat disillusioned. “My mother, who has always been supportive of me, felt like my light was being dimmed at NSA,” Dlamini said. The move was great. The
environment and sense of family at her new school made her love her craft again. Back to Jiva!. She auditioned for the roles of Lady E and Zinhle. But, after getting a call back for the latter part, her banter with Scottnes L Smith (one of the directors) over the character veering into parody territory in the audition, got her cast as Ntombi. She said: “I told him, I thought it was so stereotypical, the way I was asked to play the character. I’m from Soweto. Yes, there’s girls like this. But I felt like he wanted me to approach it in a very caricature way.” Suffice to say, the director was grateful for the feedback. On landing the part, she said: “What a pleasant surprise. But that’s when the work had to start because Ntombi is a gqom dancer, which is a style of dance I’m not used to and so I had to start doing my research. I had to start enjoying gqom music, which was very difficult. It sounded like noise at first. It’s crazy because, now, I really enjoy it.” Having grown up in Soweto, she was able to connect to the township vibe. She continued: “It is the most beautiful thing to see all these black women coming together to lift each other up. There’s a sisterhood they create. It’s so beautiful to watch and inspiring.” ♦ Jiva! is currently streaming on Netflix.
Kate Normington
Fiona Ramsay
Palesa Mazamisa
FEMALE POWERHOUSES OWNING THE STAGE ALYSSIA BIRJALAL SOUTH Africa is home to a host of amazing and versatile actresses. Let’s take a look at five female powerhouses owning their craft on the theatre front. Kate Normington Award-winning South African actress and the queen of musicals, Kate Normington is best known for her work in the theatre productions, Sweeney Todd, Hair and Nunsense, which earned her a Fleur de Cap award for best actress. Normington, a speech and drama graduate, went on to perform at the Adelphi Theatre
in London’s West End in 1995 and the Haymarket in England in 1996, among other venues abroad. The talented star has also performed jingles and voiceovers for local radio and television and has released her debut album, Mother’s Daughter. Normington has made several TV appearances over the years. Fiona Ramsay Award-winning theatre actress Fiona Ramsay played a critical role in South African theatre in the 1970s and 1980s, a time when theatre exploded with
electrifying activity. Together with Richard E Grant, Henry Goodman, Fred Abrahamse and Neil McCarthy, she formed The Troupe Theatre Company which produced original, daring, creative, innovative and exciting work. Ramsay spent five years performing in the West End and when she returned to South Africa she continued to perform at The Alhambra in Doornfontein. In recent years as it has become harder to fill theatres, Ramsay has taken up film roles, one-woman shows, lecturing and voice coaching.
Palesa Mazamisa Director, playwright and author Palesa Mazamisa captured audiences with her directorial debut, in the satirical play Shoes & Coups, in 2018. She catapulted to fame after it received eight nominations including best new South African script, best director and best production from the Naledi Theatre Awards. The play went on to win the best new South African script and best supporting actor awards. Mazamisa’s writing has featured in several publications. Her short story, A Day In August, was published in the literary anthology Botsotso 17 in 2016. She co-wrote and co-produced the play Bubbly Bosoms for the Thari Ya Arts group. It was staged at the National Theatre in Pretoria in 2010 and at the National Arts Festival in 2011. Mazamisa was part of the Market Theatre’s virtual project #Ditshomo, which live-streamed
nine productions across its social media platforms to ensure that its loyal supporters and new audiences were able to get a taste of South Africa’s theatre from the comfort of their homes during the Covid-19 lockdown. Lara Foot Lara Foot is an award-winning playwright, director and producer. She is the chief executive and artistic director of the Baxter Theatre Centre at UCT. Foot has put most of her energy into helping other playwrights and theatremakers realise their work and she has nurtured several dozen new South African plays to their first staging. Her own hard-hitting plays tackle social issues and have laid bare the brutality and sickening frequency of child rape in South Africa. Tshepang was based on a real event, the alleged gang rape of a 9-monthold baby by six men in a remote, impoverished community. Foot
Lara Foot
used refined, ironic humour to sketch a portrait of the community, and then turned everyday objects into symbols with horrific poetic effect. Karoo Moose (2007) returned to the subject of child rape in a rural town. In Solomon and Marion, Foot explores the cruelty of the meaningless murders which betray her country. Dr Lliane Loots Dr Lliane Loots is the founder of the Flatfoot Dance Company and UKZN’s Centre for Creative Arts. The JOMBA! Contemporary Dance Festival’s artistic director works in the arena of African dance pedagogy and dance performance and choreography. She has won several choreographic awards and commissions and has travelled extensively in Europe, America and Africa with her dance work. As a researcher, she has published many articles over the years.
