Outlaws is a South African, western-themed telenovela set in the lush but lawless land on the border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, and tells the story of two families at war with each other: the Zulu, cattle-farming Biyela clan and the Basotho, cattle-raiding Ts'eoles.
In the series premiere: Bandile proves himself to his father, Leruo leads his men on a mission and Tlali proves to be a loose cannon, starting a war that will rage on for ages.
The series stars Thembinkosi Mthembu as Bandile Biyela, Lehlohonolo Mayeza as Leruo Tseole, Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku as Sihle Biyela, Mmabatho Mogomotsi as Moretlo Tseole, Keketso Mpitso as Tlali, Mduduzi Nombela as Dumisani Dlamini, Mnqobi Kunene as Kwanele Dlamini and Seipati Mahamu as Nyakallo.
Outlaws is a Showmax Original, created by Phathushedzo Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon and produced by Tshedza Pictures.
The executive producers are Phathushedzo Makwarela, Gwydion Beynon, Candice Tennant and Tebogo Malope.
The series producer is Allison Forget-Deyes and the director is Tebogo Malope.
The head writers are Phathushedzo Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon; Chris Q. Radebe is a writer.
The music score is by Brendan Jury and the title sequence music is Bosekana by Kommanda Obbs.
Main Cast and Characters
Bandile Biyela is played by Thembinkosi Mthembu
Bandile is his father's son, sharing the same passion for the land - he's a rural farm boy through and through.
Having married young, Bandile's wife Nolwandle (Nosipho Pehlo) and their toddler kids soften him.
Even though he loves his wife, he is a bit of a player in the region, something that always puts him and his father, who is moralistic, at odds.
Bheki Biyela is played by Siyabonga Shibe
He is the family patriarch, who always puts what is in the best interest of the family and the farm first.
When we meet him in the series, he is facing the biggest battle of his farming life – stock theft.
The rampant stealing of cattle by Basotho has turned the whole Underberg region into a war zone that Bheki is determined to emerge victorious.
But for how long?
Sihle Biyela is played by Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku
Sihle is Nandi and Bheki's only daughter.
Having been born and raised on the farm, Sihle has yearned for a bigger life where she was more independent.
When it comes to relationships, Sihle has never really had time to explore much.
She met Kwanele (Mnqobi Kunene), the son of a family friend, much younger, and they've been in a relationship for a while.
After he proposed, she proposed, and now finds herself at a crossroads.
He is nice, but does she really love him enough to marry him?
Nandi Biyela is played by Nolwazi Shange
Nandi is Bheki's wife and Banele's mother, a gun-toting pious woman.
She is a strong-willed family matriarch, who finds peace in self-sustenance.
Nandi runs the farm side by side with her husband.
Nolwandle is played by Nosipho Pehlo
Bandile's wife and mother of his kids.
Nolwande grew up in KZN townships and had her sights set on the high life, until she met Bandile – a son of a farmer.
Moretlo Ts'eole is played by Mmabatho Mogomotsi
Moretlo is the queen pin of the largest cattle-raiding syndicate in Lesotho that has been ravaging the Underberg region of KZN for years.
She is tough and can be ruthless when she doesn't get her way.
Having raised her children without a husband, Moretlo has had to play both parental roles in her children's life.
This makes her seem harsh and cold. She is a strategist and an avid horse raider, but just as comfortable with a machine gun.
Leruo Ts'eole is played by Lehlohonolo Mayeza
Leruo is Moretlo's eldest son and the leader of her cattle-thieving syndicate.
He is the leader of the gang and has made peace with his mother's operation. It is the way of life for him.
He is an excellent horse man, but an even better shooter.
He is wise and measured, rarely shows too much emotion, and a strategist much like his mother.
He is the wounded hero, the man who has had to step up and be his mother's right-hand man.
He is a man of few words; he lets his gun do the talking.
His life is turned upside down when he falls for Sihle (Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku), the daughter of a man he has been stealing from.
Tlali is played by Keketso Mpitso
He is Leabua's son and Moretlo's nephew, a cousin to Leruo.
Like his father, he converts power that doesn't belong to him.
He is part of the cattle-raiding syndicate, though he is impulsive and lacks the skill that comes effortlessly to Leruo.
He feels overlooked and hungers for power, which aligns him more with his embittered father.
Tlali is a greedy and sleazy player, who is consumed by the need to outdo his cousin Leruo, no matter the consequences.
Kwanele Dlamini is played by Mnqobi Kunene
Kwanele is a man who has lived his whole life under his father's shadow.
Having been raised by his father after his mother's death, this has turned him to view his father as God and his word as the bible.
There are, however, two things that mean the most to Kwanele – his love for Sihle, whom he has loved ever since they were kids, and his love for farming, which he is not that great at, but he tries.
Kwanele starts off the series as the good guy, the one who has managed to convince Sihle to marry him, even though deep down he knows that she is way out of his league.
Dumisani Dlamini is played by Mduduzi Nombela
Dumisani has been Bheki's friend since childhood.
They all grew up around the Underberg region and had the same dream to one day become the biggest cattle farmers in the region.
However, Dumisani never really had the gift to rear cattle, no matter how much he desired it.
As they grew up, Dumisani gravitated towards crime and grew in the ranks to become one of the most feared criminal bosses in the region, but he still held on dearly to his childhood dream of being a farmer.
Even though Dumisani might seem evil, he is not – he is just a man driven by greed.
He is a controlling madman, but a devoted father to his son Kwanele, whom he raised alone after his wife died.