Posts Tagged: TheWife

“Mandisa will always be in our hearts.” The Wife cast give Zikhona Sodlaka her flowers


In the three episodes of The Wife that dropped today, there were three deaths.

At the centre of all three was feisty fan favourite Mandisa (Zikhona Sodlaka), whose husband Nqoba Zulu (Abdul Khoza) was buried the week before. 

As Mandisa, Zikhona was nominated for Best Female Actor at the 2022 DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Awards and Best Supporting Actor at the 2022 SAFTAs – awards shows that named Abdul Favourite Actor and Best Supporting Actor respectively. As EWN’s Amo Ramela puts it, “It is tough to think of that union without smiling.”

With #thewifesouthafrica and Mandisa again trending on Twitter today, Zikhona’s co-stars on the record-breaking, multi-award-winning telenovela shared what they’ve loved about working with her: 

Abdul Khoza: “Mandisa will always be in our hearts”

“I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Zikhona Sodlaka, aka Mandisa a.k.a ‘uMaka Ndumiso’ on The Wife,” says Abdul. “I want to thank you for the amazing job you did on the show. As one of the most acclaimed actresses I know, you always give your best. Your work speaks for itself. It was an honour having worked so closely with you.”

“Thank you for the chemistry we built as a family. I was always looking forward to seeing where our story was going. I’m grateful to have seen you take this role and transform it into a role that is loved by viewers. I know a lot of people will be hurt by your exit, but I am also certain that where you’re going, you’ll continue to shine like you always do. 

“I will always cherish our working relationship for the rest of my life. I really appreciate your dedication to the craft and the way you treated me as a fellow cast member. I also appreciate how you managed to bring us together as the Zulu brothers on and off set. Thank you for also embodying the role of a mother (which we so greatly needed) in this rather unconventional family unit we’ve created as a cast. Mandisa will always be in our hearts. Thank you, Zikhona.”

Khanyi Mbau: “Every moment with her on set was crazy”

“Working with Zee was emotional,” says Khanyi Mbau, who plays Zandile. “She’s a bubbly, loving but very serious being who loves music and is a total contrast from what you see on screen. She’s a respectful being and very loyal to her craft.”

“Every moment with her on set was crazy; once she becomes Mandisa, she’s hilarious. My fondest memory must be how I hated scenes when Mandisa had to physically run. I hated them because chasing her was a mission. Zee is an athlete; she RAN! Now imagine Zandile in heels, a tired soul trying to chase Mandisa and trying to physically keep her down…”

Kwenzo Ngcobo: “I’ve learned so much from Zikhona”

“It’s been such a great honour to work with Zikhona and I’ve learnt so much from her,” says Kwenzo Ngcobo, who plays this season’s male lead, Qhawe Zulu. “Sadly, she’s leaving, but that’s something we can’t control because it’s part of the story. She has left a great mark and taught us so much.”

“I have so many memories of Zikhona, and every time she was on set was special. I hope to work with her again in the future. One of my favourite scenes of her is in the first episode of Season 1. It’s the scene where she walks into the Zulu mansion and asks Nqoba about going to watch soccer when he’s going to a braai. That was a fun scene to shoot and she did an amazing job in bringing the Mandisa character to life.”

Mondli Makhoba: “She’s one of the best female actors we have in Africa”

“I like Zikhona,” says Mondli Makhoba, who plays Nkosana Zulu. “I had a good time working with her, especially when it came to the conversations we would have on set. I like her mind. She’s a very smart person, which then makes her a brilliant actor. How she handles her characters, not only on The Wife but also on other projects like Igazi and Generations, is so brilliant to see. She’s one of the best female actors we have in Africa.”

