FORMER Generations: The Legacy actress Thuli Phongolo, who used to play Namhla Diale, is set to return to our small screens in a new political drama series called The Republic.
The actress took a hiatus after leaving Generations to concentrate on other projects such as her DJing career and her love for fashion.
She will be portraying a spoilt brag named Mbali who considers herself woke and part of the Fees Must Fall movement even though she grew up with a silver spoon in her mouth. She is an only child to Hendrik Mbuli played by Siyabonga Thwala. Mbali will have an affair with a married man Thabang – played by Warren Masemola – who works with her father. Thabang is married to Bridget – played by Masasa Mbangeni – but Mbali couldn’t care less about that.
Thuli will play alongside veteran actress Florence Masebe who plays South African President Lufuno, Warren will be Thabang Manaka, a fallen hero trying to make amends for his past mistakes while Masasa is Bridget Ranaka a posh young woman from a rich family in Soshanguve.
Even though it’s a fictitious story, it has some links to our reality as it is set in present day South Africa and is inspired by the recent events in our political landscape.
“In 2009 when former president Kgalema Motlanthe’s term in office ended, he was replaced by President Hendrik Mbuli whose presidency was riddled with corruption and looting of state funds. Mbuli is fired from government making way for the party’s secretary Lufuno to take the reins as president. We meet President Mulaudzi who has spent two years fighting corruption and prosecuting those who benefitted from Mbuli’s presidency – including Mbuli himself. This is set to be a thrilling political showdown and a story of political smarts and survival,” the channel described the show in a statement.
Local Entertainment Channels spokesperson Philly Kubheka says the show will do exceptionally well because it’s authentically South African.
The Republic premieres on Monday 7 July at 8pm on Mzansi Magic.