Dr Lliane Loots
Gabrielle de Gama’s star shines bright DEBASHINE THANGEVELO
Newcomer...
GABRIELLE de Gama is unlike most 14year olds. She isn’t spending countless hours death scrolling through social media, catching up with her girlfriends or busy making TikTok videos. Instead, she’s planning footprints in the music and entertainment industry. On the back of recently releasing her debut single, Nasty, which tackles cyberbullying, she bagged a plum role in M-Net’s African crime drama, Reyka. Before delving into her role in the series, she expanded on her journey since bagging the role of Annie at Peoples Theatre in Johannesburg. She said: “That just opened a lot of doors for me. I started to get vocal coaching and then I joined my agency, 33 & Me.” Her journey also saw her exposed to the Performance Academy, where she honed her skills in acting. She also trained with June Kraus at the June Kraus Julliard School of Music and bagged the Best Overall Singer at the International ARTS Talent showcase. And she got to take the stage at The International Modeling and Talent Association (IMTA) convention in the Big Apple. With so much exposure to the spotlight, it’s easy to understand De Gama’s confident and focused approach. She handled our virtual tête-à-tête with a maturity that belies her age. I was
most impressed. Back to the series, it centres on a brilliant but flawed criminal profiler, Reyka Gama (Kim Engelbrecht), who, in investigating a string of brutal murders committed by a serial killer in the sugar cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal, is forced to confront her own demons. Haunted by her past, and having been abducted as a child by a farmer named Speelman (Iain Glen), pictured above, she investigates a string of brutal murders committed by a serial killer in the sugar cane fields of KwaZulu-Natal. De Gama is cast as Young Reyka. Having caught a sneak preview of the first episode, the teenager handles her role and intense emotions with commendable finesse and conviction. “It was really nerve racking when I first met Iain. He’s such a big influence on the film industry, globally, and that scared me because it was my first ever time on TV. But once I got over the shock and got used to filming, it settled my nerves. “The director’s gave me a lot of advice about Young Reyka. They told me where she was born, what kind of role her parents played in her life, the kind of things she did on a daily basis and how she coped with the kidnapping. On set, I focused
on the character and just absorbed the scene.” Although she didn’t have any scenes with Engelbrecht, she met the seasoned actress and engaged in a quick banter over their shared character. Most of De Gama’s scenes were shot during the school holidays. But she’s very focused on time management when it comes to juggling school with her fledgling career in entertainment. She added: “School always comes first. If you don’t take your education seriously, no one is going to take you seriously.” With such a good head on her shoulders, this rising star, who is still having that pinch me moment after getting to meet Thando Thabethe, Anna-Mart van der Merwe (as her small screen mom, Elsa) and Engelbrecht, is bound to go far. ♦ Reyka premieres on M-Net (DStv channel 101) on Sunday, July 25, at 8pm.
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SONGBIRDS HITTING ALL THE RIGHT NOTES... LIAM KARABO JOYCE Sha Sha One of Zimbabwe’s hottest exports of the moment, musician Sha Sha (real name is Charmaine Mapimbiro), started performing at music festivals in Zimbabwe after her friends encouraged her. Growing up she would sing in the choir and at school plays but never thought she could sing – but others did. After pursuing music
professionally and having her singles hit the airwaves in Zimbabwe, she moved to South Africa to pursue music here. She started doing gigs and started growing a fan base but things changed when a taxi driver she befriended introduced her to DJ Maphorisa. Sha Sha went on to be featured on some of the biggest hits in 2019 alongside stars like Samthing Soweto and Kabza De
Small and she released her debut EP, Blossom. She was awarded Best New International Act at the 2020 BET Awards and later released a single, Woza. Tyla After racking up nearly 2 million views independently and receiving early praise for her hit single Getting Late and receiving praise from i-D, Paper Magazine, and
more, the singer and songwriter has inked a global deal with Epic Records. Born and raised in Johannesburg, Tyla grew up listening to American R&B triplethreats like Aaliyah and Cassie. It is these MTV TRL staples of the day mixed with a curation of homegrown sonics like SA House, Gqom and Amapiano that shape Tyla’s sound. “I’m proud of being South African and I want to take Africa everywhere I go. It’s amazing how social media connects me with the world. TikTok allows me to express myself and show the world our South African dance moves like Pouncing Cat and the Gwara Gwara,” Tyla said. “I actually have a challenge for this video that combines some SA moves, so it’s like a little window into our culture. You have the Harlem Shake, so you must also know how to Vuli Gate.”
