By Matṧeliso Phulane
‘Bophelo’ actor Lehloohonolo Mayeza has scored his first major lead role as Leruo Tṧeole in an upcoming Showmax original series called ‘Outlaws’.
In an interview with theReporter, Mayeza revealed that the first episode of the series airs on September 6 2023. Shooting began on March 13 and ended on June 3 in South Africa. Forty episodes have already been shot.
Showmax is an online subscription video on demand (SVOD) service which launched in South Africa in August 2015.
In May 2016, Showmax expanded to 36 countries in Africa, taking the total number of countries in which the service is available to 65. In July of the same year, Showmax passed the 10 million views milestone.
According to Showmax, Outlaws is the first South Africa’s contemporary western series. Set in the lush, but lawless land on the border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal, Outlaws is the story of two families at war with each other: the Zulu, cattle-farming Biyela clan and the Basotho, cattle-raiding Tseoles.
Outlaws is created by Tshedza Pictures’ Phathu Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, who brought The River, The Republic and Adulting.
Among other popular actors who will be starring alongside Mayeza are former Muvhango actress Lillian Dube who was known as ‘Mampho; she acts as his grandmother.
Apart from that there is Khotso Nkhatho, the former Mopheme actor as well as others from Uzalo.
Mayeza explained that his enthusiasm in acting started when he was a young boy. He always wanted to be a celebrity and become famous despite having gone through a rough patch in life.
Mayeza said he was forced to pay his way through school because he grew up as a double orphan.
After completing his high school, he moved to Maseru to stay with a relative who ended up kicking him out.
He became homeless, lived on the streets for nine months, until he got a job as a security guard.
“This did not dampen my desire for fame. I posted on Facebook, asking for financial support to pursue my studies.
“The aim was to get a financial sponsor from any Good Samaritan in order to pay my supplementary exam fees and go to varsity since I had a dream I wanted achieve.” he said.
Someone collected the money on his behalf and he managed to pass. He then went to Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in 2016 which he described as the answer to what he wanted – acting.
Mayeza who was born and bred in Thaba Tseka Ha Tjope holds an Associate Degree in Film Production. He is an actor, author, director, sound designer, editor and model. He has featured in many films and adverts such as the Central Bank of Lesotho’s Money Month and the Ministry of Health’s Covid-19 adverts.
“God answered my prayers. Last year in November, Showmax came to Lesotho just to look for one guy – me. I didn’t know the job was already mine. However I think they got impressed by my past acting series I took part on,” he noted.
According to Showmax’s audition poster, they were looking for a Mosotho who speaks Sesotho fluently, a handsome hunk. Mayeza added that people should expect a lot from his career since they have just shot season one and viewers should expect season two soon.
