The Queen was a South African telenovela that premiered on Mzansi Magic on 1 August 2016[1] and on Canal Plus in April 2020. It is produced by Ferguson Films, owned by acting veterans Connie Ferguson and her late husband Shona Ferguson. The Queen ran at a 260 episode per season and aired every Monday to Friday at 21h00 on Mzansi Magic.
The Queen concluded season 4 with a one-hour finale on Friday 24 July 2020, season 5 premiered on Monday 27 July 2020. The Queen had a crossover episode with The River, featuring Sindi Dlathu as Lindiwe Dlamini -Dikana who is Harriet's friend.[2]
Longtime series star Loyiso Macdonald (who had been part of the cast since the show's inception) exited the show in June 2021.[3] Zandile Msutwana suffered an injury on set[4] and she was temporarily replaced by Thembisa Mdoda-Nxumalo[5] while she recovered at home.
The channel cancelled the show in March 2022[6] when The Queen was renewed for a shortened seventh and final season, with only 125 episodes instead of the usual 260-episode season order. Season 7 premiered in July 2022 and ran until a series finale on 13 January 2023 following seven successful seasons. The telenovela is going to be replaced by a Xhosa's first and exclusive telenovela titled Gqeberha: The Empire which is produced by Tshedza Pictures.
The show revolves around the Khoza family, drug lords who hide their dealings behind their logistics company, and their conflicts with their competitors and the Tembisa Police Service. Harriet Khoza known as "The Queen" takes over the reins of the Khoza dynasty after her husband passes and does everything to protect herself as well as her family from Jerry Maake a police captain who believes Harriet killed his son and is determined to bring her and her criminal organisation down. As the series progresses Harriet Khoza then takes on Gracious Mabuza and her daughter Goodness Mabuza in their war against each other. The Khoza's world is turned upside down by the arrival of a new lethal and ambitious enemy Thando Sebata (Jessica Nkosi) a powerful drug lord heiress, trained assassin and sniper who runs her families drug empire with an iron fist and takes the throne right from under Harriet and becomes the new drug queen-pin of Midrand (Connie Ferguson) and (Themba Ndaba) are the only actors who appeared in the premiere and are scheduled to appear in the series finale.
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Harriet Khoza is the female protagonist and matriarch of the criminal Khoza family. As a drug queenpin, she takes over the business after her husband's death and works with her brother-in-law, Brutus. She is fiercely protective of her children, Kea and Kagiso, and hires a hitman to kill her husband. In a long-running plotline, she is haunted by her traumatic past when she is forced to confront her abusive father, Tiro, who is later disowned by the family and commits suicide. Harriet eventually partners with Hector Sebata and later marries him, but has him killed after discovering his affair with Vuyiswa.
Captain Jeremiah "Jerry" Maake (Played by Shona Ferguson)
Captain Jerry Maake is a tough police officer determined to bring down the Khoza family's drug operation. His mission is intensely personal, as he believes Harriet was responsible for his son's death. He is married to Vuyiswa and is the father of Amo, Mogapi, and Bakang. Jerry is killed after jumping in front of a helicopter shooter's bullets to save Harriet's life.
Keabetswe "Kea" Esmarelda Khoza (Played by Dineo Langa)
The daughter of Harriet and Mzi, Kea has a series of tragic romantic relationships, including one with an abusive man who is eventually killed by her family. She later elopes with a new boyfriend, Eric, but is tragically killed in an explosion on her way to Jerry Maake's funeral.
Uncle Brutus Mfanafuthi Khoza (Played by Themba Ndaba)
Brutus is the male protagonist of the series and the Khoza family patriarch, alongside his sister-in-law, Harriet. He is the brother of Mzi and has many children. He and Harriet lead the drug syndicate and survive various attacks. He and Harriet eventually leave the drug business.
The youngest son of Harriet, Kagiso is a former army pilot who has complex romantic relationships, notably with Goodness Mabuza. He initially holds his mother responsible for Kea's death. He and Goodness later move away to start a new life but return to honor Kea's memory. He later seeks vengeance in season 7.
Shaka is the oldest son of Mzi and a close associate of his uncle, Brutus. He was killed by his brother, Kagiso, but later returned from the dead, inciting a revenge plot. He had multiple failed relationships, including with Mmabatho and Goodness. He later leaves to avoid the police but returns to take over his father's business in season 7.
Lieutenant Vuyiswa "Sis Vee" Maake-Sebata (Played by Zandile Msutwana)
A dedicated detective, Vuyiswa is initially Jerry's partner and later his wife. After Jerry is killed, Vuyiswa seeks justice and uncovers Hector Sebata's involvement in his murder. She later marries Hector, but they divorce, and she leaves town with their son after being threatened by Harriet.
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