With Getting Late making waves, Tyla has now set her focus on building a career as an entertainer. “I’m a singer first and foremost, but I love acting, dancing, drawing, and writing. I just love to express myself in all these different ways and I hope to explore all of these paths as I grow as an artist. I want to build a legacy for my family and South Africa. I see myself involving a lot of African people wherever I can just to build the continent and bring the world’s attention to us.” Nomfundo Moh Nomfundo Moh recently released uMthwalo off her upcoming album, Amagama. Nomfundo describes her music as authentic, from its sound to visuals. Moh sings in isiZulu, over a sparse Afropop instrumental with strong elements of trap soul. “Umthwalo is a song about
hope. It talks about the difficulties of life, how everyone has got a burden on their shoulders. Most importantly, it encourages people to talk about things that bother their soul, someone is always willing to listen. Depending on how you feel, the meaning of the song can be religious, where you get to pour your heart out to God, so you feel lighter,” said Moh. Speaking about her sound, she said, “I would like people to pay attention to my lyrical content. In every song, there’s a story, and that story is a gift from me to them.” Ami Faku Singer and songwriter Ami Faku has cemented her place in the music industry with every single she has released. Faku started making a name for herself when she auditioned for The Voice South Africa and was picked by Lira in 2017. Although her time on the show was short-lived, she caught the attention of the show’s music director, who later connected her to record label boss, Raphael Benza. The award-winning star has performed on stages across South Africa and bagged 3 nominations at the SAMAs – Best Female Artist, Best Song of the Year and Best Rising Star categories.
JAYAN MOODLEY’S CHANCE ENTRY INTO THE FILM INDUSTRY ALYSSIA BIRJALAL AWARD winning writer and director, Jayan Moodley entered the entertainment industry by chance – 16 years later, she’s become a force to be reckoned with. Moodley has directed SABC3’s Sadhana and later directed her first movie White Gold, followed by the Keeping Up with the Kandasamys franchise. Her latest offering, Trippin’ with the Kandasamys received mega success after being released on
Netflix in 190 countries. Moodley says motivation and support from fans keeps her pushing forward. “We’re told that our work brings joy, laughter and fun into so many homes. That’s motivation enough. We’re passionate about representation and extremely thankful that we’re able to show off our community in SA’s beautiful melting pot of cultures.” While directing is a predominantly male industry,
Moodley said she’s proud of how far females have come and is blessed to be a part of the change. “The industry is changing and South Africa has made excellent strides in this arena. The world is starting to hear female voices more clearly, and there are more women entering this field. I feel very blessed to be a part of this change that is unfolding right before us. It’s exciting that the day will come when we simply say director, not ‘female director’,” said Moodley.
Her industry inspirations are American filmmakers, Mira Nair, Ava DuVernay and Canadian film director, Deepa Mehta. “Right now there are so many amazing, talented women. My all time favourite is Mira Nair with Monsoon Wedding and Ava DuVernay with When They See Me. Both beautiful, poignant pieces of work. “I also have a strong admiration and am in awe of Deepa Mehta’s bravery in storytelling,” Moodley said. Despite the Covid-19 pandemic putting a strain on the entertainment industry, Moodley and her cast managed to push through for five weeks, facing many challenges, to get Trippin’ with the Kandasamys out on leading streaming platform, Netflix, where it premiered in over 190 countries.
Her expectations were well exceeded when the film landed in the top 10 spots in Sri Lanka, India and Mauritius. “We always knew South Africans would shower us with love, and we felt this so strongly, and when this proudly KZN film gets such incredible support from so many countries, all we can say is ‘thank you’,” she said. Moodley made the decision to release on Netflix instead of cinema with ease. “We suddenly had the opportunity to release in 190 countries, for our little film to be shown all over the world, it was a huge win for film in Durban, KZN and South Africa. Hopefully doors will open to more opportunities for so many more filmmakers.” Moodley said it’s an exciting time for South African stories as
bigger studios are looking to Africa for content as well as using our landscapes for filming. “I am currently in development for a few projects and am going into an exciting story room for the month of July. I cannot wait. International filmmakers have already started with co-productions and filming huge portions of their films on South African soil. “This is an exciting chapter as we interact more with international filmmakers and they get to see just how beautiful our country is and the fantastic talent we have in SA,” Moodley said. She said SA film is ready to compete on a global front. “We have already had success stories and it is just the beginning. I wish all South African filmmakers the very best as we navigate the new paths offered.”
