Gqeberha: The Empire
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| Gqeberha: The Empire | |
|---|---|
| Genre | |
| Created by | Phathutshedzo Makwarela |
| Starring |
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| Production | |
| Running time | 22–26 minutes |
| Original release | |
| Release | 16 January 2023 – present |
| Related | |
| The Queen | |
Gqeberha: The Empire is a South African television series that replaced the telenovela series The Queen on Mzansi Magic. The show is set in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth) and follows the lives of a powerful family, the Mxenges, as they navigate love, power and betrayal. It first aired on the 16 January 2023 and 260 episodes per season are broadcast.[1] The show is produced by multi-award winning production house, Tshedza Pictures. Tshedza Pictures has produced shows like The River Season 1 to 6, Outlawz Season 1, Champions, Adulting Season 1 and 2 and Youngins on Showmax. The series is directed by Zolani Phakade and the show's producer is Khobi Ledwaba.
Plot[edit]
Season 1
The series is about a man who seemingly has it all: money, love, family, power, glory and respect.
The telenovela is set in the Friendly city and revolves around the polygamous marriage of Luzuko Mxenge (Mbulelo Grootboom), a successful businessman who is husband to three very different wives. They are: Bulelwa Mxenge (Zikhona Sodlaka), Zimkhitha Mxenge (Zandile Msutwana), and Nozuko Mxenge (Kay Bikitsha). He has sons, but his favourite is Thulani (Thembinkosi Ngcukana). What more could he want? Another wife. We meet Anathi Njoloza (Akhenime Mfenyana) Luzuko's fourth wife who is Thulani's love interest.
Season 2
The war gets darker in the second season of the show with Zandile Msutwane leading the cast as the vicious Zimkhitha Mxenge . Co-Starring along her is Bongile Mantsai as Hlumelo Mxenge. The second season axed Zikhona Sodlaka who starred as Bulelwa Mxenge and Mbulelo Grootbom as Luzuko Mxenge who were the lead actors of the show in its previous season. Former Gomora actress Zinzi Nsele, who played the role of Miss Madikizela, will be among those joining Gqeberha: The Empire season two. Nsele, who will play the role of Vuyokazi, will be joined on set by Rorisang Mohapi as Lulama. The duo is set to stir up the already exciting storyline. The new season will dive deeper into the themes of family, power, and redemption, with complicated storylines that reveal the layers of each character and their relationships within the turbulent world of Gqeberha.
Vuyokazi and Lulama play pivotal roles in the upcoming season.
Vuyokazi, Stokkie’s aunt, is introduced as a moral compass and a junior police officer actively engaged in community policing. She becomes a key figure in investigating the Mxenge family’s involvement in crime and tries to bring down the wealthy family’s empire.
Lulama, Vuyokazi’s daughter, brings a dramatic twist to the plot with her manipulative nature and obsession with Thulani, leading to intense twists and turns in the storyline.
Cast and characters[edit]
| Actor[2] | Role | Season1 | Season 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zandile Msutwana | Zimkhitha "Zim-Dollar" Mxenge | Main | |
| Bongile Mantsai | Hlumelo Mxenge | Recurring | Main |
| Litha Ngcukana | Thulani Mxenge | Main | |
| Akhenime Mfenyana | Anathi Mxenge | Main | |
| Phila Madlingozi/Oros Mampofu | Ntando Mxenge | Main | |
| Anele Matoti | Msimelelo Makwethu | Main | |
| Anathi Guma | Funeka Makwethu | Main | |
| Siziphiwe Maqubeka | Nontle Makwethu | Main | |
| Lonalinamandla Bawuti | Nobomi Mxenge | Main | |
| Kay Bikitsha | Nozuko Mxenge | Main | |
| Sinazo Yolwa | Yoliswa | Recurring | |
References[edit]
- ^ "'Gqeberha: The Empire' allegedly coming to an abrupt end: "Things are worse now"". Briefly. 2023-07-19.
- ^ ""Plans in progress for next season:" Mnet denies ending 'Gqeberha: The Empire'". Briefly. 2023-07-20.
External links[edit]
- Gqeberha: The Empire at IMDb
- Gqeberha: The Empire at TVSA
