With a cast that is able to bring to life the different personal stories of each character in Rhythm City, the drama series has become one of the most popular shows not just on South African television but in other African countries where it is aired. The soap opera has attracted a wide audience that makes sure to always tune in to watch each episode as the stories usually reflect the real-life issues that the public can relate to in their day to day lives.
Here, we will be looking at the actors and actresses who have made Rhythm City the show that it is today. Some of these cast members were able to become big personalities in South Africa as a result of their appearance and performance on the show. Others have also been able to win a couple of awards along the way, thus becoming the favorite actors of viewers.
The Main Cast Members of Rhythm City
Jamie Bartlett
Jamie Bartlett is one of the shining stars of the cast of Rhythm City. The English-born actor, who has bagged a couple of South African Film and Television Awards for best actor and has appeared in other projects such as Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom and Beyond Borders, plays the role of the wicked puppet master, David Genaro. He started appearing in the role in 2007 and has as of 2020 appeared in over 3 thousand episodes.
Mduduzi Mabaso
Since the show’s debut in 2007, award-winning South African actor Mduduzi Mabaso has been starring in the role of gangster Suffocate Ndlovu on the e.tv soap opera. His outstanding portrayal of the character, which according to him will always be synonymous with him despite whatever other movie or TV show he has appeared or will appear in, has seen him win a SAFTA Golden Horn for Best Supporting Actor in a TV Soap in 2009.
Mabaso has performed in dozens of other productions over the course of his career. Among them are Hotel Rwanda, Catch a Fire, Meokgo and the Stickfighter, Blood Diamond, and Machine Gun Preacher.
David James
David James is one of the more widely-known actors to be a part of Rhythm City. The film, theatre, and television actor who is better recognized for playing the villainous character of Koobus Venter in the 2009 Oscar-nominated science fiction movie District 9 plays the role of radio station manager Hermanus Meyer on the soap opera. He has appeared in over 80 episodes of the show. Other projects he has appeared in include the long-running Isidingo where he portrayed a hired assassin named Mad Dog and the critically acclaimed stage production of Rivonia Trial where he played the attorney who represented Nelson Mandela, Joel Joffe.
Itumeleng Bokaba
Itumeleng Bokaba plays Mampho, a teenage schoolgirl noted for her relationship with a sugar daddy. The actress made her first appearance on the show in 2012. Prior to her becoming a member of the cast of Rhythm City, Itumeleng, who started working in television when she was just four years old, appeared in various commercials and promotional skits for companies. She further garnered experience by working on the Ulwazi FM mini-series, The Magic Circle.
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Mapula Mafole
Mapula is another cast member of Rhythm City to have been recognized bu the SAFTAs for her acting talent. The young actress, who was nominated for a Best Supporting Actress in a TV Soap/Telenovela award in 2018, plays the role of an orphaned teenager named Mapula who takes care of her siblings. She joined the show in 2015 after having launched her acting career in 2012. Other shows she has appeared in include Generations: The Legacy, Intersexions, Soul City, and Z’bondiwe.
Lalla Hirayama
Lalla Hirayama is a Japanese-born South African actress who portrays the character of Felicia on the show. She began playing the role when she was sixteen years of age, a year after she launched her TV career as a presenter for the daily kids time channel Craz-e on E-TV. So far, she has appeared in 158 episodes. Lalla, who is also a television host, dancer, and model, is better recognized for her roles as a judge on South Africa’s Got Talent and host of the celebrity news show, V Entertainment, and her own show tilted Lalla Land.
Tebogo Khalo
The very popular and always trending Tebogo Khalo is another one of the longest-serving cast members of Rhythm City. While the Kempton Park-raised actress is one of the most famous celebrities in the country, her fame does not rival that of the character she plays on the show. Khalo portrays Puleng and has won a Golden Horn for her performance in the role.
Don't forget to vote #favouritesoap @Ajbonga @AmoChidi @Molepo_Mpho @MduduziMabaso2 @MzamoMzamie let's do it for our crew ☝️ pic.twitter.com/MxShFB4PB7
— tebogo khalo (@tkhalo) January 30, 2018
To launch her acting career, Khalo attended educational theatre where she first revealed her incredible talent. She would later go on to garner vast experience in radio broadcasting as she served as a co-host of some current affairs shows that aimed at the youths.
