The Story⚡
South African producer Kutlwano Ditsele, means business following the release of the Netflix original series GO!, set to premiere on March 21, 2025.
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After a brief break from producing, Ditsele makes a triumphant return to television with his new series, GO!. Known for his work on popular MultiChoice dramas like Gomora and The Herd, Ditsele has reaffirmed his commitment to making the entertainment industry work for him. With GO!, he aims to take his emerging production company, Ten30, to new heights, envisioning it as “the A24 of Africa.”
The show, which premiered successfully on March 16 in Johannesburg ahead of its global release on March 21, marks just the first step in Ditsele’s ambitious plans. In his own words, “The biggest thing is to have an identity that says these stories are different from what’s already out there. Now our job is scaling and looking around the country for filmmakers who are making interesting things and have an interesting voice.”
GO! tells the story of a young sprinter grappling with past trauma as he attends a prestigious school in Johannesburg on a scholarship. The series stars Thandolwethu Zondi as Siya, Wonder Ndlovu as Mandla, and Shalate Sekhabi as Nthabi. Created by Ditsele, the show is head-written by Thuli Zuma and directed by Tristan Holmes, an Academy Award recipient.
Ditsele’s approach to GO! represents a shift from his previous work, which relied heavily on a commissioning model. This model, while successful, has faced challenges due to South Africa’s evolving economic conditions. Now, Ditsele is focused on ownership and creative control, a move that requires the support of private investors. By pitching his projects to investors in sectors like mining and banking, Ditsele aims to secure funding without compromising his vision. He describes his budget as “something that doesn’t necessarily scare investors.”
This new business model allows Ditsele to retain ownership of his content while maintaining creative autonomy—a stark contrast to the traditional approach of pre-licensing content to broadcasters or streamers. GO!, which has already been acquired by Netflix, is just the beginning for Ten30. The production company has a slate of other dramas in development, including “Imbali ne iNkabi,” a road drama exploring themes of romance, redemption, and survival, following a contract killer sent to assassinate his childhood sweetheart; and “Clinical,” a medical drama centred on six young interns navigating personal and professional challenges in South Africa’s most prestigious public hospital.
Additionally, Ten30 is already working on the second season of GO!, signalling Ditsele’s confidence in the show’s future.
With a bold ambition to have 30 titles in Ten30’s catalogue over the next decade, Ditsele is actively seeking out filmmakers willing to take creative risks. “The first thing I want you to send me is all the projects that the networks said ‘no’ to,” he says. “All the things that likely wouldn’t have been greenlit by anybody else get greenlit by A24. You start finding interesting voices in that way.”
Ditsele’s vision for Ten30 is not just about producing content but about fostering a new wave of African storytelling that challenges norms and amplifies unique voices. With GO! and his upcoming projects, he is poised to make a lasting impact on the industry.
In Summary
In 2025, Netflix is not slowing down on its commissioning and partnerships with South African producers. This is in contrast to the Nigerian film industry, where the streamer has suspended all commissioning and partnership activities.
On Netflix’s slate of South African films to be released this year is Semi-Soeter, a follow-up to the Afrikaans film Semi-Soet, a romantic comedy directed by Joshua Rous and produced by Anel Alexander and Zandré Coetzer.
Also lined up is Meet the Khumalos, a new family film written, directed, and produced by Jayan Moodley, the creator of the Kandasamys family comedy franchise. The Afrikaans drama series Tuiskoms was released on February 28, adding to the diverse lineup of local content. Lastly, Kings of Jo’Burg season 3 remains one of the anticipated South African titles on the platform this year.
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