Popular soap star Dumisani Mbebe will play one of the lead roles in Mzansi Magic’s first homegrown telenovela, due to launch on the channel on Monday, 19 March at 20:30.
 
Mbebe has been cast in the part that would have been portrayed by the late Muzi “Clive” Ngwenya, who tragically died in his flat a couple of weeks ago.
 
Muzi was contracted to star as the wealthy son of characters played by veteran actors John Kani and Nakedi Ribane.
 
“I am honoured to fill the shoes of this extraordinary man,” says Dumisani. “The industry has lost a great talent and I intend to play the character in a way that will do him proud.”
 
Lebone Maema, Channel Head: Mzansi Magic, adds that everyone working on the production was saddened by Muzi’s passing. “All individuals in the cross-generational cast have been carefully chosen to enhance the appeal of the series. Muzi was extremely excited about the storylines and we believe that his enthusiasm and passion will live on in the incredible team spirit of the people working on this production.”
 
As the actual filming of the series only commences in mid February, the production schedule was not influenced by the cast change.
 
Dumisani is best known to South African audiences for his work on Generations. He has also played leading roles in local dramas such as Interrogation Room, Divers Down and Shooting Stars.
 
Boasting a Bachelor of Arts degree in English and Psychology, as well as a Masters in Drama and Acting, the charming actor was also seen across the globe in two episodes of ER.
 
Mzansi Magic's telenovela Inkaba is set in the glamorous but fickle South African fashion industry and will depict South Africa’s rich social landscape that includes the very rich and powerful, the upwardly striving middle-class and the struggling poor.
 
The series will play out over 208 episodes and unlike soaps the long-running telenovela format has a clear beginning, middle and ending.