"Every Crime is an Act of Love".
That's the tagline of Mzansi Magic's new Sunday night primetime drama entitled Abomama, about four church women who are sucked into the criminal underworld when they are forced to turn their stokvel into a money-laundering scheme.
With a cast that inclues some heavy hitters in the form of Nokuthula Ledwaba, Kenneth Nkosi, Don Mlangeni Nawa, Joyce Skefu, Khanyi Mbau, Leroy Gopal and Jerry Phele, Abomama is the first drama series to be made by Parental Advisory Productions, who until now have only ever made reality television.
The production company - headed by Siya Ngwekazi, Lungile Radu and Thomas Gumede - is known for its portfolio of Mzansi Magic reality shows including Forever Young, Ntombi and Ace, Mandla & Lexi, Love Back, Mzansi Footballers and Ezase Afro.
Their first foray into drama is an ambitious one, as they tackle "the extraordinary lives of ordinary women", when a group of religious women take it upon themselves to turn tragedy into a blessing.
It's a decent premise: troublemaker Thabang (Kgosi Monyake, Is'thunzi) is arrested for petty crimes again, but before being hauled off to jail he tells his long-suffering sister that he has stashed R2-million away - and says he wants her to have it.
Major problemo, however: he double-crossed none other than the local butcher, Bonanza (Kenneth Nkosi, Class Act), who also happens to be oh, you know, "The Heist King" as well.
Heists, butchers, stolen money and Jesus... you see where this is going, right? Not in good directions for anyone who wishes to die of old age rather than a rusty meat cleaver to the head.
Seeking the advice of those she trusts, Mapule takes the news to her prayer group, who also happen to be stokvel ladies. Before anyone can blink, the pastor's wife Fumane (Joyce Skefu, Scandal!) comes up with a plan to use the ill-gotten gains for the good of the community, using the stokvel.
A sort of modern-day, Soweto-flavoured Robin Hood, if you will.
That's all well and good - Fumane is a respected and loved figure in the community, and the changes she makes using the money see her become of real service to the church and community.
She also uses her actions as a way to escape her controlling husband the pastor (played by Don Mlangeni Nawa, Isidingo), who is more concerned about his church and image than his wife.
But as we all know - money and power can corrupt, and Fumane slowly finds herself being drawn into temptations she should probably rather avoid. The question becomes: will this archangel of Soweto stay true to what she stands for?
Also part of the prayer group is Dora (newcomer Unathi Guma) and Tshidi (Khanyi Mbau). Dora is a former alcoholic with a problematic spending impulse - not a good combination. Dora is everyone's favourite person at church but hides a dark secret - as does Tshidi, who is an approval-seeking former ghetto queen-turned-suburban wife who's married to a reputable doctor (Leroy Gopal, Ihawu).
Other cast members include Masechaba Masechaba Moshoeshoe-Mtolo (The Big Question) as Raki, Sekoati Tsubane (Swartwater) as Khoroane, Gabriel Mini (Muvhango) as Borisi and Jerry Phele (Skwizas) as Jonas.
So what do you think? An original storyline? Good cast? And can Parental Advisory Productions pull it off in dramatic style? Tell 'em how you see it.
Shot on location in Soweto and Ferndale, Abomama replaces current Sunday night drama Nkululeko on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) from 8 April.