“Having a chance to work with her, and just to be in the same space with her, was magical. Whenever she was on set, it was always interesting. I always looked forward to seeing how she was gonna treat a certain scene. I like that she’s an actor that prepares but she didn’t restrict herself: she was always open to what comes to mind at that particular time and ran with it. She’s that type of an actor who gets one scene but has multiple ways to do it. She’s smart and works hard, on top of the natural gift she has. I think that’s why her work connects with people and the reason why she’s always working. ”

Sipho Ndlovu: “She made it easy for us to feel like we are kids from the same family”

“There’s so much I’m going to miss about Zikhona, but the one thing I’ll miss the most is her dedication,” says Sipho Ndlovu, who plays Sambulo Zulu. “I like the way she’s so dedicated to her work, and her respect for the craft. I will never forget the scene where Mandisa burnt R80 million. That scene was explosive! And the chemistry she had with Abdul Khoza was so beautiful.” 

“She’s one person who will bring out the best in you. She would come chill with us as the brothers in the greenroom and bring light amongst us. She created that environment for us because she knows that we are going to play and have fun with the work that we do. I believe that it’s difficult to play a character when you’re not in a free mode to do so. So Zikhona made us feel free around her. 

“Zikhona is an actress who has been on our screens for over a decade now. She’s an icon, but she never brought that energy on set. She made it easy for us to feel like we are kids from the same family. 

“I just want to say we will miss Zikhona. She’s special, she’s humble and she knows her work. She always brought a smile and was always willing to work. Zikhona, thanks for the role you played in uniting us. May you flourish wherever you go and continue sharing your magic with everyone you get to work with.”

Swelihle Luthuli: “We’ve all met a Mandisa in our lives”

“For me, working with Zikhona Sodlaka was like living out a dream come true,” says Swelihle Luthuli, who plays Ntsika Zulu. “I grew up watching her on television. Her craft was always an inspiration to me.” 

“While working with her on The Wife, we became very close; I think she was one person I was the closest to. Zikhona is really smart, and that’s what drew me to her the most. She gave me a lot of advice about the industry and life in general. I consider her a friend right now, and she’s always a call away. She was one of the people I would go to for advice, especially when it came to my performances, so her leaving the show has left a huge void.

“Her character, Mandisa, was so colourful. Everybody related to her. We’ve all met a Mandisa in our lives. We all loved this character and Zikhona portrayed it so beautifully and gave the character justice. Even in some of my performances, she was helpful. For instance, when Ntsika had to be emotional in a scene, I’ve had to watch some of Zikhona’s work and it helped me bring out the fragile side of Ntsika. She’s really amazing.”

Zikhona’s heartfelt goodbye

Read Zikhona’s heartfelt goodbye to the smash hit Showmax Original, it’s diehard 5am Club fans, and her iconic role: https://stories.showmax.com/zikhona-sodlakas-parting-words-to-the-wife-and-mandisa/

Re-watch Mandisa’s best moments: 

Binge the first 12 episodes of The Wife Season 3 now on Showmax, with new episodes landing every Thursday: https://www.showmax.com/eng/tvseries/illlj7pc-the-wife-showmax-original

Watch this week’s preview: 

The Wife cast give Abdul Khoza his flowers


The third season of The Wife set a new four-day viewing record for Showmax when it launched last Thursday. This week’s new episodes are again trending at #1 on Twitter, in part over the demise of one of the telenovela’s most celebrated and loved characters: Nqoba Zulu, played by the multi-talented actor Abdul Khoza.

Fans of The Wife continuously raved about Abdul’s performance as the hot-headed Zulu brother, describing it as perfect casting. Abdul, born in KwaMashu in Durban, earned himself a DStv Mzansi Viewers’ Choice Favourite Actor Award for this iconic role earlier this year. Abdul also took home his second Golden Horn when he won Best Supporting Actor in a Telenovela at the 2022 SAFTAs.

If you’ve been following the lives of the Zulu brothers from the beginning of the telenovela, the formidable crime family has come to feel like your family, too, right? So saying goodbye to Nqoba was never going to be easy, and it certainly has not been easy for Abdul’s co-stars, who have built a strong bond with him from the very beginning of this journey.

Check out what The Wife cast had to say about Abdul’s impact on the show and their bittersweet farewell messages:

Zikhona Sodlaka: “He is the scene partner I didn’t know I needed.”

