Article by Karabo Mokoena
It has been over two years since we were introduced to the Gomora family. The show has taken audiences on a roller coaster ride with people falling in and out of love with the characters. Having gracefully landed into its position as a house-hold favourite, Gomora has since gained prominent characters that have come to shape what the show has evolved into. This evolution has also brought with it some full circle character developments that have seen many of the show’s characters grow to either become better versions of themselves or worse.
Over two years post the high intensity hijack sequence that jettisoned us into the show; we have since seen the characters grow through some edge of the seat plot twists. We met Ntokozo, played by Ntobeko Sishi, as a troubled teenage boy with a mission to escape from the pressures of his family. The audience, although not condoning most of his choices, has grown to sympathise with him as a young boy simply yearning for his parents’ love. It has been very interesting to see the exploration of these mother-son & father-son relationships and what they have become thus far. We have witnessed Ntokozo get closer to his parents, open up more and start to define what a man should be for himself- his mistakes are constantly pushing him to redefine his purpose and manhood.
L to R: Thembi Seete and Ntobeko Sishi. Photography by Mlungisi Mlungwana for Actor Spaces
“I think my character has developed from making hasty decisions where he only really thought about himself and now he has gotten to a point where he actually considers the impact of his decisions on his community and family. Interesting enough, by putting his community, he has found that he himself has grown”
– Ntobeko Sishi
Gomora has introduced us to multi-dimensional characters whose nuances are connected to human experience- all the characters are connected to one another and this has come to shape, not necessarily how they propel through story, but how the story propels through them and their various developmental areas. Mazet, represented by Siphesihle Ndaba, is not your conventional female character- a relentless fighter who rarely ever backs down. Mam’Sonto’s right hand man, who has had to do a lot of the dirty work which has, in turn, led her deep into the dark hole and has also become how she defines herself. However, still within the world of crime, we see her introspecting and trying to define her purpose outside of Mam’Sonto.
Siphesihle Ndaba. Photography by Mlungisi Mlungwana for Actor Spaces
“Mazet is the girl next door. Every one of us knows a Mazet, it might not be her entirely but maybe parts of her. She is such an amalgamation of different traits- elements of different traits were taken from different people to create this one person. This makes her stand out because she is in direct contrast with a lot of the female characters on the show. The wardrobe and hair make her very relatable and makes her seem accessible. As a woman, you have to be this strong person who knows exactly what they want and so I think a lot of women relate to her in this regard but you start to see the cracks through each of her arcs. Through this, we continue to be exposed to new parts of her humanity- she can be vulnerable, she just chooses not to be.”
– Siphesihle Ndaba
For the most part, choices are what lead the characters to growth or stagnancy on the show. We understand the characters more as the story evolves mostly through the choices that they make and how they respond to the plot-twists that life throws their way. Teddy, performed by Sicelo Buthelezi, is one of the characters who have had to respond to life happening to them. A young man who is wise and is essentially the rope that holds his family together because of his sympathetic nature. Through the trajectory of the show, he has mostly been at the wrong place at the wrong time. However, as he grows, he is creating agency for himself as a way to take control of his life- the spotlight is on him for a change.
L to R: Ntobeko Sishi and Sicelo Buthelezi. Photography by Mlungisi Mlungwana for Actor Spaces
“I think the audience has connected a lot with Teddy’s innocence. From the moment Gomora began, we had an understanding of the type of person that Teddy was. He was this innocent high school boy grappling with his academics but against all odds, regardless of his background, he continuously tries to break the cycle. He has gone through a lot of uncomfortable growth and that’s the element that I think the audience has connected with the most- the fact that he is able to pick himself up and pursue his passions”
– Sicelo Buthelezi
The disappearance and ultimate death of Buhle has ushered in a new era of the show with the in-depth exploration of existing storylines and the introduction of new characters. We have witnessed major turning points and seen new faces which speak to the evolution of the show and the characters. Gladys, portrayed by Thembi Seete, has evolved quite a lot since the inception of the show. A major developmental area being the woman she has allowed herself to become post her divorce. She is standing up for herself, owning her voice and opening herself up more to the pleasures of life- she has simply and certainly become the ruler of her own life.
The story continues to evolve through the exploration of existing characters and the introduction of new characters. From Ivili Liya Jika to Phunyuka Bemphethe, the show continues to produce jaw-dropping plot-twists that have seen the characters grow. We look forward to seeing it grow even further. Thank you to the cast and crew for over two years of dedication to the craft of developing this story and its characters. We see you and wish you all the best.
