Roped into trouble
New e.tv telenovela The Black Door is tempting and teasing viewers with its raunchy setting.
The world of sex-work is looked down upon but it’s taking centre stage with e.tv’s brand-new lineup (see more on p14) in the form of new local telenovela The Black Door. Set in eMalahleni in Mpumalanga, it follows idealistic Khaya (Zamani Mbatha) whose world is ripped out from under his feet and he’s forced to work in a high-class brothel to repay a debt that’s not his.
e.tv General Manager Local Productions Helga Palmer says that “we wanted to give our viewers a world they’ve not seen in our shows. It’s aimed at an adult audience who’ll appreciate the raunchy elements juxtaposed against the ordinary, everyday family and community dynamics of the show.” It’s going to be a little on the raunchy side but there’ll be no explicit nudity on show, adds Helga. “We also conducted research that’s rooted in reality. We conducted consultations with the owners of such institutions, as well as sex-workers to get an authentic, real feel for and understanding of the industry.” And balanced beside the goings-on at The Black Door will be a family’s fight to survive and their refusal to give up, no matter what.
THE PEOPLE TO KNOW
Khaya is the show’s protagonist and hero. He’s a truck driver by trade and he has dreams of opening his own trucking business and building a life he’s always wanted. He’s the breadwinner for the Sokhulu family and tries to lead by example, but his world crashes down when his brother lands him not only in trouble, but in debt to one of the town’s hardest businesswomen who plans to exploit his famous sexual prowess and physical abilities she’s heard stories of.
MAM REBECCA MAHLANGU (Linda Sebenzo)
She’s a tenderpreneur and factory owner by day, but when the sun sets Mam Rebecca aka Ribs runs The Black Door, an exclusive private pleasure dome where anything and everything is available for the right price. She doesn’t just dream of money and power, Mam Rebecca has it and that only makes her want it more. As Khaya finds out, getting on her bad side or owing her is the worst position to be in because Mam Rebecca will take her pound of flesh and then some…
BONISWA MAHLANGU (Gabisile Tshabalala)
Bonnie is Mam Rebecca’s daughter who gives her grey hairs. She’s following in her mom’s honest business footsteps and is unaware of what else puts cash in Mam Rebecca’s bank accounts. Boniswa is a druggie who’s been in and out of rehab more times than she cares to recall, but what she does remember is that her mom murdered her dad. Oh, and her drug problem isn’t all her fault…
NKANYISO (Mzikayise Makroti) This wheeler-dealer is always out to make a quick buck. He works as a nurse at the rehab Boniswa goes to and he’s also her undercover secret lover. But what Boniswa doesn’t realise is that Nkanyiso aka Nka has been drugging her and he’s planning to take her cash.
NOMSA (Velaphi Mnisi)
Khaya’s god-fearing mom has had a life of bad luck in both love and finances. She’s always dreamt of a happy home but was never able to give it to her kids, and just when she thinks she’s found love, her daughter drops a bombshell that leaves Nomsa falling apart.
THENJIWE SOKHULU (Nonkululeko Mbatha)
Khaya’s sister and Nomsa’s daughter has longed for freedom and because she’s never had it, she’s a rebel who causes trouble. She’s also a single mother but there’s a shocking secret she’s never told anyone – including her non-judgemental mom: She was raped by someone the family know and respect. Thenji is also hiding her affair with Mam Rebecca’s toyboy that could cost her her life…
NANDI (Sibonginkosi Tenza)
She’s a factory intern who works for Mam Rebecca, unaware that her boss is using her name for dodgy tender deals on the sly. She’s got dreams and ambitions that makes it easy for Khaya to fall in love with her, but he’s hiding his sex-worker life from soft-hearted Nandi.
ROMEO (Mzamo Gcabashe)
Romeo is The Black Door’s front of house, manager and Maître’d. They’re a queer male-presenting LGBQTI who takes their job seriously. There’s nothing that Romeo can’t deal with, and they also help newbies – like Khaya – acclimatise to the demands of the job.
JUNIOR (Sandile Mfusi)
He’s Mam Rebecca’s Ben10 toyboy lover who’s landed with his bum in the butter – whatever he wants, he gets from his lover… as long as he keeps up his end of the deal. Having Thenji as a sidechick isn’t his biggest mistake – Junior thinking that he could keep his affair hidden and not suffer her wrath is going to come back and haunt him… possibly even kill him.
WHAT IT’S ALL ABOUT
Big-dreaming truck driver Khaya is dragged into the seedy underworld of sex work when his brother Chuma is murdered and Khaya is forced to repay the money his brother had stolen – and he’s got to pay it off as a sex worker for brothel madam Mam Rebecca.
IN THIS ISSUE
Chuma makes a massive mistake and ends up on Mam Rebecca’s murderous bad side, but Mam Rebecca has more important things on her mind when her drug-addict daughter Boniswa returns home from rehab and is ready to get back into performing. There’s bad news when a courier disappears with the delivery and both Boniswa and Mam Rebecca are fuming, and Khaya is back from a long-distance driving job and he discovers that his brother hasn’t been taking care of their ailing mom Nomsa. Chuma goes missing, and Khaya and his sister Thenjiwe later get bad news: Chuma’s crashed car has been found in a river.
All that remains of Chuma is a dismembered hand, and Mam Rebecca tries to publicly show sympathy, but behind her tears she’s plotting revenge. Khaya is summoned to Mam Rebecca and he’s given a troubling order:
Settle Chuma’s debt by working in The Black Door brothel. Boniswa slips off the bandwagon again and goes back to rehab, and Khaya begs his boss to let him leave. Mam Rebecca tells Khaya that he’s free to go but she’s got something far more worrying planned for him, and there’s a strike at Mam Rebecca’s “honest” public work as a factory owner. Khaya and his sister Thenjiwe argue about their family’s future, Boniswa has a problem that she can’t escape, and Mam Rebecca lashes out at her enemies and staff alike.
CAST: Big Boy Nkululeko Selepe •Boniswa Mahlangu Gabisile Tshabalala •Bra Gibb Sello Ramalahloane •Bra Kenny Bhekumuzi Mkwanazi •Chuma Sokhulu Thobani Nzuza •Junior Sandile Mfusi
•Jupiter Oscar Mgudlwa •Khaya Sokhulu Zamani Mbatha •Mam Rebecca Mahlangu Linda Sebenzo •Mvubu Sandile Dlamini •Nandi Sibonginkosi Tenza •Nkanyiso Mzikayise Makroti •NoCollege Babalwa Sigcau •Nolitha Sibulele Ntlebi •Nomsa Velaphi Mnisi
•Ntsiki Nonhlupho Thelma Siboza •Romeo Mzamo Gcabashe
•Rosina Noluthando Dloboyi •Steja Kere Nyawo •Thenjiwe Sokhulu Nonkululeko Mbatha •Velaphi Kwanda Manyashi