Tonight (26 May, 2008) sees the arrival of a newcomer to the Rhythm City beat.
Thembalethu Ntuli makes his debut as 11-year old Pule, a young car guard who will expose a different side of Kilowatt Club owner and former gangster, Suffocate (Mduduzi Mabaso)
Pule, who has been working as an unofficial car attendant for the Kilowatt, comes to Suffo’s attention when the youngster claims homeless kids working for rival venue, The Hotplate, are breaking the windows of vehicles belonging to Suffo’s clients.
It will turn out that Pule is the brother of Zoro, the former Kilowatt bartender, who was killed by Bra Touch - the loan shark to whom Suffo was in massive debt.
Little Pule (who doesn’t know what happened) is obviously enraged, bitter and bewildered by his brother’s unexplained disappearance.
Pule’s parents have both died, and while Zoro was alive, he took their place. The two boys lived together in the back room of a nearby house, but with Zoro gone, Pule has been evicted. He has been sleeping rough, parking cars and begging to survive.
He is a very resourceful and cheerful kid, who seems surprisingly resilient in the face of his harsh circumstances. He just wants the things other kids want: protection, nurturing, stability, and a bit of fun.
He likes soccer and is very familiar with cars, being able to spot makes and modifications from miles off. He is bright, and given the right breaks, could be a very good student.
Thembalethu Ntuli has appeared in several commercial and charity campaign TV adverts. Pule is his first TV role with dialogue.
“I plan to give this role my best," says Thembalethu Ntuli. "Pule is ambitious, but unlike me, his dreams are overshadowed with doubt. It’s a blessing to have this chance to do what I love and for which I plan to train; this opportunity will give me a chance to pave my way in the entertainment industry.”
Thembalethu would like to study Audiovisual Management and establish his own multimedia company in Hollywood.
Cynical, drinking, smoking, former thug Suffo feels guilty and responsible for Pule’s plight, and will take the street kid under his wing.
“The Pule storyline will take viewers to the darker side of life which some people are confronted with on a daily basis," says Mduduzi.
"Pule has been through a lot of challenges in his life and can no longer trust anybody. He is disillusioned and suspicious of anybody who tries to act like a saviour towards him. There are many kids who have let go of hope because of the circumstances with which they are faced.”
A deep emotional bond will develop between the two characters. Rough-tough Suffo will learn how to become Pule’s paternal protector, and Pule will learn how to be cared for by a stranger - and abide y house rules.
It is through Pule that the hidden scars of Suffo’s harsh childhood will be exposed while Pule inadvertently finds out why he was abandoned by his brother.
Rhythm City is on e.tv weeknights at 18h30.