‘Gear six from day one’: ‘Umthetho’ cast lets us in on shooting, building their characters

Since its arrival on Netflix, South African drama Umthetho has captivated local audiences. The show follows a young prosecutor drawn into a prison syndicate run by the brother she once lost, and Sthembiso SK Khoza's portrayal of Zola has garnered a new fanbase. Ahead of the show's success, The Citizen spoke with Khoza, Sindi Dlathu, and Ernest Msibi to discuss their character development, the demanding shoot, and their hopes for viewers.

Khoza shared that he wasn't initially familiar with the South African justice system depicted in Umthetho but was surprised by how the series showcased the treatment of inmates, regardless of their sexuality. He emphasized that while the show portrays the dangers of the system, it doesn't shy away from the harsh realities. Dlathu explained that their rapid-paced shoot, opening with "gear six", left the cast feeling traumatized yet inspired, as they had to quickly immerse themselves in their characters.

Msibi agreed, stating they were thrown into the highest-stakes energy right from the beginning. The foundation of Zola's character, Khoza shared, was rooted in his childhood experiences, including a fascination with building bombs and the potential for joining the army's bomb disposal unit. This backstory is reflected in his scars, which serve as a reminder that "scars tell a lot of stories we don't have to be loud about."

The writers of Umthetho deliberately left gaps in their characters' backgrounds, allowing the actors to create their psychological foundations, drawing parallels to Msibi's own character, Scarra, who grew up troubled at school and eventually fell into gangsterism. Both actors highlighted the importance of including LGBTQ+ characters within the prison setting, arguing that queer individuals are present in every aspect of life, including incarceration.

With Umthetho now streaming on Netflix, the cast hopes audiences will continue to reflect on the show's depiction of justice, prison life, and the diverse characters that inhabit its world.