uMbali is a South African television drama series which revolves around beautiful township girl Mbali, who - when her boyfriend Siya is arrested and the family's main financial support is lost - makes a solemn promise that she will do whatever it takes to leave the township for a taste of 'good life'.
Mbali is a beautiful township girl with boundless ambition. A former teen beauty queen, she has the looks to drive men crazy.
But she is poor and lives in a small backroom in Diepkloof with her mother Phindile, her sister Phumla and daughter Khethiwe.
The family lives off Siya, Mbali's boyfriend, a criminal who sells Mbali dreams of a lavish life.
But when he gets arrested, the family is plunged deep into poverty as their main financial support is lost.
In a desperate attempt to find bail money for Siya, Mbali has to visit Siya's dangerous crime boss Fistos, who sees Mbali as easy prey now that Siya is behind bars.
He tries to rape her, leading to Mbali killing him in self-defence.
Phindile, who has always been Mbali's support system, helps her hide her crime.
All this trauma brings back the memory of the abuse her mother endured at the hands of her father, Moses.
In that moment, Mbali makes a solemn promise that she will do whatever it takes to leave Diepkloof.
She swears she will never again breathe the terrible scent of poverty in her life.
A high school dropout, Mbali does not have the skills to help her get a job.
But she is street wise and knows that she drives men crazy.
She knows that she can control them using sex and charm... especially the married men.
Through the series we see Mbali climb the social and economic ladder as she jumps from Siya to Robert, a rich man.
Mbali destroys his family for her own ends and when Robert is finished, she eyes an ageing widower called Cyril.
True to form, she starts a family feud with his sons over inheritance.
Mbali finally finds what she believes is true love with her sister's fiancée, Peter.
But her happy ending does not exist, each step up the ladder will bring her misfortune and great danger.
Through it all, her blinding ambition keeps her pushing forward, at any cost.
Hearts, families and marriages will be broken, and enemies will be created in her pursuit of money and the good life.
Then, when she thinks she's finally made it, her past will come to haunt her.
The series stars Sthandile Nkosi, Tiisetso Thoka, Phumzile Kubeka, Diana Maseko, Austin Shandu and Melusi Yeni.
In the series premiere, "No Way Out": Mbali (Sthandile Nkosi) is happy when Siya (Austin Shandu) promises his next score will get her the life she dreams about - but things go horribly wrong.
Meanwhile, Phindile (Phumzile Kubeka) is behind with rent and the land lady wants to kick them out, but Vusi (Thulani Ntsweni) offers to wipe the debt clean in exchange for sex.
uMbali was created and executive produced by Reneilwe Sema and Mpho Lengane for Barkers Media.
The director is Johnny Barbuzano and the series producer is Mpho Lengane.
The head writers are Reneilwe Sema and Tiisetso Tlelima.
Original music is by Morena the Squire.