Lockdown (South African TV series)

Last updated

Lockdown
Lockdown 161.png
Genre Drama
Created byMandla Ngcongwane
Written by
  • Reabetswe Moeti
  • Mandla N.
  • Byron Abrahams
  • Tsepo Desando
  • Dominique Masson
  • Lwazi Mvusi
  • Tiffany Barbuzano
  • Meren Reddy
Directed byMandla Ngcongwane
Starring
Country of originSouth Africa
No. of seasons5
No. of episodes62
Production
Camera setup Multi-camera
Running time30:00 (incl. commercials)
Original release
Network Mzansi Magic
Release9 January 2017 (2017-01-09) –
1 January 2018 (2018-01-01)
Network 1Magic
Release7 July 2018 (2018-07-07) –
29 June 2019 (2019-06-29)
Network Showmax (streaming)

Lockdown is a South African crime drama television series created and directed by Mandla Ngcongwane that premiered on 9 January 2017 on Mzansi Magic (televised) and Showmax (streaming) then later moved to 1Magic. [1]

Contents

The series aired its first season and second season on Mzansi Magic, moved to 1Magic for its third and fourth seasons and later moved back to Mzansi to air the fifth and final season.

Production

Filming

Principal filming for the series took place in Constitution Hill in Johannesburg. [2] [3]

Music

The original score was produced by Mandla N, Jamela Vuma and Kurt Slabbert, under BlackBrain Music. [4] Vocals were done by Nelisiwe Sibiya, Bongo Riot, Ikati Esengxoweni, Zola Nombona, Max-Hoba, Slindile Nodangala, Carol Babalwa Djieutcheu, Dawn Thandeka King and Phindile Thango. [5] [6] [7] [8] The album was officially released to music streaming platforms in 2018, after a private screening of the season 3 finale, alongside a music video for the lead single, Mama Ka Bafana. [9] [10] [11]

Reception

Awards and nominations

List of Accolades
Award / Film FestivalYearRecipientNominationResultRef.
South African Film and Television Awards 2018Babalwa MtshiselwaBest Achievement in Make-up and Hairstyling - TV DramaWon
Amanda Van WyngaardtBest Achievement in Art / Design Production - TV DramaNominated [12]
LockdownBest Achievement in Cinematography (TV Drama)Nominated [12]
Reabetswe MoetiBest Achievement in Scriptwriting - TV DramaWon [13]
2019DramaGisellah Gay McLeodBest Achievement in Costume Design - TVWon
Babalwa MtshiselwaBest Achievement in Make-up and Hairstyling - TV DramaWon
Best Achievement in Directing - TV DramaNominated
Reabetswe MoetiBest Achievement in Scriptwriting - TV DramaNominated
Pamela Nomvete Best Supporting Actress - TV DramaNominated [14]
Zola Nombona Best Actress - TV DramaNominated [14]
LockdownBest TV DramaWon [15]
Lorcia Cooper Best Supporting Actress - TV DramaWon [15]
Dawn Thandeka King Best Actress - TV DramaWon [15]
2020Gaopie KabeBest Achievement in Cinematography - TV DramaNominated [16]
Gisellah Gay McLeodBest Achievement in Costume Design - TV DramaNominated [16]
LockdownBest Achievement in Art / Design Production - TV DramaNominated [16]
Best Achievement in Original Score - TV DramaNominated [16]
  • Byron Abrahams
  • Mandla Ngcongwane
  • Dominique Masson
  • Tiffany Barbuzano
  • Lwazi Mvusi
  • Tsepo Desando
  • Meren Reddy
Best Achievement in Scriptwriting - TV DramaNominated [16]
Mandla N.Best Achievement in Directing - TV DramaNominated [16]
Pamela NomveteBest Supporting Actress - TV DramaNominated [16]
Lorcia CooperBest Supporting Actress - TV DramaNominated [17]
Zola NombonaBest Actress - TV DramaNominated [16]
Dawn Thandeka KingBest Actress - TV DramaNominated [17]
LockdownBest TV DramaNominated [17]
2021Babalwa MtshiselwaBest Achievement in Make-up and Hairstyling - TV DramaNominated [18]
  • Kurt Slabbert
  • Jamela Vuma
  • Mandla Ngcongwane
Best Achievement in Original Score - TV DramaWon [4]
Kurt SlabbertBest Achievement in Sound Design - TV DramaNominated [18]
Mandla N.Best Achievement in Directing - TV DramaNominated [18]
Zola NombonaBest Supporting Actress - TV DramaNominated [18]
LockdownBest TV DramaNominated [18]

