Bonko Khoza, Natasha Thahane, Lerato Mvelase and Thulani Mtsweni in ‘The Mabaso’s Family Reunion’. Picture: X.
Some of South Africa’s biggest stars deliver hilarious performances in the new Netflix series, “The Mabaso’s Family Reunion.”
From shining a spotlight on the challenges of a fractured family, greed and loss, there's also moments of comedy.
Bonko Khoza, Natasha Thahane, Lerato Mvelase and Thulani Mtsweni bring their A-game to this production.
They play four estranged siblings who reunite at their Joburg family home following the death of their mother.
Driven by lust, fame and materialism, the siblings have their worlds turned upside down when they discover a coffin stuffed with cash and the wrong body.
This forces them to come together as they must come up with schemes to outwit ruthless criminals and the law.
Meanwhile, the likes of Jerry Mofokeng, who stars as the unscrupulous Pastor Pitso who was having an affair with the family matriarch and has a fetish for women’s underwear, was also a vibrant addition to the cast.
Alfred Ntombela was also a righteous laugh as he portrayed the lovable gangster Hush Puppy, while Lungile Yende and Yolo Noruwana also served side-splitting comedy as the makotis (daughters-in-law).
The four-part series centres around Mvelase (Thuli) who is secretly pregnant with her best friend’s husband. He is a doctor at the medical facility she is working as a nurse and loses her job when he discovers that she is carrying his child.
Then there is Bheki (Mtsweni), a corrupt politician whose shady business dealings sees him being investigated by the Hawks. With a high maintenance wife Nande (Noruwana) and two spoiled Gen Z daughters to look after, he can barely afford any of his mother’s funeral costs.
Bheki, who paints himself as a selfless struggle veteran, also previously ended his brother Bongani’s (Khoza) football career by breaking his leg during an altercation.
And with his professional sporting career behind him, Bheki is now unemployed and spends his time drinking too many beers and gallivanting with his friends.
The youngest sibling Mbali (Thahane) arrives at the funeral house full of shame as her sex tape with her lover, who also happens to be her sister’s ex-boyfriend, has gone viral on social media.
This threatens influencer career and she now has no way of generating an income.
And when the wrong body stuffed with cash arrives at their family home, the siblings argue about what to do with their newfound wealth.
Eventually Bongani and Mbali decide to return it to the funeral home.
But chaos ensues along the way when they lose the cash, causing Hush Puppy to kidnap one of Bheki’s daughters.
The siblings now have to put their personal problems aside in a bid to save the youngster and to bury their mother with dignity.
They also have to handle the nosy Pastor Pitso and his scheming ways, while also contending with an overbearing Nandi and Zodwa, Bongani’s vibrant and often intoxicated girlfriend.
And while they are inundated with hurdles, the siblings’ bond intensifies during their comical and dangerous ordeals and they find themselves prioritising the relationships that matter the most.
Their journey of self growth is something viewers from all walks of life will be able to relate to.
“The Mabaso’s Family Reunion” is a truly unique South African story which reflects Mzansi’s culture and traditions. It is also full of local lingo and twists to keep the audience glued to the screen..
Khoza was the star of the show as the exuberant Bheki who has mixed loyalties and refuses to grow up.
The actor displayed an impressive acting range in the show, after stellar performances earlier this year. He earned raving reviews for his role in Netflix’s action-packed “Heart of the Hunter.” Khoza gave a chilling performance in Showmax’s “Red Ink” where he played convicted serial killer and rapist, Napoleon.
After taking the lead in serious stories, Khoza proves he has comedic abilities in “The Mabaso’s Family Reunion”.
The series also did brilliantly to fuse the skills from veteran actors such as Mofokeng, Mtsweni and Ntombela with fresher talents, including Thahane, whose character faces many emotional turmoils and Yende, who plays one of the show’s most colourful characters.
Overall, “The Mabaso’s Family Reunion” is a wonderful comedic escape, with a storyline that will also keep you intrigued.