[WATCH] Umthetho’s Lorcia Cooper-Khumalo on choosing roles with ‘God’s design’

Lorcia Cooper-Khumalo's portrayal of Crystal Dlamini in the Netflix South African crime drama Umthetho explores how survival within the prison system perpetuates criminal behavior. In a recent interview with The Citizen, Cooper-Khumalo explained that her character becomes even more criminal while navigating the prison environment than before.

Crystal Dlamini, played by Cooper-Khumalo, is the wife of Moses (Tony Kgoroge) and the mother of his child, and they first meet as Crystal works as a prison nurse. The story revolves around prosecutor Mbali Dlamini (Nqobile Nunu Gamedze), who uncovers her long-lost brother Moses leads a ruthless prison syndicate and must choose between the law and family.

Cooper-Khumalo highlighted the endlessness of the chain of command in the show, pondering when the hierarchy ends and who she would need to speak to in order to address the injustice. She reflected on her career, emphasizing that she intentionally chooses roles to tell stories that she can tell with dignity and honor. Cooper-Khumalo sees a direct parallel between her character and the lead protagonist Mbali, both fighting in a man's world.

Despite the unscrupulous actions of her character, Cooper-Khumalo acknowledged that her motivations, such as using her niece as an excuse, may not have been sound, but her intentions for Crystal were rooted in reason. When asked what she hopes audiences take away from Umthetho, Cooper-Khumalo posed a question to society, questioning how they have failed each other in using their voices and taking back their power.

She concluded by expressing gratitude to the audience for their support, stating that their backing made a significant difference in the production of the show, which will be streamed in 192 countries.