A new local  ‘dark-side’ TV drama hit our free to air screens on the 11th April 2022 and my TV viewing since then, has never been the same. It’s risqué in nature because of it’s core content which revolves around the taboo sex work for pleasure industry taking place at The Black Door, a franchise owned by business mogul Rebecca ‘MaRebs’ Mabuza, a main character played by veteran actress Linda Sebezo, who instantly commands lead in the story.

The story is set in a township setting in Mpumalanga, where family dimensions, the rise in youth unemployment and pursuit to achieve one’s dreams intertwine. Sebezo sets the tone as business big shot and owner of Mabuza Enterprises, which is a toilet paper making factory and delivery service, masking the sex work hang-out joint The Black Door. The show opened with a cliffhanger which saw revered community pastor and family man Chuma (played by Thobani Nzuza) dying after being found to steal millions of cash from Rebecca through a delivery that went wrong. Chuma saw this as his opportunity to finally put into gear his dream of owning a logistics company through offering trucking services. Chuma’s sudden passing serves as a precursor proof that no matter how trustworthy anyone can be, no one tries to double-cross Rebecca and comes out alive. Now, after Chuma’s passing, his younger brother Khaya Sokhulu (played by Zamani Mbatha) has the difficult task of taking over the responsibility of caring for the struggling family.

The Black Door is a Black Brain Picture production which has the likes of famous local TV producer, Mandla N at its helm who’s credited with smash hit TV shows such as the SABC comedy City Ses’la, Ses’Top la and Mzansi Magic’s latest telenovela series, Deep City. All these TV shows have garnered much success and acclaim. Mandla N is also on the head writer alongside Mpumelelo Nhlapo, the duo are also executive producers alongside Annelie Van Rooyen. Mandla N is also the director of the show.

The winning formula

Well, the story it self resonates with the average South African, struggling to make ends meet and survive the daily struggles of life. Family feuds and having to ensure that the family gets food each day and can pay for day-to-day requirements push a young man, Khaya, to a dark world in order to take over the responsibility of caring for the family, following Chuma’s passing and pay up for the massive debt he has left behind. There are love interests in-between, conflicts between church and morality, sibling rivalry with comedic relief here and there, which serves as a pleasant detour from the harsh realities of the core story.

With the show rated 18, it has scenes and content, not suitable for younger viewers, thankfully there is a warning of this each time the show airs and each time it returns from the ad-break. It also plays, late at night 21:30pm CAT when it is expected that many of the younger viewers are asleep. The show has sex, nudity, violence and strong language used which are not ideal for younger viewers. So, with me having a one year 8 month year old at home, who sleeps very late at night, I struggle to watch the show at it’s normal timeslot and I have to resort to recording it for catch up later on, when I finally have my own time with the TV. My home is a Bounce Patrol, Cocomelon, Mr Bean cartoon, Paw Patrol and Early Kids learning with Miss Rachel on YouTube and DJ Ralph dance videos hub at the moment – and yes, I know each and every song, lyric and move by heart now. I am at this wonderful stage of my parenting journey where I’ve got very little to no control over the TV at home.

Back to The Black Door now, I hope there are no complaints of the show for its explicit content to the broadcasting complaints commission of South Africa (BCCSA) from the viewers – really hope so because I can imagine how super sensitive and deeply concerned many South Africans could be over such a show. The last time etv as a channel, had explicit content was back in the days, early 2000s to be exact, with their soft porn Emmanuelle offering which aired very late at night into the early morning over the weekends and I think due to the growing calls from BCCSA complaints, the content was taken off, to many avid viewers’ dismay. I stand to be corrected with this hypothesis. It is the only plausible explanation for the content’s removal on-air.

So, here is what I believe makes the show a winner.

1. Strong lead performances

The show boasts powerful lead performances from established actors in Linda Sebezo, Zamani Mbatha and Velephi Mnisi Khumalo who play Rebecca, Khaya and Nomsa respectively. Their individual performances stand out. Other key cast members of the show who stand out include the character Boniswa who is played by established TV personality Gabisile Tshabalala and Kere Nyawo, the legendary comedic actor who plays the character of Bulelani. The show also strikes a good balance between popular, more established and newly, starting out actors.