Mandisa and Nqoba became Mzansi’s most relatable and loved couple. “What an incredible opportunity it is to work with such a talented man,” says Zikhona Sodlaka, who plays Mandisa. “I think our chemistry worked because of how dynamic yet similar our characters are. The one is a female version of the other and vice versa. He is the scene partner I didn’t know I needed.We got to play so much on set.”

Mondli Makhoba: ”We were always on our toes because of how good he is.”

“I really enjoyed working with Abdul,” says Mondli Makhoba, who plays the eldest Zulu brother, Nkosana. “I’m really grateful for the relationship we have, both on and off-set. I think the off-set relationship we had made it easier for the on-screen chemistry. I was lucky to have an opportunity to work with him because of how good he is. It was challenging but a good challenge because he always wanted us to push each other to get better every time. He always wanted us to find better and more artistic ways to do scenes. We were always on our toes because of how good he is.”

“But also, we were able to find ourselves in each other. I knew that I was safe with him, and we were all safe with each other in terms of work. I remember there was a scene we did when we were disciplining Mqhele, and while discussing the scene, he was like, ‘it’s going to be too far to go around the table, I’m just going to go over it. One of you has to catch me.’ And we did!”

Mbalenhle Mavimbela: “He was fun and made fun.”

Mbalenhle Mavimbela, who plays one of the Zulu matriarchs, Hlomu, shares some of her fondest memorable moments with Abdul. “Oh man! I have so many memories with Abdul but my favourite one was when he jumped on the table to try to reach one of the brothers. That showed how much he cared about Hlomu and Mbali,” she says.

“Honestly, something that’s very close to my heart is how he used to encourage me in between scenes. When I had challenging or very emotional scenes, he would come to me and speak to me on the side. Just to reassure me that I’m doing well. He would give me tips on how to play a certain part. I think that’s how much he cared and how much he saw my passion. I learnt so much from him; he was fun and made fun. He created that unity. He’s so talented. We love you, Abdul,” adds Mbali.

“I also loved how he called me ‘uMakoti obizayo’ (an expensive wife) and guess what, that stuck with the whole nation. Everyone now calls me ‘uMakoti obizayo’ because of him. Oh my God, he’s such a talented artist and we’re going to miss him. Shout out to you, Abdul; I hope I’ll work with you again one day.”

Sipho Ndlovu: “He brought us together.”

One thing that was evident amongst the Zulu brothers was the bond they built between them on and off screen. Sipho Ndlovu, who plays Sambulo, shares how they’ve become family in their time working together and how important this was for Abdul. 

“The success of Season 1 was driven by Abdul Khoza. He is one person who made sure that we have unity, and he brought us together. He ensured that we remained one, even off-screen as brothers. This became evident even to the viewers as they started picking up that the brotherhood they see on screen is just as strong off-screen,” he said. 

“We attended gigs together, and even when it was only one brother who was booked, we went together to support him. He created that bond among the brothers. He always reminded us to do our best. We will miss all the fun on set, and we appreciate the role he played and also the fact that, while he has been in the industry for a while, he was down to earth. May he continue doing that to other shows.”

Kwenzo Ngcobo: “He is a great leader and an icon.”

Kwenzo Ngcobo, who plays Qhawe, the Season 3 lead, says he is honoured to have worked with Abdul and has learnt a great deal from him. “We will miss Abdul so much. It was wonderful working with him and there are so many fond memories that are still playing in my mind. He is a great leader and an icon. The fact that I got to share a screen with an actor like him is an honour. What an inspiring man. Working with Abdul taught me so many things.”

Thulane Shange: “Our journey continues until Jesus comes.”

Thulane Shange, who plays Mqoqi, shares how beautiful the journey has been working with Abdul but also assures us that the journey doesn’t end here. “I’ve got nothing but love for you, my big brother. Working with you has been a very beautiful and an amazing creative journey since the beginning. You know how much I respect and look up to you. The Wife journey might be ending for you but our journey continues until Jesus comes. I know wherever you are, you will keep motivating other actors like me. May it be a good one. Remain humble. I’ve got nothing but love for you.”