GOSSIP CORNER
IT’S HARD TO BUY THE ‘INDIAN LOVE’ STORY OF BABES WODUMO AND MAMPINTSHA DEBASHINE THANGEVELO
SHOWMAX dropped its original three-part reality series, Uthando Lodumo, featuring Bongekile “Babes Wodumo” Simelane and Mandla “Mampintsha” Maphumulo. Of course, there was plenty of interest in being a fly on the wall in the life of one of SA’s most controversial couples. More so, after that disturbing video of Mampintsha allegedly beating Babes went viral in 2019. The country was outraged. Although the couple went to court over the alleged assault, they settled the matter out of court. But that wasn’t the end of it. People were furious when the celebrity couple reconciled and got engaged last year. Several weeks ago, they welcomed a baby boy into the world. Now viewers are invited to witness the events in the build-up to the wedding. If I didn’t know better, I would have believed the lovey-dovey
behaviour hook, line and sinker. And that’s the thing about reality TV; when someone is in front of the camera long enough, it’s difficult to mask their true colours. That’s my issue with the series, which is directed and produced by Thomas Gumede and Lungile Radu through Parental Advisory. It feels staged. At the outset, the gender-based violence incident is addressed during the lobola negotiations. Ready to put a ring on it, Mampintsha has to first make amends to the Simelanes. But his letter of apology is rejected. Before the Swati and Zulu union can take place, he has to man up and apologise to her parents in person. With the elephant in the room out of the way, the series showcases Mampintsha’s proposal live on air in the studio at Gagasi FM, preparations for the lobola payment as well as all the
traditional planning and, of course, the outfits for the bride and groom. As with most weddings, there is a bit of drama in play, too. Is the series interesting? Yes. “Is it sincere?” Well, that’s what I grappled with most. It feels like we are being fed a narrative with a hidden agenda. Also, the scenes feel like a set up. I’m not cocky enough to think this reality show isn’t going to change public opinion of the couple and their powerful “Indian love”. At the end of the day, it’s really not about what we think or say either. We simply have to make peace with the poignant words of Babes: “Our love is very famous … Our journey hasn’t been easy but we managed to make it work. So whoever has a problem with us will eventually fall in line.” ♦ Uthando Lodumo is streaming on Showmax.
THE cast of Reyka.
HARRIET GAVSHON SHARES THE OTHER SIDE OF SHOWBIZ DEBASHINE THANGEVELO
HARRIET Gavshon is a legend in the industry. The managing director and shareholder of Quizzical Pictures is the name behind many of South Africa’s critically-acclaimed and award-winning offerings. She’s currently sharing the producer credits on M-Net’s crime drama, Reyka, which premieres on July 25. Despite close on 30 years in showbiz, Gavshon is humble about her accomplishments. In a recent chat, she reflected on the challenges women faced when she started out. “The industry was very different. There are few females who have been around for as long as I have, I must say. It was a very divided industry. It was racially, extremely inequitable. It's only over time that that has changed somewhat.” “Females make very good producers because, in a way, you have got to multitask all the time.
“The issue of being a woman producer when there are not that many of you is based on you not being taken seriously, especially when most of the people you are dealing with are men. How do you hold yourself and make sure you are taken seriously? And that’s, frankly, still a bit of an issue. It’s something one is constantly reminded of. “It’s also something that you internalise. I think many women (in this industry) have imposter syndrome. They feel like they have to first take themselves seriously to deserve that space “They are not an imposter. But how do you say what you need and what you want, without feeling like you are being a nuisance. You know, all those psychological issues, which I think more women deal with within the workplace.” Somehow, she’s not only survived but she’s been able to
plant her feet firmly and pave the way for other females to leave their mark. “I still think there are certain areas in our industry that are under-represented. I think there are still not enough women directors. I’ve been trying to act with intention to ensure that there is always a woman – at least one – on any directing team.” On Reyka, she has Catharine Cooke and Zee Ntuli in the director’s chair. When Rohan Dickson approached her for Reyka, she was happy to share the producer credits with Serena Cullen. “I read the outlines and loved it. Then we met the British producer, Serena Cullen, and we got on very well.” The series is helmed by Kim Engelbrecht and Iain Glen. She added: “Kim was our first choice. I think it is a careerdefining performance for her. Iain agreed as he loved the role.”
