Thoko Ntshinga on Donkerbos and why “we’re all mad”

Donkerbos, a trilingual murder mystery set in Limpopo, is now ready to binge on Showmax. The eight-part series is produced by Nagvlug Films (2022 SAFTA winner Nêrens, Noord-Kaap, 2022 SAFTA nominee Skemerdans, and 2022 Oscar entry Barakat). 

When the bodies of six children are found in the backwater forests of Donkerbos, an ostracised detective must wrestle with her dark past, her family and a distrustful community to catch the killer before another child is taken.

Multi-award winner Erica Wessels (Dwaalster and i am ALL GIRLS) stars as detective Fanie van Wyk, with SAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award winner Thoko Ntshinga (The River, Egoli: Place of Gold) as captain Didie Baleka. The star-studded cast also includes Fleur du Cap winners Sanda Shandu (Skemerdans) and Nicole Holm (Fynskrif), Silwerskermfees winners Jacques Bessenger (Fynskrif, Warrior), Stian Bam (The Story of Racheltjie de Beer), Aphiwe Sithole (Poppie Nongena), Carel Nel (Gaia) and Rolanda Marais (Trackers), multi-award winners Wilhelm van der Walt (Fynskrif) and Leandie Du Randt (Meisies Wat Fluit), SAFTA nominee Nicola Hanekom (Faan se Trein) and 2022 Young Artist Academy Award winner Caleb Payne (Good Life), as well as Silwerskermfees Best Actor nominee Edwin van der Walt (Wonderlus). 

We caught up with Thoko to find out more about the 18LSVN crime drama, which is already getting rave reviews that repeatedly use words like “gripping” and “masterpiece”.  

Tell us about your character on Donkerbos.

I play Captain Didie Baleka. She is quite hands-on; she’s a community-driven person. She knows the people of the community by first name. When somebody walks into the police station, she knows who that person is and where they come from. She’s forever trying to serve. 

What attracted you to Donkerbos? 

It’s scary. It’s very scary. Because I come from a township, and, up to today, I live in a township, there are so many things that happen. There are pictures on set for all the deaths that the story revolves around. You actually look at them every day, and you’re thinking, ‘Is this happening at this second while I’m busy playing a person who’s trying to solve this crime?’ It’s very emotional. And it’s scary because these things happen. They’re very real. Very real, but we need to find a way to curb these things from happening. Now. Now, now, now. 

Part of what’s so scary about Donkerbos is that it’s not obvious who the murderer is. 

Yes, and that’s like real life. You sit next to someone and you don’t know what they’re thinking. You’d never know if they were thinking of murdering you as soon as you get out of the car. We don’t know how people’s minds work. That’s one thing the Creator hid from all of us. You wouldn’t know. Whoever created us said, ‘This is the one section of the human being that I’m going to hide so they can all keep guessing.’ And stories like Donkerbos are like that as well. You keep guessing. You might be thinking, ‘This is how it’s going to end,’ and then it goes the other way. 

Why do you think viewers are fascinated with crime stories and darker storylines like this? 

I think we’re all mad. I think human beings, in general, are mad. As humans, we’re just not normal. No-one’s normal. 

What was it like working with the ridiculously talented writer-director Nico Scheepers?

He’s a very sweet director. He allows you to play and to converse and to ask questions. Some directors are A, B, C and that’s it; Nico’s A, C, then B. He’s like, ‘Whichever way we do it, let’s talk about it and see where it’s supposed to go so that I can allow you to play it.’ 

What was the highlight of working on Donkerbos for you? 

I was the oldest person on set, and I got spoiled a lot. Everybody looked after me. I recently turned 70 and I think that got everyone thinking that they needed to look after me. So being on the set was wonderful. South Africans respect age. 

You’ve already won a SAFTA Lifetime Achievement Award; what’s next for you? 

I wanted to retire but I would be bored, and also, all my life I’ve been pushing for comfort in my old age. When I retire, I don’t want to owe anybody anything. The funny thing is, at my old age, I’m getting called up a lot. I’m getting good work, like Donkerbos. We used to be stuck with only the SABC, M-Net and e.tv, but now, with streamers like Showmax, there’s never been so much work happening. Which is good for our morale and for our pockets. It also encourages more diverse storytelling, like Donkerbos. So it’s very good. I’ve been very busy. I’m blessed in that way because some of my peers don’t work anymore.