5 explosive moments from Empini Season 2 so far

If you thought Empini Season 1 was intense, you’ll need to brace yourself for Season 2, which cranks up the heat with more secrets, betrayals, and jaw-dropping twists.  

The drama series features standout performances from Nambitha Ben-Mazwi (named Best Actress at the 2024 National Film and Television Awards) as Ndoni, bringing raw emotion and ruthless fire to a series where loyalty is currency and danger is always two steps away. 

She stars alongside Mpumi Mpama and Angela Sithole as Khaya and Winnie Bhodoza, with SAFTA winner Charmaine Mtinta as Ndoni’s mother, and Ernest Ndlovu as Deputy President Enoch. Also watch out for Sparky Xulu as Zenzele, with Nqobile Sipamla playing her mother, Masasa. The stacked cast also includes Amahle Khumalo as Nosi Bhodoza, Joseph Sedibo as Mkhonto Bhodoza, Sandile Mahlangu as Jabulani, Terrence Ngwila as Thobani and Mandisa Nduna as Mbali.

Watch the trailer for Empini S2 

This season pulls no punches. Power, love, revenge, and family politics all collide – and the result is nothing short of explosive. Here are five wild moments that put Empini S2 at the top of the list of the most gripping local dramas on Showmax right now. 

1. The return of Khaya Bhodoza (Season 2, episodes 1–2) 

Just when everyone thought Khaya Bhodoza was dead and buried, he walks back into everyone’s lives like nothing happened. Not metaphorically. Literally. A whole funeral was held. Coffin, tears, everything. And now this man has the audacity to be alive? Our jaws are on the floor. 

After the chaos of the shootout that closed Season 1, we see Ndoni stumble through grief, trauma, and the fragments of a truth she’s dangerously close to exposing. Mzoxolo is gone, leaving Masasa and Zenzele in mourning. Khaya’s reappearance throws Ndoni into emotional chaos and leaves his wife Winnie shocked and scrambling to explain things to the MPS team and political allies.  

2. Affairs, secrets, and heart-stopping tension (Season 2, episode 5) 

In a moment that redefines awkwardness, Ndoni discovers that her former flame, Jabulani (Sandile Mahlangu), is now sleeping with Nosipho, who happens to be married to Uhuru. Yes. You read that right. 

Episode 5 is where family loyalty, betrayal, and scandal crash into each other, creating a scene so tense you’ll forget to breathe. The Bhodoza family may run a security empire, but their personal lives? Dangerously exposed. 

3. Mkhonto’s big swing (Season 2, episode 14) 

Mkhonto steps out of the shadows and into the family business with a bold plan, wanting to prove he’s more than a black sheep. He ropes in Sbamu and Vutha for a flashy operation that could change everything for MPS. 

But nothing in Empini goes smoothly. One night of partying drags the Bhodoza name through the mud in a PR disaster, and, in a defining moment, Mkhonto is forced to clean up the chaos – or risk losing the fragile respect he’s just begun to earn.  

4. Vows, violence and the forbidden fruit (Season 2, episodes 11–17) 

Winnie, the ever-resilient wife, is ready to reconnect with her husband and renew their wedding vows. But Khaya’s been hiding out with his first love, Masasa, and, surprise surprise – the two are still very into each other. 

Wait, it gets messier: Winnie, grieving and lonely after Khaya's "death”, found comfort in Striker (Jacques da Silva), an MPS employee who didn't mind mixing business with pleasure. Zenzele eventually learns about Masasa and Khaya, and decides to confront both, shutting that door hard. But Masasa is shattered when Zenzele gives a heartfelt speech at the vow renewal. It’s the kind of heartbreak you don’t get over easily. 

5. Cold revenge, served with a smile (Season 2, episodes 17–24) 

Revenge is a dish best served chilled – or in this case, spiked. After Dingane confesses to Khaya that Winnie and Striker were having an affair, Khaya doesn’t spiral. He calculates. He watches. He waits. And he does something... cold.  

Khaya invites Striker out for a drink, wanting to know more about the affair he had with his wife. Hours later, Striker meets up with Winnie, and as the two become intimate, he has a heart attack. In a panic and unsure of what to do, Winnie calls the only person she thinks can help: Khaya. He tells her there’s no need to involve the authorities – unless, of course, she’s ready to explain the affair and the circumstances surrounding Striker’s condition. Instead, he offers her a way out: let him deal with Striker’s body in exchange for staying in the marriage. 

Winnie agrees and walks away, placing her trust in Khaya, but whether that trust is well-placed remains to be seen. The bigger question now is, what exactly did Khaya do with Striker, and is he still alive? 

Watch new episodes of Empini S2 every Tuesday, only on Showmax.