- Bongile Mantsai, recently joined Mzansi Magic’s telenovela Gqeberha: The Empire, where he plays the role of Luzuko Mxenge’s younger brother, Hlumelo Mxenge.
- Hlumelo is a charismatic, confident man and the quintessential dyan, with an infectious playful energy and a mean streak.
- Mantsai also mentioned that the reason why audiences might be receiving his character so well is the general love people have for villains.
South Africa’s favourite television bad boy, Bongile Mantsai, recently joined Mzansi Magic’s telenovela Gqeberha: The Empire, where he plays the role of Luzuko Mxenge’s younger brother, Hlumelo Mxenge, who can be described as “a wolf in sheep’s clothing with a horrifying God complex and more to prove than to lose”.
Hlumelo is a charismatic, confident man and the quintessential dyan, with an infectious playful energy and a mean streak. Luzuko reaches out to his brother in a time of need, but a tragic turn of events presents Hlumelo with one of his deepest desires. He is ready to manipulate, lie, cheat, and even spill blood to keep the Mxenge empire.
“I find him very interesting,” Manstai said about his character. “There’s always something new about him. And I mean, after 10 years behind bars, he comes out and claims all the things his brother has acquired over the years, makes you wonder…” he teases. “He’s a mystery, and definitely fun to play.”
Hlumelo is a former boxer, and that aspect is made clear in the show as he often does his plotting and planning in the ring. If you follow Mantsai’s work, you’ll know that some of his most recent work includes the local film Knuckle City, which follows a professional boxer whose career is coming to an end, so he teams up with his criminal brother to set up a life-changing fight.
“The first few times on the Gqeberha: The Empire set felt a bit like Knuckle City, so I approached the director and we made a few changes. I never want to feel like I’m repeating a role,” Mantsai explained.
Before landing this role, Mantsai spent some time on German theatre stages, playing roles such as William Shakespeare’s Othello, and he says that the value and pride the Germans place on the use of their language in all industries, including the arts and entertainment is inspiring.
“I’m starting to see more of that in our country as well, and that makes me happy. Even when preparing for this role, although I’m already isiXhosa-speaking, I learned the dialect spoken in Gqeberha specifically, “isiBhayi”, if you will. Because I know how important it is to the people of this region, and it only makes sense,” Mantsai stressed.
Mantsai also mentioned that the reason why audiences might be receiving his character so well is the general love people have for villains.
“Villains always add spice in any show. We also have to consider the power of the villain in our townships – the things that thugs are usually associated with are cars, money, and a lot of women; the fascination with that is mind-boggling. So yes, it could be that,” Mantsai said, humbly shying away from the fact that he’s one of the country’s favourite actors.
Although Hlumelo and Bongile both share the ability to build and commit to helping others, especially family, they couldn’t be more on polar ends. Unlike Hlumelo, Mantsai is a devout Christian whose mother, Nokuzola Mantsai, never misses the chance to express herself.
“When I went to church with her this other time, she stood up and emphasised that people should not confuse all these “bad boy” characters for who I really am, and then went on about the good man I am and all,” the thespian recalled.
If you love Bongile Mantsai and the villainous characters he’s played in the past, then you’ll love Hlumelo. He is more cruel and charming than ever before. Viewers can expect to witness the good, the bad, and the ugly in every episode, and experience every form of the seven deadly sins unfold on their screens.
Whether you love to hate him, or hate to love him, he’s about to take you on a wild journey!