Female directors ruling the roost ALYSSIA BIRJALAL
CATHERINE COOKE
Catherine Cooke Golden Horn award-winning director Catherine Cook found herself in front of the camera as an actress before getting behind it and directing award-winning shows such as iNumber Number and The River. She has also directed Showmax’s Girl of St. Agnes and her latest series, Reyka, will be premiering on M-Net later this month. Cooke’s robust imagination gives her the ability to lift the writers’ creation off paper and breathe life into their work. “My acting background has especially been helpful to me as a director, as I feel actors can trust me to respect and hold their vulnerability safe in front of the camera. My work in theatre and my years as an assistant director also taught me to have discipline on my sets,” she said in an online interview.
ROXANNE BLAISE
ZIMKHITA MASEKO
Zimkhitha Maseko Powerhouse Zimkhitha Maseko fell in love with directing when she interned on the set of e.tv’s Rhythm City. She’s been directing for the past 7 years on shows like Mzansi Magic’s Zabalaza, SABC3’s High Rollers, e.tv’s Harvest, Imbewu: The Seed and Durban Gen and is currently directing M-Net’s award-winning telenovela, Legacy. She believes women directing film and television “should be standard and not viewed as a novel thing. Anyone with a keen sense for emotive translation of screenplays or story through the various tools that we have to utilise should be at the helm and be afforded an opportunity to direct.” She added: “It’s problematic that we still have to be identified as “female directors” whereas our male counterparts are not referred to as “male directors.” Maseko said representation and transformation is key in this industry and a cheque to match would also be great. “Seeing as we all do the same job and the pressures are the same whether male or female – failure to execute your job results in a bad show. With all that said, we definitely need more representation across all disciplines in this business, like sound man are almost always men.” Maseko, who runs Exit Media said her dream job is to see her company fully established and she producing and directing stories that are close to her heart.
Roxanne Blaise Safta-nominated director Roxanne Blaise is the talented woman behind kykNET&kie’s telenovela Arendsvlei. Blaise started in the industry as a theatre actress and director, before moving to acting on television and in film. Her TV roles include Gadija in Sara Se Geheim and Elsa in three seasons of the show she currently directs, Arendsvlei. Her past directorships include Il console italiano and Tali’s Wedding Diary in 2017.
AMY JEPHTA
Amy Jeptha Celebrated theatre practitioner, film-maker, playwright, screenwriter and director Amy Jeptha is a force to be reckon with. Jeptha’s original crimethriller series, Skemerdans, was commissioned by Showmax under her company banner, Nagvlug Films, and was released this year. Jeptha’s focus now is on producing for film and television. Her feature debut, Barakat, was released theatrically in 2021 after a string of festival appearances. It was also award for Best Narrative at the 23rd Reel Sisters of the Diaspora Festival in the US.
SPOTLIGHT ON: Connie Ferguson
From soapie star to TV mogul and philanthropist LIAM KARABO JOYCE FOR as long as I can remember, along with millions of other South Africans, I have watched Connie Ferguson play the powerful Karabo Moroka on Generations. That was the first time I was introduced to her. Ferguson became an important part of prime-time viewing, so when she announced she was leaving Generations the first time, it felt like a break-up for many fans. But it wasn’t for long. After her departure from the country’s most popular soapie, she joined M-Net’s The Wild and it was exciting to see her in a new role, as Marang Lebone. She co-starred with her real-life husband, Shona Ferguson. When The Wild was cancelled in April 2013, she took matters into her own hands, starting a production company, Ferguson Films. That led to them creating Mzansi Magic’s hit drama, Rockville, in which they co-star. But her journey as a Moroka was not over. After the cast of Generations was dramatically fired, she reprised her role as Moroka on Generations: The Legacy, which saw her defy tradition by taking a second husband. She left the show again to focus on her duties as a producer on Igazi, Rockville, The Gift, The Throne and to star in and produce The Queen. Ferguson needs no introduction. The star, who started acting in 1993, has played a drug-addicted heiress, a drug lord, a Godfearing simpleton and everything in between. A trailblazer in her own right, she has gone from actress to TV mogul. And it’s not just her work in television and film that she is known for. Ferguson also launched a fragrance called True Self in 2008, and a lotion in 2014. She was also the face of Garnier. Thanks to her work in TV, she has introduced South
Africans to new talent across the shows she has created with her husband. In a 2016 interview, I asked Ferguson if starting her own production company was something she always wanted to do. She said: “It really always was, but I believe in God’s timing. After Shona and I were done with The Wild, we just decided to go full steam ahead. It was not easy at all, and there were lots of rejections before we got our first yes, but the journey has been worth it.” In the same interview, I asked Ferguson what being in the entertainment industry for 30 years taught her. She said: “Firstly, fame is overrated. I love what I do but if I could do it without the fame I would. However, being in this industry has taught me that I am a people’s person, I love people.” Earlier this year she announced that her family had started the Ferguson Foundation to support disadvantaged people in Africa, with the aim of empowering future leaders in business, education and film.
