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IOL News
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- IOL News
Shona Ferguson's legacy shines as a formidable foe sparks a supernatural showdown in 'Kings of Jo'burg' 3
Clint Brink as Gavin Salat with Connie Ferguson and Veronica Masire in 'Kings of Jo'burg' season 3. Image: Supplied A few months before Shona Ferguson's passing on July 30, 2021, I had a 10-minute virtual chat with him about Ferguson Films, in partnership with Samad Davis, venturing into new territory with 'Kings of Jo'burg'. He also played the lead role of Simon 'Varder' Masire. Confined to remote working, South Africa, like the rest of the world, was, at the time, navigating life with the coronavirus. As always, he was generous with his time and thoughts. He was truly a gem, both as a person and a creative. Zolisa Xaluva as Mogomotsi "Mo" Masire in 'Kings of Jo'burg' season 3. Image: Supplied Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ Several years later, the show is now in its third season on Netflix. And, if the ending is anything to go by, there's a possibility of it returning. I hope he's looking down, proud of the seeds he planted and the legacy that continues to thrive. Meanwhile, season three has been trending since it recently dropped on the streaming platform. The star clout of Connie Ferguson and Zolisa Xaluva, who are joined by Clint Brink, Maurice Paige, Keenan Arrison and US actor Malik Yoba, is enough to make fans giddy with excitement. The compelling storyline is the cherry on top. Of course, the new season picks up with the aftermath of season two. Mogomotsi "Mo" Masire (Xaluva) is serving time behind bars with Lester (Abdul Khoza). A heavily pregnant Veronica Masire (Ferguson), who carries the Mermaid spirit, decides it's time to return to South Africa despite the protests of her partner Isador (Yoba). After two miscarriages, he's concerned about her well-being. With the Masire family a threat to many criminal enterprises, her arrival on homesoil is greeted by a nasty surprise from rival Aliko Bajo (Enyinna Nwigwe). While her trusted bodyguards Leon (Llewelyn Cordier) and Sting (Nnekwa Tsajwa) get her out safely, the danger is far from over. And if Veronica wants to have a safe birth, she has to kill Gavin Salat (Brink) for the Mermaid. A life for a life sort of thing. There's just one small problem: he's also protected by Oom, a supernatural spirit. As much as Gavin is celebrated as a community leader, mentoring young boys to help them have a better future, the truth is far more menacing. He's a criminal mastermind recruiting impressionable youngsters to do his bidding. And he's on the cusp of striking the deal of a lifetime with the Mexican cartel. Gavin is also aware of how big a threat the Masire family is, and when one of his own is killed in prison, he takes revenge on them all, starting with Mo's son. With his late brother Simon coming in visions to him, Mo hatches a plan with Lester to break out of prison to protect his family. So begins a cat-and-mouse chase as Mo, accompanied by Phumzi (Cindy Mahlangu), dodges law enforcement while trying to protect Veronica from imminent danger. The seven-part third season is an action-packed one, pitting the Masire family against its most formidable rival to date. It is also a supernatural war that comes full circle. Even with limited screen time, Thembi Seete's portrayal of Keneilwe Masire is impactful. Should the series continue, her role will expand significantly. As a passionate storyteller, Shona would have appreciated the poetic ending. I devoured the third instalment in one sitting, a testament to the filmmakers' and writers' exceptional work. It was a fast-paced, beautifully shot, and well-executed production. In "Kings of Jo'burg", power struggles, betrayal, danger, deception, and romance are central themes. Rating: 4/5 **** a standout series with exceptional qualities. Below is a must-see offering of a similar vein: "Unseen" On the run after a daring prison escape, Zenzi Mwale navigates a treacherous world of old foes and unexpected allies, fighting to bring down the shadowy syndicate responsible for Max and Esulu's deaths. Uncovering the harsh truth that justice is not the same for everyone, the lines between right and wrong blur, and Zenzi must decide whether she will trust the system or take matters into her own hands.
