Sello Maake kaNcube reflects on fatherhood and ambition in BET Africa's 'Black Gold

BET Africa this August will be debuting its latest telenovela,  “Black Gold,” which features an all-star ensemble.

The series promises a gripping tale of betrayal, legacy, and the fight for power in the heart of KwaZulu-Natal. 

At the centre of “Black Gold” is Nomalanga Shozi, who takes on the role of Amandla Zungu, a principled daughter of the soil whose life is shattered by betrayal. 

She is joined by two of South Africa’s most revered performers: SAFTA-winning actress Dawn Thandeka King as the calculating Florence Zungu, and the legendary Sello Maake kaNcube as Tom Motsepe, a mining magnate with a dangerous past.
 

In an interview with IOL, KaNcube broke down his newest character, Tom Motsepe, who is a mine CEO, married and a father to three children; to Zakhele, Andile and (unknowingly) the late Siyabonga.

Having been raised by his stepfather and being a father himself, KaNcube has explored fatherhood and its meaning to him as a black man. He shared that it's important for stories to explore the nuanced and underrepresented realities of black fatherhood on screen.

“Fatherhood is a very important issue and it's something that we as the black community battle with.

“When you realise that men go about making babies and not raising them, that becomes a huge problem and I think it’s important to impress this need for embodying fatherhood amongst men and especially black men.

“Black men, we need to step up as fathers and as responsible men, but we still have to deal with stories that make us reflect about where we come from, where we are and define where we would like to get to.”

Stepping into a new role is something KaNcube finds fulfilling, even 40 years later in his career and he still looks to tell the emotions that humans experience. He acknowledges that he is constantly learning with every season of his life. 

KaNcube, over his illustrious career, has had several strong male lead roles from Archie Moroka on “Generations” to Bra Rex on “Vula Vala” and even Kgosi on “The Queen”.

He credits the environment set up being different, with his new character being a mining magnate.

“Archie was an alpha male character, but there was quirkiness about him and also the environment that he was in. All these things differ according to the environment that they are set in.

“Tom Motsepe is set as a mining magnate, the way his world is set up, dabbling between two women, and it differs like that. They are never the same and differ according to the world they are set in.”

For the legendary actor, his character’s desire to achieve is something that stood out for him when he first read the script. “Tom will pull all the stops to get what he wants and there are no limits.”

On “Black Gold” viewers will get to see Tom Motsepe at a tipping point his company Umnotho Wethu’s expansion hinges on seizing the Zungu land, rumoured to sit atop a deposit of rare, black gold. 

"Black Gold" premieres on August 18, 2025 on BET Africa (DStv Channel 129), airing Monday to Thursday at 18:30, with repeats at 21:30.

IOL Entertainment