2. Stellar supporting cast

A cast is only as strong as their supporting system and some supporting actors who complement the show quite well including Mvubu (The man in charge at Mabuza Enterprise) who is played by Sandile Dlamini and Mzamo Gcabashe, who plays Romeo (the black door operations coordinator) who are both former Rhythm City actors and  Bra Gibb, played by Sello Ramolahloane amongst many others.

3. New faces with comedic relief

I love seeing brand new faces being given the shot to shine with new productions as it epitomises the essence of opening up the industry. So many of the local TV shows are riddled with recycled similar faces who hop from one show to the next with ease, confusing the viewers and closing up the space in the industry for new talent to emerge. The Black Door has about five characters, played by actors who I must be honest, I’ve never seen actor on TV before. These characters are Thenjiwe (Khaya’s sister who is played by Nonkululeko Mbatha) and could she be related to Zamani Mbatha in real life with the similar surname?

Martha who is the Mabuza house help and is played by Ontiretse Radipape, I must be honest , Martha is my favorite character in the show and delivers the most humour overall for me and would love to see more of her. Enhle (played by Nolwazi Nkweyama) and Jupiter {played by Osca Mgudhlwa)  who are potential lovers in the show are also a must-watch. These two also provide good humour as well on the show and another new face to look out for is Nandi Dlamini played by Sinonginkosi Tenza.

4. Local music push

The show’s opening song is from a popular amapiano hit ‘Ngixolele’ (forgive me) performed by Busta 929. Black Brain Pictures has made this an intentional move in their other shows such as Diep City, where the show opens with a popular dance hit ‘ Ntjilo Ntjilo‘ performed Rethabile Khumalo featuring Master KG. This move puts a spotlight on local music and I like how this shift has benefits of broadening the market for our local arts content, hoping that appropriate deals are signed for the use of these songs as openings to the shows. The Black Door also has a lovely set of local background music in-between scenes with the likes of Jamela J Ross, Tshepo Nkadimeng, Ntuthuko Nkabinde and Bongo Riot as vocalists among many others as listed on the show credits.

5. Tackles uncomfortable issues head-on

I love how the show tackles societal issues such as youth unemployment and entrepreneurship through Thenjiwe and Nelly’s stories. The challenge of compromising one’s happiness and integrity through Khaya’s storyline and sexuality controversy with France’s (who is Nandi’s father) story. How complex our family structures and dilemmas are, where one person ends up carrying the load for the entire family through a single income and the frustrations that come with that. I am sure this is a story that resonates with many, black emerging middle income group earners. Nandi’s storyline also involves virginity in the current generation, a topic many would consider as outdated but the show depicts it as still relevant in our time which is beautiful to witness As a strong and wealthy business person who is older, Rebecca funds herself struggling with dating and finding love and resorts to the thrill of dating a younger man, something that is representative of our society and an aspect not widely spoken about. In the sex work story, the show puts a spotlight on the importance of protected sex to curb the spread in STIs and STDs, which also serves as education. For a multiplicity of societal issues to be addressed, some which clash, many others converging, but all running parallel, this is the show for you and I wish them well in their many conversations that their storylines will help to facilitate and kickstart in the lives of viewers.

6. Fast paced storylines.

Story lines evolve and move quickly and do not drag on like in traditional soapies, which as a viewer, I appreciate because it keeps me intrigued and hooked for longer. I hope that they do not drop the ball on this aspect as I believe that many local shows on the market currently can learn a thing or two from this show regarding the pace of storylines. I also like what the free to air channel has decided to do intentionally in slots that where previously allocated to international shows. The channel now has six local shows airing across their coveted prime time slots from 18:30 pm CAT all the way through to ten pm with only a 30 minute interval at 8 pm for news. A move which is a first for the channel and I am hoping it will bring in the desired numbers in terms of viewership, advertising and revenue which will then sustains our local arts and entertainment industry by keeping the various stakeholders involved employed while we are entertained as viewers from the comfort of our homes.

I hope it lasts on our screens and that the writers keep us glued as the story continues to evolve. Hoping they also continue to break stereotypes and break the barriers in terms of exploring those uncomfortable topics, thought of as taboo in terms of their sexual nature and connotations as topical. I really hope that they keep that coming.

Is South Africa ready for such a local TV show? I think we are, we’ve been waiting for such a show that pushes boundaries. And pushing boundaries is precisely what The Black Door is all about.