Season 1
Smoke & Mirrors is a South African soap opera set in a small mining town called Emnyameni, where a female vigilante takes on the task of ridding the town of evildoers.
At the heart of the story is Thandiswa Mseleku (played by Ayanda Bandla), a hairdresser by day, an escort by night and a girl on a mission to rid the town of the "Unholy Trinity", a group of morally corrupt men who run Emnyameni.
Thandiswa is on a mission to rid the town of three evil men: Caesar, Jaxon and Mthetho.
Caesar (Zolisa Xaluva) is the leader of the pack - the alpha and a cutthroat businessman who doesn't mind getting his hands dirty.
Jaxon (Mavuso Magabane) is the flashy mayor, who tends to live way beyond his means.
Then there's the town's police commissioner, Mthetho (Kabomo Vilakazi), who lives a double life that will one day catch up with him.
Other cast members include Khayalethu Xaba in the role of Mpendulo Mseleku, Thandiswa's son - a street-smart kid in his teens.
There's also Martha (Lusanda Mbane), a former sex worker and a two-star hotel owner in Emnyameni.
The town's lovely couple are Nthabiseng (Angela Sithole) and Sakhile (Siya Sepotokele).
There's also a matriarch in town whom everyone respects - Nomeva (Charmaine Mtinta).
Nomeva is a powerful sangoma who nobody messes with, but is she a match for the wife of Caesar, Virginia (Zinhle Mabena)?
This small mining town is home to a host of other residents, including Leeroy (JT Medupe), a hairstylist who is also the lover to a rich, powerful man in the town.
Rounding out the cast is Herald Khumalo in the role of Mandla, a classic two-faced priest.
The story lives up to to the title of the show - nothing and no one is truly as they seem.
Season 1 stars Ayanda Bandla, Zolisa Xaluva, Mavuso Magabane, Kabomo Vilakazi, Lusanda Mbane, Charmaine Mtinta, Siya Sepotokele and Khaya Xaba.
Smoke & Mirrors is produced by The Final Chapter Productions, created, written and produced by Loyiso Maqoma.
The executive producers are Zuko Nodada and Loyiso Maqoma; the producer is Thandeka Nodada.
The head writer is Loyiso Maqoma, with a writing team including Mimmy Mtshali Ntaka, Palesa Shongwe, Zoe Laband, Sibongile Nkosana, Lunga Radebe, Amor Tredoux, Pam Power, Martin le Maitre, Charleen Ntsane and Matthew Jankes.
Season 1 Cast
(scroll to bottom for available actor bios)
Starring
Ayanda Bandla ... Thandiswa
Zolisa Xaluva ... Caesar
Mavuso Magabane ... Jaxon (as Meshack Magabane)
Kabomo Vilakazi ... Mthetho
Lusanda Mbane ... Martha
Charmaine Mtinta ... Nomeva
Siyabonga Sepotokele ... Sakhile (as Siya Raymond)
Khaya Xaba ... Mpendulo
Recurring / Guests
Angela Sithole ... Nthabiseng
Lindani Nkosi ... Samson
JT Medupe ... Leeroy
Zinhle Mabena ... Virginia
Lorraine Mphephi ... Lulu (as Lolo Mphephi)
Kgaogelo Monama ... Petunia
Herald Khumalo ... Mandla
Zazi Kunene ... Sindiswa
Sabelo Radebe ... Magolide
Khanya Greens ... Xoliswa
Eyethu Myeza ... Fanyana
Bliss Modiba ... Juba
Amina Jack ... Millicent
Kanya Middleton ... Marelise
Nicole Bessick ... Candace
Mduduzi Gumede ... Pollux
Aobakwe Mokaedi ... Que Marshall
