Ntokozo Dlamini

''Uzalo'' is a South African soap opera produced by Stained Glass Productions, which is co-owned by Kobedi "Pepsi" Pokane and Gugu Zuma-Ncube. It began airing in 2015, quickly becoming a hit due to its compelling narrative, writing, direction and the performances of the relatively-unknown cast. It initially told the story of two young men who were switched at birth, one being raised in a family with core Christian values and the other at a crime syndicate. It currently broadcasts from Monday to Friday on SABC 1. It is currently the most watched television show in South Africa.

Plot

Uzalo initially told the story of two families in the township of Kwa-Mashu: the Mdletshe family, who play a significant role in the management of the Kwamashu Kingdom Church, and the Xulu family who run a car theft syndicate. The connection between the families was that their eldest sons were switched at birth during the period when Nelson Mandela was released from prison. As the show has progressed over the years, the storylines have dramatically changed with interchanging characters, contributing to many new story arcs, but simultaneously maintaining the growth of some of its main and supporting characters.

Cast

Ratings

Series 1 (2015)

Series 4 (2018)

* Lindiwe "Mangcobo Xulu, played by Dawn Thandeka King. She has a daughter named Nosipho and is ex husband of Gxabhashe, Khathaza. She killed khathaza. (Main role. Season 1 - 7)
*Nkunzebomvu (Nkunzi) Mhlongo, played by Masoja Msiza. He is the ex-husband of Innocentia, MaMlambo and Mazaza.then he married with Lindiwe.He's currently in relationship with Gabisile. (Main role. Season 1 - present)
* Nosipho Xulu, played by Nompilo Maphumulo. She is the daughter of Muzi and Mangcobo. She is the sister of Ayanda and half sister to Amandla. She briefly has an affair with Ayanda unaware he is her brother and also has a brief affair with Zweli. She is the ex-girlfriend of Mondli, Njeza and Thulani and Qhabanga’s ex-fiancée. (Main role. Season 1 - present)
* Hlengiwe (MaMlambo) Mlambo Mhlongo, played by Gugu Gumede. She befriends MaNzuza and MaNcgobo and was married to Nkunzebomvu Mhlongo. She also had a relationship with Thobile’s uncle Mbhekiseni but later dumped him after he was arrested for raping Thobile and various younger women. She had affairs with Melusi, Qhabanga and Nkunzi. ( Main role. Season 1 - present)
* Fikile, played by Nelisa Mchunu. She is Thobile, GC and Smangele's friend and hairdresser. She is in a relationship with Sbu. She had drunken sex with Mxolisi while he was still dating Zekhethelo. She also cheated on Sbu with his boss Nkunzi. She left kwamashu to start a new life. (Main role. Season 1 - 7)
* Zekhethelo Mhlongo, played by Nyalleng Thibedi. She was raised by Nkunzi. Her stepmothers are Innocentia and Lindiwe and her biological mother is called Mapadi, who has been absent throughout her life. She had an on and off relationship with Mxolisi. She was also in a relationship with Njeza. She was a cop and was in a relationship with Mondli. ( Main role. Season 3 - present)
* Qhabanga Khumalo, played by Siyabonga Shibe. He was a policeman from Kwa-Mashu police station. He is Nkunzi's younger half-brother. He is Nosipho’s ex-fiancé. He then later married Gabsile but later cheated on her with his brother’s wife MaMlambo. When MaMlambo ended her affair with Qhabanga, he briefly lived with Sbu and Fikile but managed to reunite with Gabsile. However after learning about Gabsile’s affair with his son Khehla, he dumped her and later remarried Khehla’s mother Nomcebo. After Nomcebo was shot dead, he got back together with Gabsile. He later became the pastor of KwaMashu Kingdom Church. (Main role. Season 3 - Present)
* Mondli Mdlalose, played by Thembinkosi Thwala. Mondli is the Head police captain and dated Zekhethelo. He is Nosipho and Lilly's ex-boyfriend. (Main role. Season 1 - present)
* Gabisile Mdletshe-Khumalo, played by Baby Cele - Maloka. She is the sister of the Pastor Melusi and Zandile's sister in law. She is the aunt of Mxolisi, Nkosinathi and Mumsy. She is a landlady of a house she owns. Mother of Sbonelo. She is Qhabanga Khumalo's wife. She was killed by Qhabanga. She was saved by a girl called Hlelo.She is in a relationship with Nkunzi. (Main role. Season 2 - 6; Main role. Season 7 - Present)
*Sbonelo (Babo) Mhlongo, played by Wiseman Mncube, was a doctor. He resigned after secretly killing Nonka’s close friend Nsizwa. He is also the only son of Nkunzebomvu and Gabisile. He is in love with Nonkanyiso , and later on proposed to her. After they got married, she then later divorced him. ( Main role. Season 5 - present)
*Nonkanyiso, played by Thuthuka Mthembu. She works in the salon and is a good friend of Hleziphi and Fikile and is the ex-wife to Sibonelo. She is Njeza and Mbuso’s sister and Lilly’s cousin. She is MaDongwe’s niece. (Recurring role. Season 5; Main role. Season 6 - present)
*Sbusiso (Sbu) played by Simphiwe Majozi is an ex con. He is dating Fikile. He works for Nkunzi and MaNgcobo, and later Sibonelo. (Recurring role. Season 1; Main role. Season 2 - Present)
*Njeza, played by Nkanyiso Makhanya. He is an ex con and is the older brother of Nonka and Mbuso. He is Lilly’s cousin and MaDongwe’s nephew. He worked at Khathaza's funeral home. He had a brief relationship with Zekhethelo and was in love with Nosipho, then Nonka's friend Hleziphi. ( Main role. Season 6 - present)
*Mr Mbatha,played by William Mnguni. He is part of the board at KwaMashu Kingdom Church. He is formerly the pastor of KwaMashu Kingdom Church and was engaged to Fihliwe. He is also MaMadongwe is ex-husband. (Main role. Season 1 - present)

FormerCast of 1-7)

Accolades

References

External links

* {{IMDb title, id=4469212

South African television soap operas
Zulu-language television shows