ZIMKITHA Kumbaca was honing her skills in theatre when TV beckoned.
Cast as Nontle Sanqu, the female protagonist, in e.tv’s rural drama, Matatiele, she has loved shooting every one of the 26 episodes.
A huge feather in the channel’s cap was the fact that the show trended on Twitter when it hit the small screen on Tuesday, April 7.
At the core of Matatiele is a love story that is threatened by a family feud between the Sangqus, a Xhosa family, and the Monahengs, who are Sotho. The forbidden romance is set against the rustic backdrop of cascading hills and deep valleys in the Eastern Cape.
Kumbaca, a B Tech graduate from the Tshwane University of Technology, gravitated towards the stage after graduating. In fact, her performance in So What’s New?, which was directed by Princess Mhlongo, earned her a Naledi nomination for Best Performance by a Newcomer in 2012. Her other credits include Trapped, which she starred in and co-wrote, and Rhetorical and Relativity, which toured France.
As much as she loves the rush of performing, she is also anchored by her passion as a scriptwriter and director.
On her breakthrough TV role as Nontle Sangqu, she says: “I was busy with She Bellows, which I wrote and am directing, just before they called me for Matatiele. It’s scary because that was my debut outing in directing and it showcased at the National Arts Festival. I’ve auditioned for TV stuff for over five years. Never got lucky. So by the time I got called for this series, I didn’t get my hopes too high.
“The character and I share one trait: stubbornness. She is tough, even when she doesn’t have to be. She is headstrong. But there is nothing typical about her. For example, she goes horse riding and the men in her village look down on such things. It’s almost rude and disrespectful. But she stands her ground.”
While she harnesses her defiance, she has a vulnerability that only surfaces after she meets Lefa Monaheng (played by Solomon Sebothoma).
Kumbaca adds: “She has these terribly high walls around herself and doesn’t let anybody close. Then she meets a guy she likes. And we see her breaking down her walls, brick by brick, layer by layer. We see a woman, who, for the first time, lets him take the lead.”
But there are other issues that feed her tough-as-nails personality.
The actress reveals: “Her life is complex. Her relationship with her mother is edgy and weak. Her father left when she was young. So she has had issues with men in general. It didn’t help that her mother stayed with her in-laws. She feels her mother is weak.”
That said, Nontle idolises her aunt Norain (Charmaine Mtinta).
She laughs: “Norain is tough. She can fight and stand up for what is wrong. And she is not ashamed of her behaviour, despite their culture. She even beat her husband, who ran to the police instead of fighting back.”
While the family tensions boil over, there is also the longstanding feud to contend with.
So where does this leave Nontle?
“It’s not an easy road for her. We will see her tears and weak points. We see her getting lost and finding herself along the way. We see her fighting for what she wants. Whatever the hurdle, she overcomes it. And that talks to her strength of character.”
So far, Kumbaca is being showered with praise for her performance. Viewers are resonating with her character’s struggle and saluting her spirited journey.
Fingers crossed, she is hoping that this popularity will elicit a second season.
• Matatiele airs on e.tv, Tuesdays at 9pm.