Hustle is a South African television drama series directed by Jahmil X.T. Qubeka with executive producers Bridget Pickering, Dan Jawitz and Neil Brandt. It is an e.tv original produced by Fireworx Media for eKasi+ and stars Brenda Ngxoli, Zolisa Xaluva, Dineo Ranaka, Petronella Tshuma, Mandisa Nduna and Masello Motana. The series follows a washed-out superstar who attempts to redeem herself and revive her career.

Plot

Kitt Khambule ( Brenda Ngxoli) started her music career well in the 80s with The Sparrows, a trio with her sister and her best friend. Her extraordinary voice and ambition led her to break away from the trio and rise to superstardom. Her career crashes and burns after a series of no-shows in her concerts, cut ties with those close to her, and her drug addiction. She tries making a comeback with her latest concert, only to fail again in pitching on time. This forces her to flee back home, broke, desperate and on the run from creditors. She takes street urchins Baby ( Petronella Tshuma) and Thuli (Mandisa Nduna) through a journey, which eerily mirrors her own, to the height of stardom.

Cast

* Brenda Ngxoli as Kitt * Dineo Ranaka as Kedibone * Zolisa Xaluva as Bra X * Carlo Radebe as Jacob/Moses * Masello Motana as Neo * Andile Nebulane as Duma * Angela Sithole as Tai Chi / Angel * Lungelo Lubelwana as Sbu * Mandisa Nduna as Thuli * Mothusi Magano as Maxwell * Lethabo Bereng as Pretty * Petronella Tshuma as Baby * Sisanda Henna as Moruti Sampson * Nicole Bailey as Rea * Alex Motswiri as Vusimusi * Anthony Bishop as Vince

Production

In an interview with City Press, Jahmil XT Qubeka, director of the series, described it as being very racy, filled with sex, drugs and music, and that “The sensibilities and the approach to the show aren’t typical,” says Qubeka. “We’re shooting a long feature on a TV schedule and on a TV budget.” Filming took place around Johannesburg, as well as in

Soweto Soweto () is a township of the City of Johannesburg Metropolitan Municipality in Gauteng, South Africa, bordering the city's mining belt in the south. Its name is an English syllabic abbreviation for ''South Western Townships''. Formerly a s ...

Broadcast

Hustle premiered on February 11, 2016, on the defunct eKasi+, and was aired for 13 episodes before the show went on a year-long hiatus. The series was initially thought to be removed on account of its risque sexual scenes, but resumed in January 2017, to coincide with the return transmission on e.tv, in a new timeslot of Wednesdays at 21h00. 23 episodes were aired on the channel, with the remaining episodes moved to

eExtra eExtra (sometimes called e.tv Extra) is a South African digital satellite television channel owned by eMedia Holdings, offering a variety of lifestyle, dramas, telenovelas, court shows, sitcoms and movies. History e.tv as a broadcaster launched ...

, on Wednesday 5 April. The series was later added to e.tv:s streaming service, eVOD.

References

{{Reflist South African television series