Swelihle Luthuli: “He was like a big brother to me.”

“Working with Abdul Khoza on The Wife is something I didn’t expect,” says Swelihle Luthuli, who plays Nqoba’s younger brother, Ntsika. “At first I thought maybe he would be like a superstar but he came across as very humble and chilled. He may seem like a hardcore person when you don’t know him but he’s very soft. Him exiting the show made me sad because of the bond we all have. He was like a big brother to me. He would always check up on me and also avail himself for assistance in terms of performance. He’s a person who cares and I will miss him so much.”

Binge the first six episodes of The Wife Season 3 now on Showmax, with new episodes landing every Thursday. You are invited to Nqoba’s funeral in next week’s episodes, dropping 24 November 2022.

Watch this week’s teaser here:

Look out for Abdul in Mzansi Magic’s historical epic Shaka iLembe and an upcoming Showmax Original crime thriller film, both launching in 2023. 

Khanyi Mbau joins The Wife as S2 lead Zandile The Resolute

Khanyi Mbau (UnmarriedHappiness Ever After) has landed the biggest role of her career: she’s joining the record-breaking Showmax Original telenovela, The Wife, in the Season 2 lead role of Zandile The Resolute, playing the wife of Nkosana (fan-favourite Mondli Makhoba), the leader of the Zulu brothers’ crime family.  

Eagle-eyed fans of the hit show, which has topped Twitter every Thursday since its launch, will get their first glimpse of Khanyi as Zandile in Thursday’s episodes. 

While she does feature again – and more prominently – in Season 1, she’ll take centre stage in Season 2, which premieres on Showmax in February 2022, and will be inspired by Dudu Busani-Dube’s bestselling novel Zandile The Resolute

“Season 2 is told through the eyes of uZandile,” says Stained Glass showrunner Gugu Ncube-Zuma (eHostelaIfalakhe). “We’ll be exploring Nkosana and Zandile’s love story and finding out more about their history. We’ll get to know Zandile as the matriarch of the Zulu family, the glue who held the Zulu brothers together. In Season 2, she wants to reclaim her position, a role that uHlomu has now taken over in her absence. Get ready to see the world through Zandile’s eyes.”

After the unprecedented (but quickly forgotten) fan outcry that greeted the initial casting announcements of Hlomu and the Zulu brothers, Khanyi admits she’s understandably daunted by the role. “The greatest challenge for an actress is being a part of a story that everyone knows,” she says. “That brings a lot of expectations that you need to live up to. There’s a cult around this show so there’s a lot of pressure. And before being part of the cast, I am a fan, so I really don’t want to drop the ball. For me to depict this character is really something that can either make me or break me, to be quite honest with you, but I love the thrill.”

Gugu is confident that Khanyi is perfectly cast. “Khanyi is talented and had the range so necessary for this role,” she says. “She has depth and rawness; she’s able to tap into the dark side that Zandile has, as well as give that vulnerability that we’ll see, especially with the love between her and Nkosana. As a production team, we’ve worked with her before, and we know she’ll bring that grit that is needed for the character of Zandile.”

The Wife opened to rave reviews in November 2021, breaking both Uthando Lodumo’s first day and Devilsdorp’s four-day Showmax viewing records in the process. 

Binge the first 15 episodes of The Wife on Showmax now, with new episodes added every Thursday: 

https://www.showmax.com/eng/tvseries/illlj7pc-the-wife

Kevin

Gugu Ncube-Zuma Shares More About The Wife Series

Showmax’s first telenovela, The Wife, has broken Uthando Lodumo’s record for the most first-day views of all-time on Showmax, as well as Devilsdorp’s record for the most hours watched within four days of launch, outperforming the launch of any film or series on Showmax ever, including the likes of Game of Thrones, The Real Housewives of Durban and The River

Inspired by Dudu Busani-Dube’s bestseller Hlomu The Wife, the 40-episode first season tells the story of a journalist (Mbalenhle Mavimbela from Skeem Saam) who falls in love with a taxi driver, Mqhele (Bonko Khoza from Neckie Youth), not realising that when you marry a man, you marry his secrets.