Mail & Guardian
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Mail & Guardian
Power, blood and spirits: Inside season 3 of Kings of Jo'Burg
Kingpin: Mo Masire, played by Zolisa Xaluva, in a scene from Kings of Jo'Burg season 3, which is on Netflix. Photo: Courtesy of Netflix There is no doubt that the team at Ferguson Films know how to create action in a gripping crime drama. Mzansi Magic's The Queen and Rockville are thrilling examples. In Netflix's Kings of Jo'Burg franchise they add an element of the supernatural. In the first season, which premiered in 2020, viewers were taken into the underworld of a Johannesburg criminal family, the Masires. Created by the late Shona Ferguson, who played kingpin Simon Masire in season 1, the series follows the Masires as they navigate power struggles, betrayals and supernatural forces. Led by Veronica Masire (Connie Ferguson) and Mo Masire (Zolisa Xaluva), in season 3, we see the family's continued rule over the criminal underworld, while dealing with a supernatural family curse and a new contender threatening to bring their empire to its knees. The rival gang, headed by Gavin Salat (Clint Brink), has declared war on the Masires in a bid to establish dominance in Johannesburg. To defend their turf, the Masires make a deal with their former enemy Aliko Bajo, played by Nigerian actor Enyinna Nwigwe. Executive producer Connie Ferguson and US co-executive producer Samad Davis continue their aim to create a show with a global reach. Thus, the casting for the franchise seems strategic with the inclusion of actors from South Africa, Nigeria and the US. Similar to previous seasons, which included American actors Terri J Vaughn and Michael Anthony, in this season we see new characters, such as Isador played by New York-born Malik Yoba. At first, I was sceptical about this all-star cast fulfilling my expectations, especially in the first season. But, rest assured, this is a serious series with a serious cast. With the exception of Lester's (Abdul Khoza) trivial jokes, there is no comic relief here. The overall tone from the characters, the soundtrack, and even the locations, is riveting, ominous and tense. There is no darker character than the menacing Gavin Salat who elevates the danger and supernatural factor. Complex and cold, with a robot-like wife on his side, Salat is Cape Town's saint by day and devil by night, leading a wide drug distribution network that includes prisons. Similar to Masire's Mermaid, Salat's supernatural entity is called Oom. Drawing from South African cultural heritage, Salat's gang members are tattooed with an eland — the spirit animal of the Khoisan. It is these spiritual symbols and mythical figures that set this franchise apart from what South African audiences have seen before. Unlike the Nigerian and Asian film industry, supernatural mythology is not broadly explored in South Africa. Growing up, my cousins and I were scared to death by drama series like Lesilo Rula (1987) and Ubizo (2007). Watching my grandparents' black-and-white TV, even the scenes with witches and dark spirits in Henry Cele's Shaka Zulu (1986) shook me as a boy. In recent times there have been a few films that drew inspiration from local folklore and beliefs. Norman Maake's recent award-winning Sebata: The Beast, 8: A South African Horror Story and Vuyani Bila's Deep Face, for instance, explore ghosts, spirits and other supernatural entities. A common denominator in the horror-supernatural genre is that the monsters are representative of unresolved traumas. When triggered by life events, we experience life as 'horror' as those past 'monsters' have been awakened. Kings of Jo'Burg challenges us to think about the monsters that lurk in our past and present, be it unresolved childhood traumas, envy, corrupt thoughts or fear. These negative emotions and energies, when undealt with, can turn people — alive or in the afterlife — into disruptive entities, hungry for blood and souls. The series made me wonder if family inheritances of spiritual gifts is a curse or blessing. Through The Mermaid and Oom, the series explores the idea of family legacies and spiritual warfare in protecting and enriching the family. In my village days as a child, we heard stories of shop owners burying human skulls and hands, with bony fingers creepily calling customers to purchase. Stories of people sleeping with snakes in their homes to gain success. Stories of businessmen and politicians bathing and drinking all sorts of concoctions in the shadows to amass more power and wealth. Kings of Jo'Burg prompts us to check our personal spiritual blind spots and our lineage. As hard as it might be to ask our elders about our family history, rituals and beliefs, the assignment to this generation is to ask those difficult questions, regardless. If we want to break generational curses, and embrace the beauty of family spiritual gifts, lifting the lids becomes of utmost importance. The supernatural aside, the action in series 3 is enthralling. In last year's Heart of the Hunter, a Netflix production also starring Ferguson, viewers saw how big-budget production can push the boundaries of action when it comes to fight scenes, car chases, weapons and explosions. The South African film and TV industry is indeed improving on that front. I was, however, not moved by the hyperbolic scoring in convincing audiences of the danger and thrill. Sure, it's a crime-action series, with plenty of bullets, blood, demons and drugs, but did the soundtrack have to be ominous in every scene? The overall sound design was off-putting, especially in the calmer and more emotive scenes. In one scene, when Veronica and Keneilwe (Thembi Seete) are talking about the glow of pregnancy, the music is imposingly eerie and mismatched. What am I as the viewer supposed to feel, exactly? The scene between Outjie (Maurice Paige) and Mo in the prison cafeteria also could have been made without music to allow the actors' prowess to naturally shine. The visual effects supplied by Pau Meyer from Luma Animation Studio, also the principal VFX supplier for M-Net's Shaka iLembe, immensely elevated the supernatural features in this season. The franchise has come a long way from the questionable camerawork, ambitious storyline and poor character development in the first season. Season 3 is bolder and more menacing — glowing eyes and all. Kings of Jo'Burg season 3 is streaming on Netflix.
