SABC1 has anounced a new local 13-part drama series starting on Wednesday 20 December called A Place Called Home.
The drama series is produced by T.O.M. Pictures, who made the comedy
Sorted for SABC3 and Nomzamo for SABC1.
A Place Called Home is about Maxwell, a writer in search of a story.
In his search for authenticity he is drawn into the world of the homeless, where he discovers a group of wannabe writers who eke out a living by selling articles to a homeless newspaper.
He offers to teach them and in return gains insight into their world.
The group is a disparate one. There's Siphiwe, who literally lives in a drain but who is a genuinely talented writer, struggling on the margins of society.
Milhoti is a single mother who shares a large room with four others. Divided by a thin curtain she desperately hangs onto a notion of privacy, while she dreams of a day when a knight in shining armour will take her away from it all.
Steven is an aspirant boxer trying to battle his way out of the ghetto, wanting nothing more than to be that man.
Ali, an illegal immigrant from Liberia, arrives in the city of gold dreaming about being the next great investigative journalist, but soon learns that reality is much harsher.
Charlene is the woman who runs the rec centre where the group meets - she hopes she can save the world, preferably before lunch.
They all fear Sylvester the ruthless street gangster that rules their world with an iron fist.
The cast includes Pepi Kambule (Yesterday); Mduduzi Mabaso (Hotel Rwanda,
Heartlines); Thomas Gumede (introducing);
Esmeralda Bihl (Sorted, Heartlines);
Bubu Mazibuko (
Gaz'lam,
Tshisa); Saleh Sabiti (Bunnychow); Ronnie Nyakale (Yizo-Yizo);
Mbali Ntuli (
The Chat Room, Gaz'lam).
There are 13 episodes which are half an hour in length.
A Place Called Home premieres on SABC1 on Wednesday 20 December 2006, at 20h30. It will replace the rebroadcast of Season 3 of Gaz'lam.