After two excellent and riveting seasons, the primetime drama eHostela will return to Mzansi Magic for season three in July – starring brand new cast and storyline.

It’s part of the channel’s exciting new wave which features a wider adoption of the globally popular anthology series genre – where each new season of an existing show features different faces and new stories within the same universe. So, while the cast and characters are different, the genre, tone and mood of the show remain unchanged, as already seen in season three of the romcom drama Unmarried. 

Previously set in the KwaZulu-Natal township of KwaMashu, for season three, eHostela is now set in Bergville, and it stars the award-winning, multidisciplinary actor Siyabonga Thwala (Isibaya, Legacy, The Republic), going toe-to-toe with the celebrated Gcina Nkosi, who plays his arch-nemesis. 

Director of Local Entertainment Channels at M-Net, Shirley Adonisi says of the growth of the anthology genre on Mzansi Magic: “As a channel, we pride ourselves in not only keeping up with global trends but in ensuring our impeccable storytelling is done in ways which entice and appeal to our loyal viewers.

“Taking on the anthology genre with some of our shows is informed by a combination of creative treatment mixed with trend analysis and research, as viewers are always looking for something new and fresh. With the amount of local content available on various platforms, it’s important to remain dynamic and relevant,” she concludes. 

The 13-episode season three of eHostela follows KaMabizela (Nkosi), a widow out for vengeance, as she takes on ruthless gangster Ngwadi (Thwala), the man who betrayed and murdered her beloved husband, Mdletshe.

One of the respected men in the KwaDukuza hostel, Mdletshe runs the criminal underworld with his friend Ngwadi, but when the two have a fall out over Mdletshe's plans to stop all criminal work at the hostel, Ngwadi takes extreme measures to retain power.

KaMabizela’s bloody quest for justice puts a target on her and her family’s backs. Will KaMabizela get Ngwadi to pay back everything he owes her family, or will he get away with murder? 

The season also stars the award-winning Tony Kgoroge, as well as Xoli Zondi, Nkanyiso Mchunu and Mduduzi Nombela. 

Season three of eHostela is produced by Rhythm World’s Duma Ndlovu and Mandla KaNozulu. 

eHostela season three premieres on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) on Sunday 3 July at 20h00. Don’t miss it – it will certainly heat up your living room this winter.