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PRODUCTION HOUSES STEERED BY WOMEN
Minnie Dlamini-Jones
Rethabile “Retti” Ramaphakela
Kee-Leen Irvine
ALYSSIA BIRJALAL WHAT was once an only maledominated industry is slowly becoming fair play for all. We take a look at females at the helm of South African production companies. Rethabile “Retti” Ramaphakela: Co-founder and creative director at Burnt Onion Productions Award-winning TV producer, writer and director, Rethabile cofounded Burnt Onion Productions with her siblings Katleho and Tshepo Ramaphakela in 2010. The company started off in her bedroom. Behind the camera, Rethabile has created and written successful popular comedy series that include the award-winning
mockumentary series Check-Coast, Thuli noThulani, Bedford Wives, My Perfect Family, Seriously Single and their Netflix offering How To Ruin Christmas: The Wedding, with season 2 in the pipeline. With excellent taste and flair, award-winning all-rounder Rethabile, brings her distinctive creative genius to the table. In 2019, Rethabile was named a “producer to watch” from Africa at the MIPTV market in Cannes. Minnie Dlamini-Jones: Owner of Beautiful Day Productions South African sweetheart and current Homegrown TV presenter, Minnie Dlamini-Jones made waves when her production
company produced Becoming Mrs Jones, a three-part reality series, documenting her marriage to Quinton Jones. The show was a record-breaking success, with the highest ever viewership for Vuzu Amp. Beautiful Day Productions is a traditional production company that is not afraid to adapt to new trends. Kee-Leen Irvine: Co-founder of Rapid Blue, former managing director and current executive producer Rapid Blue has over the years produced some of the most riveting shows on TV such as M-Net’s Shark Tank, Dancing With The Stars and The Bachelor SA.
CAMILLA WALDMAN
LORCIA COOPER-KUMALO
LUCIA MTHIYANE
Seasoned actresses make a comeback LIAM KARABO JOYCE THERE comes a time in everyone’s professional life where a break is needed.
However, in the fast-paced world of television, there is no annual leave. If you play a lead character, chances are you are on set every day. So when a star takes a break for a little while, it’s usually necessary. These seasoned actresses took a hiatus but are back on South African screens.
Lucia Mthiyane
The actress, singer and chef made her mark in the long-running musical, Girl Talk, produced by Richard Loring. From there she went on to star in Soul Buddyz, Backstage, Mzansi, Generations, Flat 27, Rhythm City and Muvhango. Mthiyane is back on the silver screen on Uzalowhere she plays Mrs Gwala, and Durban Gen. In Durban Gen she plays Albertina, a feisty rural woman who believes that, for some reason, she is
special enough to be treated as a higher being wherever she goes. She is a woman who judges others from the moment she sees them. And, her opinion never changes from there. This is how she feels about Bab’ Gumede and from the onset, the two are destined to butt heads.
Lorcia Cooper-Kumalo
Award-winning actress and dancer Lorcia Cooper-Kumalo made a name for herself while working on Backstage where she played Charmaine Jacobs. Following her long run on Backstage, she took a break. She returned to television to play Tyson on Mzansi Magic’s hit prison drama, Lockdown, a role that would ultimately see her walk away with a SAFTA award. Cooper-Kumalo has cemented her return with roles on popular shows like The Queen, Still Breathing and she recently joined
the cast of The Estate.
Camilla Waldman
Celebrated theatre performer Camilla Waldman is best known to TV watchers as Anne de Villiers. A role she played on Generations from March 2004 to June 2008. After leaving the soapie she then joined Isidingo for a short while. She is now on M-Net’s multiaward-winning daily drama, Legacy. Waldman make her debut as Jonno’s mom, Dimitra, a Greek woman in her 50s, on Monday. Her new character is a typical Mediterranean mama – warm, affectionate, motherly, and nurturing, with an effusive spirit. Dimitra is generous and welcoming of Jonno’s fiancée, Petra, into her heart and family. She loves to cook and to feed the ones she loves. She is very, very chatty and can go a bit overboard in her desire to please.
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