True SA crime stories on screen
THE Docket, a highly entertaining detective show that follows the Ravens, a specialised crime fighting unit set up to investigate high-profile crimes in the public eye started airing on SABC 3 last week.
Cast in the lead is Hlubi Mboya as Captain Nsiki Motshe, along with cast members who include Duncan Johnson as Colonel Marlon van Wyk, Seputla Sebogodi as Brigadier Funani Twala, Brendon Engelbrecht as Detective Neil Hall and his partner, Detective Terry Jahib, played by Ashish Gangapersad.
Gangapersad, who plays an IT specialist, said working on the show has been a highlight of his career.
He’s acted in Isidingo, Thula’s Vine, Scandal and 7de Laan, and has done a few Netflix shows where he starred in supporting roles.
“The Docket is an incredible series. And I’m not just saying that because I’m in it. It’s truly been a highlight of my career because I got to work with such an incredible cast and crew. It’s one of those productions that I found myself wanting to be on set even if I had finished my lines. Just to see how things are evolving and changing.”
The 13-part series follows the Ravens, a police task force that focuses on special cases. It looks at their professional relationships, as well as their personal relationships, and how they deal with them.
“It also focuses on very relevant issues and holds a mirror up to society in a sense that there is a woman thrown in a very male-dominated and driven industry.
“One wouldn’t usually associate a woman with a hard-hitting action, bursting through the doors, guns blazing kind of thing, but Hlubi is incredible in that role as she’s thrown into the deep end and it’s a flight-or-fight situation,” said Gangapersad.
Each episode is inspired by true criminal cases, mostly solved by the SAPS.
Gangapersad said the reason this show was different from others was that despite budgets, actors still did everything they could to make brilliant TV. “South Africa keeps looking at NCIS and other overseas shows because they have set the benchmark.
“For me, it’s like a David and Goliath situation, they have $5 million an episode, whereas we don’t even have that for an entire season.
“Despite those odds, we still go ahead and do the best we can. And that’s what sets us apart from these other shows. We are able to do so much with so little,” he said.
About working with such a formidable team, Gangapersad said it was a wonderful experience.
“I consider Hlubi, Duncan and Seputla legends in the industry, so I always grasp at the opportunity to work with them.
“Going into the show, we gelled so well, and that was motivation to constantly bring your A-game.
“Tune in, because it is specifically designed for South Africans. It’s a diamond in the rough. It’s relatable and also entertaining.
“Even though we’re not using the actual names and cases, viewers can watch this and be like, ‘Oh yes, I know where that’s from’.
“Viewers will also get an inside look as police officers and a specialised unit uncover and peel back the layers of these crimes. And I believe it has international legs as well,” he said.
Tune in to The Docket on SABC 3, on Wednesdays at 9.30pm.