‘Umthetho’ asks how far family loyalty can go

Netflix’s South African crime drama ‘Umthetho’ centres on family, loyalty, love and survival, with characters forced to make choices that blur the line between right and wrong.

Nqobile ‘Nunu’ Khumalo plays Mbali, who discovers that her brother Moses, whom she believed was dead, is alive. His return draws her into a dangerous world involving prison, family and difficult decisions.

For Khumalo, understanding Mbali meant examining the motivations behind choices that may appear irrational to viewers.

“She was very brave, and she was very firm in her decision-making. She seemed to just be sure of things that I would think personally are crazy to do,” Khumalo says.

“However, she dove in, and I think that’s the courage that comes with loving people unconditionally. I think Mbali is one of the few characters that are capable of unconditional love in this series.”