The greatest gangster alive
Just when Sbu thought that he’d gotten rid of crime lord Nkunzi, he realises that he’s just put himself in the bad book of the most dangerous man KwaMashu.
When Uzalo fans think of Nkunzi (Masoja Msiza), dying is the last thing to associate with his name. He’s the most dangerous and feared man in KwaMashu and anyone silly enough to attack him ends six foot under. But on 15 August, Nkunzi’s employee Sbu (Simphiwe Majozi) tried to off his boss. “Sbu uses poison to kill his cruel employer. But while Sbu thought he’d succeeded, the poison only knocked Nkunzi out – he was very much alive,” warns Masoja. “And he’s going to want retribution.”
LAYING LOW
While everyone in KwaMashu thinks that Nkunzi is dead – because he’s gone into hiding and Sbu has been telling everyone and anyone who’ll listen what he’s done – the gangster is licking his wounds, recuperating and gathering his strength. “Nkunzi is at home but he’s not welcoming any guests. To the public, he’s presumed dead. He’s silent and nowhere to be seen. But that’s part of his plan,” explains Masoja. “You can’t get rid of the community’s landlord that easily, after all!”
While the cat’s away, the mice will play and that’s exactly what Sbu and Nkunzi’s other rivals are doing. “Sbu thinks that he’s the new bigshot in town because he managed to kill the main man, the most respected person in the community. And as a result, he’s ready to fill Nkunzi’s shoes,” Simphiwe says. But even Sbu isn’t entirely certain that his plan has succeeded and his fears come out when no one is looking. “But right now Sbu wants to take over one of Nkunzi’s biggest businesses – KwaNjomane. Little does Sbu know that the ghost of his past is going to return in the dark of the night!” warns the actor.
“I’M BACK!”
After spending enough time regaining his strength at home, Nkunzi comes back to the community and shocks everyone with his return from the grave. And no one is more upset than Sbu – and rightfully he’s scared too! “Nkunzi will come after Sbu and get revenge for trying to murder him,” explains Simphiwe. So what’s a man living in fear meant to do? “Sbu packs his bags and plans to leave KwaMashu before Nkunzi tries to murder him. If he doesn’t get away from KwaMashu, ai kuzoshuba! (it’ll get messy),” says the actor.
Contrary to what Sbu fears, he isn’t the first person Nkunzi focuses on when he comes back – he’s actually got bigger fish to fry and a small mosquito like
Sbu can wait. “Nkunzi vows to get even stronger and go after a new enemy he’s
just discovered,” says Masoja. His new enemy is a man known as Putin (Mncedisi Shabangu, who passed away in July shortly after filming this role), and at first Nkunzi does not know whether it’s a gang or an individual, but it later appears his name is Mthambisi Phakathi. “Nkunzi always gets uneasy when there is another gangster on his turf,” says Masoja. “This bull never backs down, he prefers to eliminate his enemy on his turf so that he achieves his dream of being a good man to the community. He wants everyone to feel safe in KwaMashu, and for there to be no crime and things like that. That’s Nkunzi’s goal for the community,” he adds.
Nkunzi also makes a phone call to business owner Nosipho (Nompilo Maphumulo) with a stern warning. “Nkunzi orders her to clean up the mess at her business The Hub or he will close it down. There are bad elements at the establishment and Nosipho doesn’t seem to be bothered by researching tenants before letting them rent the space for their businesses. Now Nkunzi is concerned about shady things going on there that have the potential to ruin his mission of keeping KwaMashu clean and free of criminal activities,” Masoja says, despite Nkunzi being a criminal himself.
When he’s done with his work admin, Nkunzi gets back to his normal work – putting doubters in their place.
“When everyone thought he was dead, some might’ve lost respect for Nkunzi… thought that he was weak and things of that nature. Now that he is back to his old self, it’s time to remind people why he’s called ‘the landlord’,” adds Masoja.
MASOJA’S PASSION
They might be nothing alike, but Masoja and his character Nkunzi share the same passion for building the community and wanting everyone to be the best version of themselves. So while Nkunzi was ‘dead’ onscreen, Masoja used that time to encourage reading in schools. “I love visiting schools to motivate and encourage learners and teachers to join my book club – Ignite The Mind Book Club. Reading is an essential part of learning, but also to just engage your mind in positive things. Reading has the ability to make us travel and expose us to different cultures, practices, lifestyles and it inspires us,” says Masoja.