Sthembiso Mbatha ... Worker 1 / Brown
Jacques Mouton ... Dillion
Sergio Jeppe ... Brett
Gago Phetoe ... Dikeledi
Mnqobi Yazo ... Dlozi
Sanele Thwala ... Cocky Boy 1
Nhlanhla Ngcobo ... Cocky Boy 2
Sicelo Mhlongo ... Sgwaca
Mthokozisi Gabela ... Mzwakhe
Daniel Masetla ... Amos
Thembeni Joni ... Mbatho
Nosanda Mngadi ... Karabo
Mothusi Khuduge ... Sgwaca's Customer
Rosina Shiko ... Martha's Cook
Daniel Masetle ... Amos
Lungile Michael Themba ... Engineer
Lesolomzi Soqaka ... Teenage Boy 1
Mpho Luvuno ... Teenage Boy 2
Lisakhanya Khanye ... Teenage Girl 1
Kamo Letsosa ... Mamiki
Mbali Maphumulo ... Joyce
Khayelihle Sibisi ... Tim
Ndzolo Msila ... Vuka
Steward Cherry ... Caesar's Driver
Sifundo Dladla ... Sergeant Mlamuli
Albert Khoza ... Ngcuka (as Albert 'Ibokwe' Khoza)
Tshepo Makhafola ... Arrested Man
Sipho Zele ... Jaxon's Nyanga Songanga
Titus Langa ... Mamiki's Guy
Fortune Thobejane ... Amos
Sfundo Dladla ... Sgt Mlangeni
Nkosinathi Kheswa ... Uncle 1
Portia Magodi ... Mamiki's Customer
Sipho Shongwe ... Male Nurse
Wandise Samela ... Nthabiseng's Doctor
Phumelele Majola ... Ma'Cele
Pam Nketshe ... Doctor
Mnqobi Shezi ... Consultant
Miranda Ntshangase ... Dudu
Innocent Siza ... Water Engineer
Bonginkosi Twala ... Stan (as Bonginkosi Thwala)
Mzwakhe Mangumta ... Rumba
Catherine Dumakude ... Ma'Mdlalose
Azania Fumba ... Lindi-Loo
Rodney Motlhabane ... Guy
Raygen Soetmelk ... Health Inspector
Rodney Motlhabane ... Guy
Mike Masoka ... Caretaker
Thulani Masango ... Shady Guy
Thamsanqa Mtshengu ... Dlamini
Audrey Dlamini ... Customer 1
Masalome Mosaase ... Ma'Moloi
Elzanne Koopman ... Customer
Asithandile Gajana ... Car Tracker Consultant
Mbalenhle Cele ... Tiny
Phindile Gwala ... Khanyo
Precious Ndlovu ... Mamu'Skenju
Thembekile Komani ... Mkhuseli
Onezwa Nguqe ... Cleaner
Ziyanda Gowa ... Woman
Thandile Dipa ... Mlungisi
Buntu Tembani ... Bhele
Mbongeni Tyabule ... Dabula
Olive Strachan ... Dabawo
Khanya Kalashe ... Doctor
Sbonelo Rasenya ... Small Boy
Lungile Nkombelo ... Police Chief
Sive Mabuya ... Nokwakha (as Sivenathi Bukani Mabuya)
Bayanda Maseko ... Man
Sbonakaliso Mazibuko ... Sipho
Nompumelelo Nzimande ... Hot Woman / Salon Client 1
Thabang Mphahlele ... Mr Cebekhulu
Anathi Gobeni ... Anathi
Gabriel Mini ... Pastor Joesph
Archibald Mogobu ... Uniformed Cop 1
Refiloe Skosana ... Sexy Woman
Aphiwe Bongo ... Saloon Client 2
Nandipha Mlombi ... Jaxon's PA
Melusi Yeni ... Detective Phakathi
Puleng Leqela ... Virginia's Helper
Jabulani Masilela ... P.I.
Gabriel Mpepele ... Jaxon's Lawyer
Menzi Nxumalo ... Jaxon's Doctor
Thembelihle Princess Myeza. Flirtatious Guest
Khanyisile Langa ... Lerato
Snethemba Mdunyelwa ... Stylish Man
Chwayita Gaya ... Community Member 1
Romeo Mazibuko ... Community Member 2
Siphindile Radebe ... Mrs Zungu
Francois van der Merwe ... Sergeant Koster (as Francios van der Merwe)
Lindsay Howell ... Kirsten's Wedding Planner
Tshepiso Khuduge ... Hotel Guest
Nkosana Samane ... Sonto's Stalker
Njabulo Ngema ... Sonto's Client
Vusi Kunene ... Funani Zwide
Khaya Dladla ... Laz
Mxolisi Shezi ... Bar Customer