The Wife topped the Twitter trending charts on its launch, while early reviews are glowing. As IOL’s Debashine Thangevelo put it, “The telenovela has blown my mind so far… Everything from the high production value, casting, scripting, directing, cinematography to wardrobe, ticks the boxes…. The [lead] actors share incredible chemistry and their respective performances are unparalleled. This scripting for the series is first-rate. Each character is so wonderfully crafted… The layered storytelling and twists will leave streamers religiously tuning in every week. Fans love the show and so do I.”

Similarly, BubbleGum Club calls it “a love story for the ages”; East Coast Radio says, “It doesn’t get any better than The Wife”; and YFM hails it as “gripping.”

To find out more, we caught up with Stained Glass showrunner Gugu Ncube-Zuma, dubbed “the mind behind SA’s best TV shows” byCityPress for her work on SAFTA winners like eHostela and Ifalakhe.

How would you describe the book series, and specifically Hlomu The Wife?

It’s a beautiful and well-loved book series that explores the black experience and, more importantly, black love. It is so relatable and yet moves in different directions that one could never predict. It is no wonder these books enjoy the incredible following they have.

What was your vision around the casting?

At Stained Glass, we always go for new faces. Opening up the industry is a mandate we take very seriously. Audiences love to experience new talent. On this project, it became even more important that we follow this strategy. With such iconic characters from the book, it was our desire, especially with Hlomu and Mqhele, to find incredibly talented actors, who are not overly exposed and could become iconic in these roles. Actors who were not hugely associated with any other character on South African television. We have done just that. The duo is talented, hardworking and gorgeous. Their chemistry is undeniable. 

What differences should we expect between the book and the series?

There are many! Fans will find something brand new and beautiful, but that pays homage to the books and celebrates their essence. 

What are your thoughts on the already existing fan clubs around the book series?

We love Hlomu The Wife fans! We are Hlomu The Wife fans! It is an incredible privilege and responsibility to undertake a project with such loyal, dedicated and vocal fans. We’ve tried to respect and honour them every step of the way. The beauty of the written word lies in the fact that every reader has their own idea of who the characters are and what they look like. Each reader, individually, has imagined the world and the spaces and no one person’s imagination will be the same as anyone else’s. So we understand that the expectations will be as high as they are varied. It is an exciting but daunting challenge to create something you know others have not imagined in quite the same way, but to do so in a way that can still be compelling for everyone who watches. 

You’re an actress yourself. Which role would you cast yourself as, if you were to play any character?

Wow, interesting question. I feel like we’ve written amazing female characters that any actress would be lucky to sink their teeth into. Nomsa, a new character, not in the book, has a special place in my heart. But Zandile is probably my ultimate queen. Her relationship and love for Nkosana are beautiful on paper and bringing that to life would’ve been fun. 

Have you worked on a project for Showmax before and how has that experience been?

A lot of our shows have ended up on Showmax, but this is the first project we did specifically for them. The experience was great. They are hugely supportive and collaborative, which is amazing and always ensures an amazing product. 

How are you planning on watching the series? 

I’m a firm believer in creating a beautiful watching experience. Now, for me, that means my favourite couch. I need quiet in the house, my go-to snacks and, in solidarity with Hlomu, a glass of good wine. When you’re super busy, you’re a wife and a mother, these conditions are hard to find. So I’ll be watching, probably on the weekend, looking for a gap when my husband and my son are off somewhere and then I’ll binge my weekly episodes in glory. I can’t wait! 

The Wife is the eighth South African Showmax Original released in 2021, following on from record breakers like the true-crime phenomenonDevilsdorp and Babes Wodumo and Mampintsha’s reality series Uthando Lodumo, as well as critically acclaimed scripted series like DAMSkemerdans and Tali’s Baby Diary and ever-popular reality series like Temptation Island South Africa S1 and Life With Kelly Khumalo S2. 

