Mzansi Magic has officially confirmed its upcoming drama series based on novelist Angela Makholwa‘s bestselling novel, Critical But Stable, set to captivate audiences when it premieres on Sundays from 26 July 2026 on DStv Channel 161 at 20:00.
Critical But Stable is a 13-episode drama series that follows the life of a struggling businessman, Duke, who ropes his friends into an insurance scam to save both his ailing wife and his failing business. Duke and his childhood friends are members of a jazz-themed stokvel called Khula. It’s a social club and a way to promote brotherhood and support one another in protecting their marriages and families.
The founders of the club are Duke (played by Fortune Thobejane); Soli (played by Batsile Ramasodi), who can never earn enough to please his demanding wife; Mzi (played by Lawrence Maleka), who needs money to pay his son’s university fees and hides the secret that he can’t sexually satisfy his wife; and Thabo (played by Thabo Malema), who’s broke, unemployed, and has been ousted from his own home by his estranged wife.
A household name in every sense, Lawrence Maleka has cemented himself as an actor while commanding an undeniable charm and presence as a host. Many first fell in love with him as Zolani in the iEmmy-nominated series The River, a role that earned him not one, but two SAFTAs. But his talent doesn’t stop at acting. A natural in front of live audiences, he took the reins as host of Big Brother Mzansi Season 3, Season 4 and co-hosted Big Brother Titans. The two time SAFTA winning actor is one of the leads in Critical But Stable, premiering 26 July 2026 on Mzansi Magic.
The ensemble cast is led by Fortune Thobejane (Duke), Lawrence Maleka (Mzi), Batsile Ramasodi (Solomzi), Thabo Malema (Thabo), Mmarona Motshegoa (Noma), Motsoaledi Setumo (Lerato), Seipati Mahamu (Moshidi), Mapaseka Koetle (Lovey) and Eve Rasimeni (Mantwa). Critical But Stable is also co-executive produced by Angela Makholwa (Red Ink) and produced by Barkers Media (Killer Front Page and SAFTA nominated drama series – How to Manifest a Man).
Xabiso Ngqabe sat down with Lawrence to find out more about his experience working on Critical But Stable.
What makes you excited about being part of this show?
A few things drew me to the project. Firstly, it’s based on Angela Makholwa’s book, which already had a strong following and reputation. Then there was the cast. There was a lot of talent involved and that’s always exciting as an actor because you’re constantly being challenged. And finally, Mzi was different to anything I’d done before, which made the opportunity even more appealing.
What are your thoughts on this story?
What I liked about the story is that it feels believable. It’s not about superheroes or larger-than-life characters. These are ordinary people who make one decision and then have to live with the consequences. I think that’s what will keep audiences invested because you can understand how these characters got themselves into these situations, even when you don’t agree with their choices.
What was your initial reaction when you read the script?
I was interested because it was different. Whenever a role takes me somewhere I haven’t been before as an actor, I pay attention. Mzi has a lot going on beneath the surface and I enjoyed unpacking those layers. The more I read, the more curious I became about him.
This story touches on the pressures men feel to provide for their families. How did you relate to Mzi’s journey?
I think many people can relate to wanting to do better for the people they love. The pressure might look different for different people, but that responsibility is something most of us understand. What I found interesting about Mzi is that his intentions are often good, but the decisions he makes don’t always lead him where he wants to go.
Did you draw any inspiration from your own life when playing this role?
In some ways, yes. I’ve been fortunate to grow up around strong examples of love, commitment and friendship, so I understood those aspects of the character. But acting is always a balance between drawing from your own experiences and imagining circumstances you’ve never personally lived through.
What was your research like?
Preparation is important to me. Every character requires a different approach, but I always try to understand who the person is beyond what’s on the page. For this role I spent time speaking to people, listening to different perspectives and trying to understand the emotional reality of what Mzi is dealing with. That helped me ground the performance in something honest.
Have you read the book or had conversations with the author?
Yes. Angela was very generous with her time and insight. Having access to the person who created these characters is always valuable because you get a deeper understanding of their motivations and the world they come from. Those conversations definitely helped shape my approach to Mzi.
How did you build chemistry with your on-screen partner?
Motsoaledi is an incredible actress and a true professional. We spent a lot of time together on set, having conversations and getting comfortable with each other as scene partners. Once that trust is there, the chemistry tends to develop naturally.
Any highlights from filming the show?
Honestly, the people. We had a great cast and crew, and those are the projects you remember. Set is one of my favourite places to be, so being surrounded by talented people who care about the work made the experience enjoyable from start to finish
First look images of Mzansi Magic drama series ‘Critical But Stable’