Slindile Nodangala
Slindile Nodangala, who portrays the character of Blossom Khuze, is a veteran actress trained by legendary Soweto playwright Gibson Kente before she later took an understudy role in London at the Lyceum Theatre. The Durban native has been in the industry for about three decades and has gotten to feature in other projects like the award-winning South African movie Izulu lami, The Lion King musical, and the soap Generations where she plays shebeen queen Ruby Dikobe.
Pam Andrews
Pam Andrews plays the very brave, upfront, and an in-your-face character of Gail October. The actress, who has appeared in other TV shows like Backstage and Tshisa, had taken a break from acting in between her time on the show before later returning to the screen on 23 November 2017 to continue to reprise her role.
Mpho Molepo
Mpho Molepo, son of actor Arthur Molepo, plays the role of Fats on the show. He is one of those actors who has been a main cast member of Rhythm City since it premiered in 2007.
Other projects the actor, who obtained his theatre training at the Market Theatre Laboratory and has served on the National Arts Festival committee, has appeared in include Ngempela, Skeem Saam, Yizo Yizo, Zone 14, and Gangster’s Paradise: Jerusalema.
Setlhabi Taunyane
Johannesburg native Setlhabi Taunyane plays the character of Kop Khuse. Other than his portrayal of this character on Rhythm City, he has appeared in other shows like Justice For All, Soul Buddyz, Isidingo, Hard Copy, and the 2007 SABC 1 mini-series, Society. He has further featured in movies like The Red Sea Diving Resort and Paradise Stop.
Petronella Tshuma
After having come into the limelight in mid-2011 when she became one of the ten finalists on the SABC1 talent search competition, Class Act, Petronella Tshuma landed her first acting gig on Scandal! where she played the character of Ruby. She would later then get cast as Pearl Genaro in Rhythm City. Other shows the Zimbabwean born South African actress who won the award for Most Promising Actor at the 10th Africa Movie Academy Awards has appeared in include Hustle, Mzansi Love, Sokhulu & Partners, and 90 Plein Street.
Other Notable Actors and Actresses Part of the Rhythm City Cast
With the show having aired more than three thousand episodes, there are hundreds of other cast members of the show that have not been mentioned. They are:
- Denvor Phokaners
- S’Dumo Mtshali
- Eugene Khumbanyiwa
- Lucia Mthiyane
- Sandile Dlamini
- Relebogile Mabotja
- Thembisile Matu
- Siyabonga Mtshali
- Ntando Duma
- Nokuthula Ledwaba
- Tamarin McGinley
- Zenzo Ngqobe
- Macks Papo
- Lee-Anne Summers
- Lauren Jenae
- Lungile Radu
- Jason Greer
- Keabetswe Motsilanyane
- Hlubi Mboya
- Jafta Mamabolo
- Mmabatho Montsho
- Dumisani Masilela
- Siphiwe Mtshali
- Dumisani Mbebe
- Lalla Hirayama
- Robert Hobbs
- Nolo Phiri
- Nkosi Cengani
- Malusi Mbele
- Mzamo Gcabashe
- Peter Se-Puma
- Kelly Khumalo
- Ishmael Songo
- Connie Chiume
- Jesse Suntele
- Samela Tyelbooi
What Rhythm City is All About
Set in the city of Johannesburg (Jozi), Rhythm City is an award-winning youth drama series that shines a light on the struggles of people who are trying to break into the fast-paced South African music industry. Often controversial but always engrossing, the plot of the show, which takes viewers to and fro from the streets and clubs of Soweto to the recording studios and radio stations of Jozi, largely revolves around two music empires; The Generos and the Ndlovus. It shows how the real power brokers of the music industry battle to dominate the scene as well as the roles promoters, producers, and DJs play.
In each episode, past rivalries, industry conflicts, backstabbing, sex, love, pain, and infidelity, are among the many stories that are brought to life by the wide range of fascinating characters in the Rhythm City cast. Another unique aspect of the show is its ability to include real-life celebrities and musicians in the plot. Some popular SA musicians to have featured on it include Khuli Chana, Kwesta, Kelly Khumalo, Slikour, HHP, Freshlyground, DJ Cleo, and Khanyi Mbau among many others.