Binge the first three episodes of The Wife now, with new episodes added every Thursday. Add The Wife to your Showmax watchlist here

The Wife’s Author Dudu Busani-Dube Answers A Few Questions

Dudu Busani-Dube

The Johannesburg Review of Books calls Dudu Busani-Dube “a publishing phenomenon.” She’s become the face of self-publishing in South Africa, having topped the Exclusive Books charts, and landed four books simultaneously in the Nielsen Bookscan SA bestseller list for July 2021. And that was before Showmax announced they were adapting the series of books that made her name – Hlomu the WifeZandile the Resolute and Naledi His Love – into their first Showmax Original telenovela, unleashing the most heated casting debate South Africa has ever seen.   

As IOL’s Buhle Mbonambi put it, “No other South African series had garnered that much attention on who was cast in the roles before. In my years of reporting about the South African TV industry, I had never come across such heated debate. Even when Deon Meyer’s Trackersbook was adapted for screen by M-Net, there wasn’t this much attention paid to the casting choices. But then there have been few characters as fascinating or as gripping as Hlomu and the Zulu brothers.”

As Showmax releases the trailer, ahead of the first three episodes of The Wife landing on Showmax this Thursday, 11 November 2021, we asked Dudu for her take on the casting, her “hardcore” fans, why the telenovela adaptation is “the biggest thing that has happened” to her, and what she’s most excited to see on Thursday.  

What inspired the books? 

I get that question a lot. There is never really a proper answer, but I draw inspiration from a lot of things that I’ve seen and experienced and people that I’ve met and have lived life with. My books are very much about black people. They’re about a black family, black business, black love and all of that. When they read the books, I think everybody finds themselves or somebody they knew or something that they have gone through in their lives. 

What was it like knowing that the book was going to come to life as a series?

Obviously we had been talking for a while with Showmax, so I had known about this whole big thing coming for a while. But then we had to make the announcement and it went crazy. And it’s still overwhelming. Although I’ve been in this business of writing books for the past seven years, this is the biggest thing that has ever happened to me. 

What involvement do you have in the production of the show?

I’m not actually very much involved, except that, you know, I created the story. 

I did attend the auditions. I’ve been on set a few times and I’ve seen who everybody is. And I think that everybody in this production is very talented, especially the cast. 

But I’m not a filmmaker; I’m a books person. So I don’t know much about what happens. In just the little time that I got myself involved, where I have been coming to set, I found that the work is really technical. 

How is the series going to be different from the books? 

It’s going to be very different. When somebody reads a book, it’s going to be their imagination. But when it comes to something visual, it’s actually not easy to adapt it as it is. 

There are going to be new things and new people that are introduced by the film part of it and things that are going to be left out from the books.

This is a telenovela that is inspired by the books, so it changes. It changes a lot.

So look, ja, it’s going to be different, but people are going to love it. As long as the actors deliver, people will eventually accept that, ‘Okay, so this is the story that we know, but these are the new things that came out of it.’ 

I’m just a book person; that’s what I do. So I’m just going to let the film people do what they do. I’m excited to see how it goes, how they do it. I’m trusting the process. 

The cast announcement had a huge reaction. Talk us through that.

We made the announcement the other day and I woke up very anxious because I know my readers: they are hardcore and I know that they want what they want. This series is something my readers had been asking for but I didn’t know what to expect when the announcement was made. 

But once it was, I felt very, very free and relieved. The reaction, obviously, was great. A whole lot of people love what they saw. But obviously, there’s always going to be people who say, ‘Ei, no, we don’t like. We wanted eight identical men with bug eyes, which is what is in the book.’ 

But it was impossible. I didn’t think anybody would actually think that we would get eight identical men who have the same big eyes. That is something you could do with the book, but you can’t do that with film. 

I personally am happy with the cast. I have met them. They are very talented. 

What I like the most is that, in the days that I spent with them, we developed a connection. You know, they sound and they look like friends; they even hang out and laugh together a lot. And that is what the characters in my book are about, the Zulu brothers, they’re about brotherhood. They’re about, you know, the typical boy thing: they tease each other, they laugh together, they protect each other. They are a bit dangerous, of course, but they are a family. So I felt that with the cast and I was very happy with that. 

