The River 5 Full Story, Cast, Plot Summary & Teasers: “The River” Season 5 narrates the story of Khanyisa Diamond, a dedicated mine owner striving to protect her family and maintain her luxurious lifestyle. Lindiwe, married to provincial police commissioner Zweli Dikana, plays the role of a mother to Andile and Mbali Dikana and stepmother to Nomonde Dikana. Their opulent residence is a grand mansion in Pretoria East, South Africa.
The plot unfolds in the poor neighborhood of Refilwe, home to Khanyisa Diamonds, where financially strapped residents work in the mine. The Mokoena family, headed by Malefu Mokoena, has his children – Thuso, Dimpho and Itumeleng. Raised in secret by Malefu, Tumi was found as a child by his late adoptive father, Thato Mokoena, near a river.
The complete story of “The River 5”
“The River” is a South African television series created by Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon. The series was produced by Tshedza Pictures for the 1Magic channel on DStv and produced by M-Net, and is also available for streaming on Showmax, Naspers’ streaming service. The show, which originally aired in 2019, began repeating every weekday at 19:00 on Mzansi Magic, with old repeats on Mzansi Wethu since 2021 at 20:00.
In 2021, Sindi Dlathu, a prominent cast member, took on the role of co-producer for the fourth season. The announcement of a fifth season came in November 2021, premiering on February 7, 2022, followed by confirmation of a sixth and final season starting on February 6, 2023.
The sixth season features artists Sindi Dlathu, Presley Chweneyagae, Siyabonga Thwala, Tsholofelo Matshaba, Tinah Mnumzane, Bheki Mkhwane and Brenda Mhlongo. Additional members include Lunga Mofokeng, Lunathi Mampofu, Galaletsang Koffman, Matshepo Sekgopi, Thapelo Sebogodi, Tina Dlathu, Thapelo Ramotshehla, Siya Sepotokele, Chuck Shisane Wa Sekgobela, Linda Mtoba, Kagiso Rathebe and Nokuthula Ledwaba.
The series takes place in Pretoria and focuses on South Africa’s mining industry, with a story about the discovery of diamonds in the river between the impoverished suburb of Refilwe and the wealthy suburb of Silver Lakes. This discovery turns from a blessing to a curse, creating the dramatic story of “Rivier”.
Generations Cast and Crew
Presley Chweneyagae as Cobra
Presley Chweneyagae, born in 1984, is a South African actor. He is best known for his starring role in the movie Tsotsi, which won the Academy Award for Foreign Language Film at the 78th Academy Awards.
Before Tsotsi, Presley acted in plays and community theater projects, but Tsotsi was his first appearance in a motion picture.
Presley was involved in several exhibitions of the North West Arts, now known as the Mmabana Arts Foundation. He played the character Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and also appeared in a card game at the Grahamstown Arts Festival.
Hlomla Dandala as Zweli
Hlomla Dandala is a South African actress, broadcaster and director. You may know him from TV shows like Isidingo (1998-2001), where he played Derek Nyathi, or as the main character of Jacob’s Cross. She also hosted the dating reality show All You Need Is Love from 2002 to 2003.
In SABC1’s End Game, he plays Jet Hlatswayo, the Minister of Environment caught up in a political conspiracy. You may have seen him in other series such as The Interrogation Room, Tsha Tsha, Gaz’lam, and the series Scout’s Safari on Discovery Kids in the US and NBC.
Dandala replaced Majola Tindleni in the second season of the SABC1 drama series Zero Tolerance.
Lawrence Maleka as Zolani
Lawrence Maleka is a famous South African actor and broadcaster. You may know her as the host of the Mzansi Magic reality show Clash of the Choirs in South Africa, where she replaced Bonang Matheba in the third season in 2016.
Prior to that, Lawrence hosted AfricaMagic Entertainment’s gossip show Star Gist from 2012 to 2014, alongside former Big Brother contestant Vimbai Mutinhiri.
His journey in the entertainment industry began in 2009 when he hosted The Gadget Show on Soweto TV, a community TV station. Lawrence has hosted several programs for the broadcaster over the years, including Ziyamporomo and Radio Ya Mtaa.
OTHER ACTORS FROM THE RIVER 5
- Sindi Dlathu as Lindiwe Dlamini
- Tinah Mnumzana as Flora
- Tsholofelo Matshaba as Kedibone Mokoena
- Thembinkosi Mthembu as Mabutho
- Tango Ncetezo as Paulina
- Thapelo Sebogodi as Khabzela
- Matshepo Sekgopi as Dimpho
- Chuck Shisana as Detective Tshabalala
- Thoko Ntshinga as Nomhle
- Ferry Jele as Veronica
- Siyabonga Sepotokele as Njabulo (as Siya Sepotokele)
- Maduvha Madima as Minister Lufuno Joyful Mudau
- Shannon Esra as Sandra Stein
- Nkanyiso Bhengu as Pastor Mdluli
- Lunathi Mampofu as Emma
- Phoenix Baaitse as Doctor
- Nokuthula Ledwaba as Angelina (as Nokuthula Mavuso)
- Sphamandla Dhludhlu as Mavusana
- Charmaine Mtinta as Zungazi
- Winnie Ntshaba as Zodwa
- Stephen Manaka as Police Captain (as Chukudu Manaka)
- Nhlanhla Mdlalose as Philani
- Saint Seseli as Kgopolo Mabona
- Samson Khumalo as Uncle Moses
- Chumani Panas as Kidnapper Boss
- Jose Domingos as Bank Manager / Wilson
- Bheki Mkhwane as Bukhosi
- Katleho Sinivasanas as Lekau (as Katleho Sinivasin)
- Muzi Mthembu as Doctor Zikala
- Nolwazi Shange-Ngubeni as Gugu
- Slindile Nodangala as Nolwazi
- Nhlanhla John Lata as Mpendulo (as John Lata)
- Cornet Mamabolo as Lerumo (as Cornet Mamabulo)
- Smash Afrika as Presenter
- Neo Matsunyane as News Reporter (as Neo Monyetsane)
- Vusi Kunene as Hlophe Uncle
- Brenda Mhlongo as Nomafu
- Vuyo Biyela as Mlilo
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