Playing the most hated man on Netflix

S’dumo Mtshali rocketed to global stardom with his searing portrayal of the principal character in The Polygamist. What is he like in real life? Toni Kan finds out.

In real life, the South African actor S’dumo Mtshali, who plays the odious central character Jonasi Gomora ( r ) in Netflix’s hit epic The Polygamist, is nothing like his fictitious character.

He comes across as easy-going, with a ready sense of humour. How does he feel being ‘the most hated man on Netflix’, as some have described his role? The 43-year-old actor laughs and brushes it off with a casual, “You know what they say!”

Watching The Polygamist is like looking at a car crash. It is bloody and gory and revolting, yet you can’t tear your gaze away. How has S’dumo responded to the hatred and bile from viewers amazed by his character? “It’s interesting, especially when you get messages in different languages, and you have no idea what they’re saying. Then you check, and it says ‘I hate you, I hate you, I hate you’,” he says with another laugh.

“But that’s a good thing because this character was created to shock, to stir, to bring awareness, and I feel like that was achieved. That was accomplished by the great production company, and I’ll give a shout-out to the directors Akin Omotoso, Rolie Nikiwe, and Nthabi Tau, who brought the story to life. Also, a huge shout-out to Sue Nyathi for an amazing book that’s transcended so much.”

Jonasi Gomora has become synonymous with chaos, betrayal and moral decay. So how did S’dumo feel about being saddled with a name so heavily loaded with Biblical resonance?

“I mean, that’s the first thing that hits you. You are Jonasi Gomora, and then you realise that it’s from the Bible and he is Gomorrah. In the end, he lacks any kind of good morals. He probably had them once in his life. But as time went by, he lived up to his family name.”

The conversation turns to Sue Nyathi, whose novel forms the backbone of the series. There are often tensions with adaptations, due to the author being unhappy with changes to their work, sometimes created by directors pushing for new directions and interpretations. But that was not the case, S’dumo says, on the set of The Polygamist .

“She was there. I got to meet her on set, which was beautiful. She spent so much time with our lead actress Gugu and of course, all of us as well.”

S’dumo is a fan of literary adaptations and is fascinated by the transition from the page to the screen. “I think adaptation is just the best form of storytelling, especially when it comes to motion pictures. I think adaptation is the way to go because you can take the story and extend it, or set it wherever you want.”

He believes that despite the differences between Nyathi’s book and the way it has turned out on screen, the soul of the story remains intact. “The essence of Jonasi is still there. I think that with every single character, the spirit of the original comes over, and Sue Nyathi’s motive is apparent too. That’s why the series truly resonates.”

Stunned by global reaction

S’dumo first came to prominence as an actor when he emerged as the winner of the SABC1 reality TV competition, Class Act , in 2010. He snagged his first lead role soon after, in the drama series Intersexions . After a raft of other leading TV roles down the years, including in the long-running South African drama series Isabaya , as well as notable parts in films, The Polygamist has propelled him onto the global stage.

He says he expected The Polygamist to do well in South Africa, but the wider reaction stunned him. “I was quite surprised by what it did everywhere else in the world. I mean, we’ve done similar stories in the past. Such stories are present in South Africa.”

Polygamy is not foreign to African societies. The former South African President, Jacob Zuma, has six wives, and across Africa, many men still have multiple wives. So, why did the world respond to the story so viscerally?

“It’s the overall themes of lust, betrayal, generational curses, and of course, the sexual diseases material. Yes, everything was piled up in the book by Sue Nyathi and of course, in the screenplay itself.”

People also saw themselves in the characters, he insists. “You can deny it all you want, but each one of these characters, each one of the themes and stories, resonated with viewers. We all know Jonasi. We all know Joyce. We all know Essie.”

Sixteen years after Intersexions , HIV remains a central theme in African storytelling. Has all the health advocacy worked? Are people more educated and aware? “I believe they are. But at the same time, we know we’re still human beings, capable of making stupid choices. I mean, look at Jonasi himself – someone like him, who’s so educated, who’s in an influential position, and he decides not to take his medicine.”

The refusal to take antiretrovirals is still a big issue in South Africa and across the continent. “We’re just there to raise awareness and to put up a mirror for society.”

Explaining his philosophy of acting, S’dumo says, “The actor doesn’t borrow anything from the character, but the character borrows from the actor constantly.” So while the themes may echo those of Rhythm City , or Isabaya , in The Polygamist, “the characters are totally different. Every single one of them.”

As a boy, he dreamed of acting. Now he has global acting renown. How does that feel? “For me it’s never been about the fame, it’s always been about how far I can push African stories.” His dream, he says, is to elevate African storytelling to attain worldwide recognition and respect. “So, if you call the outcome global, sure, I’ll take that.”

Electric chemistry

Though he had never worked with Gugu Gemede (who plays Joyce Gomora) before this project, their on-screen chemistry is electric, but the darkness of Jonasi’s behaviour raises questions. Where did his cruelty come from?

“That’s part of the theme, and something we’re trying to raise; it comes from within the society that he was brought up in,” S’dumo explains.

Jonasi ’s character comes from broken male role models. “He has a poor background, and that streak is down to the fact he ’ s not raised by good men. He literally raised himself, so whatever he ’ s doing, it ’ s something that he picked up along the way.”

While the sins of the father are passed from father to son, his brother Magesh seems cut from a different cloth. “Magesh is not a perfect man, but he’s certainly a good man.”

Will there be a part two to The Polygamist ? S’dumo is hopeful there will be. “I think it would be great if they have a second season, because these issues don’t end there,” he says, adding that the show also created a lot of employment and spotlighted African storytelling worldwide. “If people can watch Fast and the Furious until season 10, then of course.”

He has a Peabody award in the bag for Intersexions . The Polygamist must be a candidate for the 2027 Emmy Awards, I suggest. “With God anything is possible… So, if you say it deserves an Emmy, thank you.”

As the interview draws to a close, the subject shifts to the TV industry, remuneration and regulation. “This industry is not regulated,” S’dumo says with feeling. “Actors are still dying poor. We have a serious lack of infrastructure. We’ve even marched to parliament to fight for fair pay.”

So, what’s next for S’dumo Mtshali? He points out he is currently in The Four of Us , a family drama about legacy and conflict. It’s on Netflix, but only available in certain territories. “It’s much lighter, and it is such fun working with Cheetah Productions,” he adds.

Will he direct or produce in the future? He smiles. “I’ve got my own passion project, and I’m the producer. The details will come out when it’s ready – but it ’ s been an interesting journey, being behind and in front of the camera.”

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