What happened in Lockdown S1-4?

Need a reminder of what you’ve watched in the first four seasons of Lockdown? Or perhaps you want to join in the hype and jump straight in at Season 5. Either way, this summary of what happened in the first four explosive seasons will come in handy.

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Warning: Tons of spoilers ahead for the first four seasons of Lockdown!

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Season 1: When it all falls down

In the first season, we’re introduced to Thabazimbi Women’s Correctional Facility and its hardcore female inmates. We learn their backstories, and we’re set up for the events to come.

In the first episode, we are introduced to Monde, a famous singer whose career is about to reach an unexpected nose-dive. Within minutes Monde is moved from signing autographs to trading cigarettes in prison, and it’s all thanks to her careless drug-dealer of a boyfriend, Zakes.

We also meet MaZet, the people’s champ, who’s serving the last days of her 25-year murder sentence. Sadly, her sentence is extended for another 15 years after she’s framed for a murder a day before her release.

Then there’s Tyson, the prison bully and the bane of everyone’s existence, especially for MaZet and Monde. Although Tyson comes across as a tough cookie, we soon witness various moments that shed light on her vulnerability. However, Tyson is quick to bounce back to her power-hungry ways.

MaZet, Monde and Slenda form an alliance. Their main objective is to escape from Thabazimbi. Unfortunately, their mission doesn’t go as planned. During the escape, Monde is left behind, and Slenda falls to her fate, while MaZet manages to get away scot-free.

It doesn’t turn out well, however: thanks to her daughter, MaZet returns to prison, and Monde finds herself at the mercy of gangsters in search of diamonds owed to them by Zakes.

MaZet and Nkuli’s relationship takes a massive knock after Nkuli finds out who her biological father is.

Season 2: Fight for survival

The second season digs deeper into the characters who populate Thabazimbi as they find their feet and fight for survival. But things get a bit of a shakeup as new arrivals cause more drama and hardship.

Fresh from another prison comes the notorious Maki Magwaza who seeks revenge on the woman who killed her son. She’s determined to spill blood – and the object of her rage is a surprise to all the viewers.

Another character that ruffles feathers in prison is new top dog and acting governor Deborah Banda, who has a terrible secret.

Season 3: Chaos reigns

Deputy Governor Beauty meets her demise, and Deborah Banda steps up as the new governor. Unfortunately for everyone in Thabazimbi, things are about to get a whole lot worse under Deborah’s rule. And with the arrival of the ruthless and violent STW (Specially Trained Wardens), things are about to get dangerous.

The race to find Monde and the diamonds is on, and she’s considering her next move.

Meanwhile, when the women are taken from their cells and squashed together in a joint cell with men, tensions mount, and a violent war between Maki and MaZet breaks out. Maki supplies MaZet with drug-laced cigarettes that send MaZet into a downward spiral.

Tensions are running high and soon explode into a riot. MaZet is shot and ends up wheelchair-bound.

Deborah is demoted and sent to the male section of the prison. There, she reveals her dark side: she’s a paedophile, and she’s after her next victim.

Season 3 also introduces us to female serial killer Zim-Zim. She seems raving mad – but is it all an act?

Season 4: The rise of a cult leader

It’s been three months since the riots at Thabazimbi, and there’s a new world order. Deborah Banda has come out on top and is now the governor. She has vowed to the public to end corruption in the prison, but she’s really the one taking advantage of the entire system.

She’s fully aware of Tyson’s channel of contraband that comes in and out of the prison. Tyson keeps the goods, while Deborah keeps the money, and uses it for blackmail.

Meanwhile, there is a new prisoner. Masabata is a cult leader who is in prison for instigating a mass suicide and she’s Zim-Zim’s guru.

After months in hospital, MaZet is back in prison. Before re-entry into the general population, she’s put in solitary confinement for the night. Once alone, she reveals the paraplegia was a ruse all along. Her return to prison does not sit well with Tyson as it poses a threat to her power and influence with the other inmates.

Meanwhile, Deborah’s madness has gone into overdrive: she kidnaps Maki and tortures her in an attempt to break her down and make her a puppet.

The fourth season also introduces us to Katlego, Monde’s little sister, who goes from being a promising singer to a follower of Masabatta’s cult. Monde attempts to save her sister from the cult, but her attempts prove to be futile.

Masabatta has managed to gain influence and power over almost everyone at Thabazimbi, including some of the wardens. But with power comes great danger: Tyson, MaZet, Monde, Maki and Deborah are all envious of her, and it’s not long before she has a target on her back …

Binge-watch all four seasons of Lockdown before the new seasons starts streaming from 30 January 2020, only on Showmax.