“When teachers and parents get into the habit of reading, they encourage children to do as well. Young people need to be given all the opportunities in order to be the best people they can grow up to be, and reading is one of those opportunities.”
Fans might not always agree with Nkunzi’s ways, but you can’t say he does nothing positive for KwaMashu. “The landlord of KwaMashu will once again embark on building the community for the better,” says Masoja.
Mbatha was faced with a moral dilemma on his journey to find Mrs Right, while Sbu basked in his glory and set his sights on KwaNjomane.
IN THIS ISSUE
The Hub is shut down indefinitely, Mbatha’s search for a Mamfundisi continues, and Sbu packs up to leave KwaMashu when he realises that he’s in danger. The Hub is open for business but it’s a ghost town, the hunt for Kwanda continues, and Njinji tells Nomaswazi why she has started sleeping with Bab’Nsimbi. Lilly threatens to arrest Njeza if he goes after Kwanda, Gabisile receives backlash on her surprise return radio show, and Njeza follows Kwanda to his secret hideout but he’s putting his life in unnecessary danger. Nkunzi vows to get strong and go after his enemy, Kwanda refuses to reveal Hleziphi’s location, and Nosipho gets an alarming phone call from Nkunzi.
The police go all out but they don’t find what they’re looking for, Nkunzi gets back to his normal self and reminds everyone who he is, and Hleziphi is stranded. Sbu fears the consequences of his actions, Gabi and Nkunzi are failing to bring back the spark into their relationship, and Lilly does all she can to find Hleziphi. Hlelo is frustrated with
Sbu, Nomaswazi encounters setbacks putting together the next job, and Nonka realises her involvement with the drug operation.
CAST: Amahle Hope Mbhele •Amos Bongani Masondo •Baby Smangaliso (not a real baby) •Babekazi Duduzile Ngcobo •Cocoa Nomalanga Shabane •Detective Mondli Thembinkosi Thwala
•Detective Nyawo Cebo Mthembu •Detective Yamkela Mpambani
Jet Novuka •DK Sonto Maphumulo •Fikile Nelisa Mchunu •Gabisile Baby Cele •GC Khaya Dladla •General Judge Sosibo •Godfather
Sizwe Khumbuza •Hlelo Nothando Ngcobo •Hleziphi Sibongiseni Shezi
•Khehla Thobani Nzuza •Khomo Sello Ramolatloane •Kwanda Sandile Mfusi •Last-Number Mxolisi ZuluBoy Majozi •Lilly Noxolo Mathula
•MaDongwe Zama Magubane •Mageba Mike Mvelase •Mamba Mzwakhe Mashazi •MaMlambo (Hlengiwe) Gugu Gumede •Mazaza Mpume Ngwenya •Mpume (Mpumelelo) Hlatshwayo Fezile Makhanya
•Mrs Madlala Ntombifuthi Dlamini •Mr Mbatha Thabo Mnguni
•Mumsy Nomcebo Gumede •Mrs Nhlapho Mary Ngcobo •Mthunzi Andile Msomi •Njeza Nkanyiso Makhanya •Nkunzi (Nkunzebovu) Mhlongo Masoja Msiza •Nokwanda Welile Khanyile •Nomaswazi Omuhle Gela •Nomcebo (Cebo) Meyiwa Nombulele Mhlongo •Nomzamo Jacinta Ngobese •Nonkanyiso Thuthuka Mthembu •Nosipho Xulu Nompilo Maphumulo •Pastor Gwala/Sambulo (Sambo) Menzi Biyela •Phelelani Omega Mncube •Phillippe Joe Kadazi •Pitshana Thandanani Qwabe •Putin Mncedisi Shabangu •Qhabanga Mhlongo Siyabonga Shibe •Raphael Nduduzo Khowa •Sbu Simphiwe Majozi
•Sibonelo (Sibo) Wiseman Mncube •Siphilile Nomthandazo Tee
Xaba •Sonto Nosipho Mhlungu •Thobile Nokuthula Mabika •Thulani Mbele Thulane Shange •Vikizitha (Vika) Magwaza Siyabonga Radebe
•Wenzile Enhle Mbali Maphumulo