Outlaws cast and the stars who portray them

Outlaws gathers an incredible cast made up of fresh faces and established talent in a story of two families at war: the Zulu, cattle-farming Biyelas and the Basotho, cattle-raiding Ts’eoles. The drama series unfolds in the lush but lawless land on the border between Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal. 

Fresh faces Lehlohonolo Mayeza and Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku co-star as Leruo Ts’eole and Sihle Biyela respectively. Veteran actor Siyabonga Shibe plays Bheki Biyela, the patriarch, alongside SAFTA winner Nolwazi Shange. Mmabatho Mogomotsi is the Ts’eole queen pin, while Thembinkosi Mthembu of Adulting and Shaka iLembe fame plays Bandile Biyela. Also look out for rising stars Keketso Mpitso and Men’s Health Cover Guy Challenge winner Mnqobi Kunene.

Watch the Outlaws trailer

Get to know some of the main cast of Outlaws, South Africa’s first contemporary Western series, created by the Tshedza Pictures dynamic duo Phathutshedzo Makwarela and Gwydion Beynon, who brought us The River, The Republic and Adulting. 

Outlaws cast

Bandile Biyela is played by Thembinkosi Mthembu

Bandile is his father’s son, sharing the same passion for the land and he’s a rural farm boy through and through. Having married young, Bandile’s wife Nolwandle (played by Nosipho Pehlo) and their toddler kids soften him. Even though he loves his wife, he is a bit of a player in the region, something that always puts him and his father, who is moralistic, at odds. 

You’ve seen him in The River, The Republic S1, Adulting and he recently portrayed King Dingiswayo in Shaka iLembe.

Bheki Biyela is played by Siyabonga Shibe

He is the family patriarch, who always puts what is in the best interest of the family and the farm first. When we meet him in the series, he is facing the biggest battle of his farming life – stock theft. The rampant stealing of cattle by Basotho has turned the whole Underberg region into a war zone that Bheki is determined to emerge victorious. But for how long?

You’ve seen him as one of the Majola brothers in the record-breaking Showmax Original The Wife and he’s also been on hit shows like Gaz Lam, Rockville, Shaka iLembe and in Mzansi Wethu’s first telenovela Sibongile and the Dlaminis.

Sihle Biyela is played by Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku

Sihle is Nandi and Bheki’s only daughter. Having been born and raised on the farm, Sihle has yearned for a bigger life where she was more independent. When it comes to relationships, Sihle has never really had time to explore much. She met Kwanele (played by Mnqobi Kunene), the son of a family friend, much younger, and they’ve been in a relationship for a while. After he proposed, she proposed, and now finds herself at a crossroads. He is nice, but does she really love him enough to marry him? 

Nirvana has played the role of Mbali in the International Emmy nominated TV drama Reyka.

Leruo Ts’eole is played by Lehlohonolo Mayeza

Leruo is Morafe’s eldest son and the leader of her cattle-thieving syndicate. He is the leader of the gang. He has made peace with his mother’s operation. It is the way of life for him. He is an excellent horse man, but an even better shooter. He is wise and measured, rarely shows too much emotion, and a strategist much like his mother.

He is the wounded hero, the man who has had to step up and be his mother’s right-hand man. He is a man of few words; he lets his gun do the talking. His life is turned upside down when he falls for Sihle (played by Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku), the daughter of a man he has been stealing from.

Nandi Biyela is played by Nolwazi Shange

Nandi is Bheki’s wife and Banele’s mother. She is a strong-willed family matriarch, who finds peace in self-sustenance. She’s a gun-toting pious woman. Nandi runs the farm side by side with her husband.

The SAFTA-winning actress has captivated audiences with her roles in TV shows like The River, Mzali Wam and Scandal, among others.

Moretlo Ts’eole is played by Mmabatho Mogomotsi

Moretlo is the queen pin of the largest cattle-raiding syndicate in Lesotho that has been ravaging the Underberg region of KZN for years. She is tough and can be ruthless when she doesn’t get her way. 

Having raised her children without a husband, Moretlo has had to play both parental roles in her children’s life. This makes her seem harsh and cold. She is a strategist and an avid horse raider, but just as comfortable with a machine gun.

Tlali is played by Keketso Mpitso 

He is Leabua’s son and Moretlo’s nephew, a cousin to Leruo. Like his father, he converts power that doesn’t belong to him. He is part of the cattle-raiding syndicate, though he is impulsive and lacks the skill that comes effortlessly to Leruo. He feels overlooked and hungers for power, which aligns him more with his embittered father. Tlali is a greedy and sleazy player, who is consumed by the need to outdo his cousin Leruo, no matter the consequences. 

Kwanele Dlamini is played by Mnqobi Kunene

Kwanele is a man who has lived his whole life under his father’s shadow. Having been raised by his father after his mother’s death, this has turned him to view his father as God and his word as the bible. There are, however, two things that mean the most to Kwanele – his love for Sihle (played by Nirvana Nokwe-Mseleku), whom he has loved ever since they were kids, and his love for farming, which he is not that great at, but he tries. Kwanele starts off the series as the good guy, the one who has managed to convince Sihle to marry him, even though deep down he knows that she is way out of his league. 

Men’s Health Cover Guy Challenge winner is currently on 1Magic’s How To Manifest A Man and Mzansi Magic’s upcoming telenovela, Brothers Keeper.

Dumisani Dlamini is played by Mduduzi Nombela

Dumisani has been Bheki’s friend since childhood. They all grew up around the Underberg region and had the same dream to one day become the biggest cattle farmers in the region. However, Dumisani never really had the gift to rear cattle, no matter how much he desired it. As they grew up, Dumisani gravitated towards crime and grew in the ranks to become one of the most feared criminal bosses in the region, but he still held on dearly to his childhood dream of being a farmer. 

Even though Dumisani might seem evil, he is not – he is just a man driven by greed. He is a controlling madman, but a devoted father to his son Kwanele, whom he raised alone after his wife died.

Nolwandle is played by Nosipho Pehlo

Bandile’s wife and mother of his kids. Nolwande grew up in KZN townships and had her sights set on the high life, until she met Bandile – a son of a farmer. 

Stream Outlaws on Showmax, with new episodes every Wednesday.