Series overview

SeriesEpisodesOriginally released
First releasedLast releasedNetwork
1 139 January 2017 (2017-01-09)3 April 2017 (2017-04-03) Mzansi Magic
2 139 October 2017 (2017-10-09)1 January 2018 (2018-01-01)
3 137 July 2018 (2018-07-07)29 September 2018 (2018-09-29) 1Magic
4 136 April 2019 (2019-04-06)29 June 2019 (2019-06-29)
5 106 April 2020 (2020-04-06)8 June 2020 (2020-06-08)Mzansi Magic

Episodes

Season 1 (2017)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateSouth Africa viewers
(millions)
11"Episode 1"––9 January 2017 (2017-01-09)N/A
22"Episode 2"––16 January 2017 (2017-01-16)N/A
33"Episode 3"––23 January 2017 (2017-01-23)N/A
44"Episode 4"––30 January 2017 (2017-01-30)N/A
55"Episode 5"––6 February 2017 (2017-02-06)N/A
66"Episode 6"––13 February 2017 (2017-02-13)N/A
77"Episode 7"––20 February 2017 (2017-02-20)N/A
88"Episode 8"––27 February 2017 (2017-02-27)N/A
99"Episode 9"––6 March 2017 (2017-03-06)N/A
1010"Episode 10"––13 March 2017 (2017-03-13)N/A
1111"Episode 11"––20 March 2017 (2017-03-20)N/A
1212"Episode 12"––27 March 2017 (2017-03-27)N/A
1313"Episode 13"––3 April 2017 (2017-04-03)N/A

Season 5 (2020)

No.
overall		No. in
season		TitleDirected byWritten byOriginal release dateSouth Africa viewers
(millions)
531"New Prison Threat"––6 April 2020 (2020-04-06)N/A
542"Peace Offering"––13 April 2020 (2020-04-13)N/A
553"Battle of the Smarts"––20 April 2020 (2020-04-20)N/A
564"Who Let the Dogs Out"––27 April 2020 (2020-04-27)N/A
575"New Love"––4 May 2020 (2020-05-04)N/A
586"All Hell Breaks Loose"––11 May 2020 (2020-05-11)N/A
597"Are We Done Yet?"––18 May 2020 (2020-05-18)N/A
608"It's Israel's House"––25 May 2020 (2020-05-25)N/A
619"What Have We Done?"––1 June 2020 (2020-06-01)N/A
6210"Happily Ever After?"––8 June 2020 (2020-06-08)N/A

References

  1. ↑ Kahla, Cheryl (29 January 2020). "Lockdown: SA's hit prison drama returns for fifth season on Showmax". The South African. Archived from the original on 18 June 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  2. ↑ "Shoot on the Hill – Constitution Hill". www.constitutionhill.org.za. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  3. ↑ "Local series Lockdown cast ex-convicts as extras". SowetanLIVE. 20 July 2018. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 Africa, Keishia (22 May 2021). "All the 2021 Safta winners". Independent Online . Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  5. ↑ "Ikati Esengxoweni". Music In Africa. 14 July 2021. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  6. ↑ Notho, Snazo. "NELI RELIVES PAINFUL PAST!". Daily Sun. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  7. ↑ Vomo, Munya (6 October 2017). "#Lockdown - The melancholic magic of its music". IOL. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  8. ↑ Reporter, Staff (2 October 2018). "'Lockdown' arrests emotions with new soundtrack". IOL. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  9. ↑ Tjiya, Emmanuel (4 November 2018). "Nelisiwe drops music videos for her two songs". SowetanLIVE. Retrieved 22 August 2025.
  10. ↑ Magazine, Blazon (24 November 2018). "Lockdown Soundtrack - Durban Launch". Blazon Magazine. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  11. ↑ Masemola, Mokgethwa. "LOCKDOWN SOUNDTRACK RELEASED!". Daily Sun. Retrieved 21 August 2025.
  12. 1 2 "2018 SAFTA Nominees". 2018 SAFTA Nominees. Archived from the original on 10 September 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  13. ↑ "All the winners at the 2018 Saftas". Life. 24 March 2018. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  14. 1 2 "Here are the top Safta nominees for 2019". Life. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  15. 1 2 3 Ntsabo, Mihlali (2 March 2019). "Here are your 2019 Safta winners!". ewn.co.za. Archived from the original on 24 April 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  16. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 yomzansi (17 February 2020). "Here are the 2020 SAFTAs nominees". YOMZANSI. Documenting THE CULTURE. Archived from the original on 19 October 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  17. 1 2 3 "2020 SAFTA nominees". www.dailyvoice.co.za. Archived from the original on 30 December 2023. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Tamlyn (29 April 2021). "2021 SAFTA nominations - see the full list". KAYA 959. Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2023.
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