And the lead, Mqhele, everybody loves him. He fits the description. He has the face. He understands the character. So, yeah, I’m happy. I’m relieved. 

Everyone has a favourite Zulu wife. Which one is yours? 

Oh, I get that a lot. I can’t go there. I have different relationships with all of them but I can’t say who is my favourite.

Hlomu was the start of everything. I had to create her from no story at all, so I do feel like I did bring in a lot of me in her, even though we are totally different people. Like her, I’m also a journalist by profession, so I’m very connected to her. I know her very, very well. 

With Zandile, it was a very hard book. It’s a heavy story and I was trying to write from the perspective of an older woman. So that was a different experience for me, and I had to go into a lot of hard things like describing rape. She was also just generally cold, because she had been through a lot. I am not a cold person so that was a different experience about her as well. So I have a very different relationship with her than the relationship I have with Hlomu. 

Naledi was a light, loving book about a thick woman, who is who I also am. It was more fun writing it; I enjoyed writing her, although, of course, there were things in there that were, you know, not happy in the story. 

And the Zulu brothers? 

I’m very much sympathetic to Mqhele but I can’t say he’s my favourite because, you know, he has his own things as well. He is very contradictory. He has a good heart but also he’s a killer and he will kill you. To other people outside, he looks like a scary guy. And then, with Hlomu, he’s kind of a joker. So you get the hard, dangerous side of him with other people and then you get that side of him that is just funny and beautiful and lovable when he is with his wife and sometimes with his brothers.

He’s also an abuser. He beats his wife twice in seven years. I don’t know if it’s narcissistic or it’s a psychotic type of abuse, where you hurt someone and then you love them for seven years until they trust you fully and they believe you are never going to do it again, and then you hit them again. 

But these are all my people that were from my head. They are like my babies that I created. So I don’t think I have a favourite child. I have about 25 characters now in these books; I can’t choose one. My experiences with them were different. 

What’s the deal about the Zulu brothers’ bug eyes? 

There had to be something about them, something that distinguishes them. I decided that they would have bug eyes and that they were going to be identical because even their kids look exactly like them. Just, you know, to create people who are very interesting and not exactly normal. 

I think also, maybe, I do like men with big eyes. I don’t know. Maybe that had something to do with me.

When they switch to being the dark gangsters that they are, the bug eyes come in, because, you know, you see it in their eyes that, ‘Okay, it’s bad, now.’

I didn’t say they were beautiful. I just described them as people with bug eyes. Everybody just thought, ‘Oh my God, these guys are so dreamy in the books.’ 

But this is what has gotten me into trouble with some people, that I could not get them bug-eyed men… 

And the tracksuits? 

If you know the taxi space, the tracksuit is just one of the things that they wear. So in the book, Mqhele was wearing only tracksuits. 

Hlomu, because she’s a little bit snobbish, was like, ‘Why is this guy always wearing tracksuits? Why is he always in taxi rank couture? Why? Why is he like that?’ 

She used to complain about it. Somewhere in the story, she mentions it, like, ‘Why are you always wearing tracksuits?’ And he says, ‘Because they have, um, you know, they have this elastic here… So you can cover the gun. You can put the gun on your ankle and nobody would know it.’

And she gets shocked that this is the reason but also he just loves the tracksuits. 

Which scenes are you most excited to see? 

I haven’t watched what has been shot so far, the final product. 

But there is a scene, which I was present on set for, where they go back to the village where their parents were killed. They have to meet with the chief, because they need to come back for the traditional wedding. So they have to go back and they have to apologise on behalf of their father. And the chief is shocked that they have the audacity to come back here, knowing who their father was and what he did. So I’m actually looking forward to that part where they go back to a place where they had to run from while their parents were being burned to ashes. 

And also just the love between the two main characters, Mqhele and Hlomu. Yeah, that’s another thing that I’m interested in just watching on screen. 

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