When and How to Watch Rhythm City
Rhythm City, which is created by Rolie Nikiwe and Neil McCarthy and produced by Quizzical Pictures, has been on the air for over thirteen years, with the same number of seasons and over three thousand three hundred episodes broadcast as of March 2020. The show runs for 30 minutes and airs Monday to Fridays on e.tv from 7 pm – 7:30 pm. It also airs on e.tv Ghana. e.tv had announced that the series will air its final episode on July 16, 2021 with a new local drama taking up its spot. According to e.tv; the decision to decommission “Rhythm City” is part of a business strategy, which includes reviewing a show’s on-air life cycle. The show will be replaced by another local daily drama, “Durban Gen”
Read Also: All You Must Know About Muvhango TV Series, Actors, Cast & Teasers
Awards and Recognitions
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Over the years, Rhythm City has received a flurry of awards and nominations from the South African Film and Television Awards and the Audience Awards. The first awards earned by the show went to actors Jamie Bartlett and Mduduzi Mabaso in 2009 for Best Actor – TV Soap and Best Supporting Actor – TV Soap, respectively.
Other nominations it received but did not win that year include Best Actor – TV Soap for Zenzo Ngqobe, Best Supporting Actress – TV Soap for Nokuthula Ledwaba, and Best Ensemble – TV Soap.
2010
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Supporting Actor – TV Soap – Zenzo Ngqobe (Nominee)
2011
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Actress – TV Soap – Moshidi Motshegwa (Winner)
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Supporting Actress – TV Soap – Tebogo Khalo (Winner)
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Actress – TV Soap – Keabetswe Motsilanyane (Nominee)
2012
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Soap/Telenovela – Charlie Sapadin (Winner)
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Actor – TV Soap – Mduduzi Mabaso (Nominee)
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Achievement in Directing – TV Telenovela / Soap – Herbert Hadebe, Eric Mogale, Kekeletso Mphuti, and Sacha Clelland-Stokes (Nominee)
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Ensemble – TV Soap – Kgomotso Ditshweni (Nominee)
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Technical Team on a TV Soap (Nominee)
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Achievement in Art/Design – TV Soap (Nominee)
- SAFTA Golden Horn Best Post Production Team on a TV Soap (Nominee)
- Audience Award Most Popular TV Soap (Nominee)
2013
- SAFTA Best Ensemble – TV Soap – Kgomotso Ditshweni (Winner)
- SAFTA Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Soap/Telenovela (Nominee)
- Audience Award – Most Popular TV Soap (Nominee)
2014
- SAFTA Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Soap/Telenovela – Charlie Sapadin (Nominee)
- Audience Award – Most Popular TV Soap (Nominee)
2015
- SAFTA Best Actor – TV Soap – Jamie Bartlett (Winner)
- SAFTA Best TV Soap (Nominee)
- SAFTA Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Soap/Telenovela – Charlie Sapadin, Anthony Akerman, Darrel Bristow-Bovey, + (Nominee)
- SAFTA Best Achievement in Sound Design – TV Soap (Nominee)
2016
- SAFTA Best TV Soap (Winner)
- SAFTA Best Achievement in Directing – TV Telenovela / Soap – Eric Mogale and Heather Cooke (Winner)
- SAFTA Best Achievement in Scriptwriting – TV Soap/Telenovela – Craig Freimond, Byron Abrahams, Neil McCarthy, and Thishiwe Ziqubu (Winner)
- SAFTA Best Achievement in Editing – TV Soap – Ravi Desai – (Nominee)
- SAFTA Best Achievement in Cinematography – TV Soap – Hein van Zyl (Nominee)
- Audience Award Most Popular TV Soap (Nominee)
2017
- Audience Award Most Popular TV Soap (Nominee)
2018
- SAFTA Best Supporting Actress – TV – Soap – Mapula Mafole (Nominee)
2019
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- SAFTA Best Actor – TV Soap – Jamie Bartlett (Winner)
- SAFTA Best TV Soap (Nominee)
2020
- SAFTA Best TV Soap (Winner)
- SAFTA Best Supporting Actor – TV Soap – Mncedisi Shabangu (Winner)
- SAFTA Best Actor – TV Soap – Jamie Bartlett (Nominee)
- SAFTA Best Supporting Actress – TV – Soap – Mapula Mafole (Nominee)
- SAFTA Best Supporting Actress – TV Soap – Petronella Tshuma (Nominee)
