Sparky Xulu channels real emotion as Zenzele in Empini Season 2

The Showmax Original Empini is deep into its explosive second season – and it’s more gripping than ever. At the centre of this high-stakes drama is Sparky Xulu, who delivers a standout performance as Zenzele, a conflicted son navigating the brutal and murky world of private security. One of Showmax’s Top 10 most streamed titles of last year, Empini is known for its intense action, twisted ties, and unflinching portrayal of corruption in South Africa’s private security sector.  

Sparky Xulu, known for hit shows like My Brother’s Keeper, The Estate, and The Herd, is fast becoming a force to be reckoned with. In Empini S2, he brings depth, physicality, and quiet emotional power to Zenzele – a role he connects with on a deeply personal level. 

Xabiso Ngqabe caught up with Sparky to unpack his journey with the character, how personal grief shaped his portrayal, and why this season hits harder than ever. 

Zenzele has this powerful mix of kindness and ambition, but we see him stepping into morally grey territory this season. How did you approach playing someone who believes in doing good but is also forced to confront the messy world he finds himself in? 

It was a tough journey for me, grappling with finding the root of the character – but the beauty is how grounded he is, being a true family man shaped by his life in Kokstad. Zenzele goes through so much – losing Mzoxolo, a father figure, and starting over with his real dad, Khaya. His values and principles are constantly under attack, but like in life, he starts from a solid place and evolves. Still, his values become his moral compass – they keep him from losing himself. I used that foundation, and his connection to the community, to really hone the character. 

How much of Zenzele’s journey resonates with you? 

I resonate with him a lot. Just before we started shooting Empini, I lost my father. So when it came to understanding someone longing for that connection, I could relate. I was lucky to have had an incredible father, so stepping into Zenzele’s shoes, who’s searching for a sense of belonging, I truly understood how unfortunate it is to not have that experience.  

Mzoxolo is a great father figure, don’t get me wrong, but there’s still a void. Khaya didn’t know that he had another son, sure, but now Zenzele is faced with abandonment issues, and then losing Mzoxolo too. Having just gone through my own loss, I felt deeply connected to his story. I was empathetic to him every step of the way. 

Season 2 dives even deeper into the world of Mkhonto Protection Services. What kind of research did you have to do about the world of private security? 

So initially I was like, in order for me to feel alienated from that world, let me not even look at it because remember, he came from a totally different world. That’s part of the story: he doesn’t understand this world, the jargon, nothing.  

If Zenzele were sitting across from you today, what advice would you give him? 

I felt like the more research I did, the more it would pre-empt things. I wanted it to be real and get lost in it. But as time went on, a lot of the guys on set were helpful, especially with gun handling. They’d done all that pre-production prep I didn’t do. Even the stunt coordinators were super helpful. So basically, with all the security stuff, I chose not to do too much because that helped me lose myself in it. And that’s what brought the character out perfectly. 

First, I’d tell him that he is enough. He’s doing so much and sacrificing a lot for his dad. I just want him to remember where he comes from, the respect he has for his community and for Mzoxolo, and the bond he shares with his mother. That alone is more than enough. And above all, he must never lose sight of his values and principles. 

How much of your understanding of family impacted how you play Zenzele? 

Family means everything to me – it’s right at the top. So I really connected with that, and it deeply influenced how I portrayed the character, especially during his time in Kokstad. That’s where it hit hardest. His role as a community leader, his love for his mother – all of that made me fall for the character. It was the foundation he built from there that truly spoke to me. 

You share the screen with some of SA’s most commanding talents. What does working in this cast do for you as an actor? 

Oh, what a pleasure! The best part about working with this cast is how much they truly value what they do. Being in an environment where the craft is respected and vulnerability is welcomed makes a huge difference. It opens you up, helps you grow, and creates so much room to learn. 

Zenzele’s scenes with his mother (played by Nqobile Sipamla) are full of emotional gravity. How did the two of you build that layered mother-son bond off-screen to make it feel so authentic? 

Nqobile is an incredible actress – truly one of the industry’s finest. Sharing the screen with her was a huge honour. The energy she brings into a space is phenomenal, and she’s such a genuine person. That mix made everything feel natural. I felt safe with her, and we had deep conversations about the industry and our personal lives – all on set, since we didn’t have much time off it. She really looked out for me. Even when my dad passed, she was there, checking in, calling, making sure I was okay. 

There’s something magnetic about Zenzele’s dynamic with Ndoni, played by Nambitha Ben-Mazwi. How did the two of you explore that push-pull between attraction, mistrust, and mutual respect? 

It was such a fun experience. It has so many layers – there’s the deep family-like bond, the mutual respect as colleagues in the same company, and then the romantic love. The challenge was figuring out where each one fits and under what circumstances. What’s beautiful about them is that whenever they’re alone, it feels like their own little world, a space where they’re fiercely protective of each other. You can feel that instinct to keep one another safe. 

Don’t miss Sparky in the high-stakes drama Empini – now streaming on Showmax, with new episodes every Tuesday.