The Herald
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald
Connie Ferguson speaks on how she is taking SA to the world with 'Kings of Joburg' season 3
When King of Joburg made its debut on Netflix in 2020, it changed the tapestry of South Africa's film industry, transcending conventional boundaries. Ahead of the premiere of its highly anticipated third season, the executive producer of the show, actress Connie Ferguson has spoken about what people can expect to see in the action-packed show. 'There was only one objective [with season 3], it was to outdo season one and season two. We had exceptional seasons but this is our third. We had a lot of learnings from season one and season two, now we had to come back and show exactly what the kings of Joburg are made of,' she told TshisaLIVE. 'Based on season one and season two, you guys think you know what to expect but trust me, you do not know what's coming. It's an all-round entertaining and adrenaline rush type of show, something that you've never seen before in SA, that's all I can say.' Connie went on to speak about the vision and journey of Ferguson Films with the show. 'You can achieve so much more when you collaborate with other people when you are not working on your own. Ferguson Films has done a lot of local productions working with my late husband Shona Ferguson and myself. 'We created Kings of Joburg, we had a bigger picture, we wanted to cross over the borders of SA, we didn't just want to focus locally. We got together with the producer Samad Davids, we sat, brainstormed together, talked about taking SA to the continent and to the world, and bringing the world to SA. I believe that's exactly what we did with this show.' The series has featured American stars. American actress and director Terri J. Vaughn played a pivotal role and now, in this coming season, Malik Yoba is set to make his debut on the show. American film producer and director Samad Davis, who has always been part of the show, spoke of how he's proud to see and be a part of something that can compete internationally. 'Hollywood is not a destination, it's a level of execution. This is Hollywood, this is what Hollywood is about. It's not about making it to LA, it's about doing great work where you are. These actors can work anywhere on this planet and they are fantastic. Just as much as we have rockstars on the show, there are other people working hard behind the scenes.'
TimesLIVE
12-06-2025
- Entertainment
- TimesLIVE
Connie Ferguson speaks on how she is taking SA to the world with 'Kings of Joburg' season 3
When King of Joburg made its debut on Netflix in 2020, it changed the tapestry of South Africa's film industry, transcending conventional boundaries. Ahead of the premiere of its highly anticipated third season, the executive producer of the show, actress Connie Ferguson has spoken about what people can expect to see in the action-packed show. 'There was only one objective [with season 3], it was to outdo season one and season two. We had exceptional seasons but this is our third. We had a lot of learnings from season one and season two, now we had to come back and show exactly what the kings of Joburg are made of,' she told TshisaLIVE. 'Based on season one and season two, you guys think you know what to expect but trust me, you do not know what's coming. It's an all-round entertaining and adrenaline rush type of show, something that you've never seen before in SA, that's all I can say.' Connie went on to speak about the vision and journey of Ferguson Films with the show. 'You can achieve so much more when you collaborate with other people when you are not working on your own. Ferguson Films has done a lot of local productions working with my late husband Shona Ferguson and myself. 'We created Kings of Joburg, we had a bigger picture, we wanted to cross over the borders of SA, we didn't just want to focus locally. We got together with the producer Samad Davids, we sat, brainstormed together, talked about taking SA to the continent and to the world, and bringing the world to SA. I believe that's exactly what we did with this show.' The series has featured American stars. American actress and director Terri J. Vaughn played a pivotal role and now, in this coming season, Malik Yoba is set to make his debut on the show. American film producer and director Samad Davis, who has always been part of the show, spoke of how he's proud to see and be a part of something that can compete internationally. 'Hollywood is not a destination, it's a level of execution. This is Hollywood, this is what Hollywood is about. It's not about making it to LA, it's about doing great work where you are. These actors can work anywhere on this planet and they are fantastic. Just as much as we have rockstars on the show, there are other people working hard behind the scenes.'
The Herald
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald
Connie Ferguson named as guest judge for Miss Universe Zimbabwe
A ctress and filmmaker Connie Ferguson has been announced as the guest judge for the Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2025 pageant. She will join a panel of six judges, including Miss Zimbabwe-Diaspora 2017 Roseanna Hall, prominent Pan African executive banker George Nheweyembwa, Miss Universe Zimbabwe 2023 Brooke Bruk Jackson, award-winning luxury travel content creator and blogger Paloma Mlunjwana, former supermodel Tsungai Makwanya and respected figure in the arts community Zak Hawa. The organisation described Ferguson as 'a true role model whose legacy inspires women across Africa'. She is a renowned actress, producer, filmmaker and businesswoman known for her role as Karabo Moroka on Generations and Harriet Khoza on The Queen . Ferguson and her late husband Shona produced shows including The Throne through their production company Ferguson Films. The 57-year-old is also a businesswoman in the lifestyle and self-care industry. The nine finalists will compete for the Miss Universe Zimbabwe title at Harare's Hippodrome on May 17 .
