Cantona James as Ethan and Dillon Windvogel as Shane in Spinners on Showmax

Meet the cast of Spinners

August 29, 2026

Meet the cast behind Spinners, the pulsating South African drama that takes viewers into the adrenaline-fuelled world of car spinning, motorsport, ambition and survival. The award-winning first season of Spinners returns to screens, with Season 1 airing on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) from 30 August at 9PM, before making its free-to-air debut on e.tv from 4 September (DStv Channel 194 and Openview Channel 104). The return comes ahead of the highly anticipated Season 2, which lands on 25 October, giving even more viewers the chance to experience one of South Africa’s most celebrated high-octane dramas.

Read on to refamiliarize yourself with the cast of Spinners and get reacquainted with the gang, families and forces shaping Ethan’s journey as he fights to find a way out of the gang life and into a different future.

Meet the cast of Spinners

Cantona James as Ethan

Played by Cantona James, Ethan is the emotional centre of Spinners: a young man carrying enormous responsibility while trying to find a way beyond the circumstances that have shaped his life. Ethan is a 17-year-old driver from the Cape Flats whose circumstances have forced him to grow up fast. With his father dead, his mother struggling with addiction and his younger brother depending on him, Ethan takes work as a driver for local gang boss Damien to support his family. But Ethan is increasingly disillusioned with gang life. When Shane introduces him to spinning, he discovers a world where his natural talent behind the wheel could offer him a different future. As Ethan is pulled deeper into both the dangerous world of the gangs and the exhilarating world of spinning, he must decide which path he wants to take before the gang war closes in around him.

➜ Want to know more about Ethan and Cantona James’ experience playing him? Read our interview with Cantona James about bringing the character to life.

Chelsea Thomas as Amber

Played by Chelsea Thomas, Amber is a confident and spirited character who refuses to be underestimated, whether she’s behind the wheel or standing her ground alongside Ethan. Amber is Ethan’s scrappy friend and rival, and the best female spinner in the country. Playful, sharp-witted and fiercely talented, she isn’t afraid to challenge Ethan, pushing him to become a better driver while also encouraging him to make better choices. For Amber, spinning is more than just a sport. Growing up around the Cape Flats spinning culture, she understands the passion, skill and community behind it. Her arrival in Ethan’s world brings a formidable new energy to his journey, with their rivalry potentially developing into something more.

➜ Want to hear more from Chelsea Thomas about Amber, spinning and her experience on the series? Read the interview with the actress.

Dillon Windvogel as Shane

Dillon Windvogel describes him as “a sunflower among thorns”, a young man who manages to hold onto his humanity and loyalty despite being surrounded by a world that often tests both. Shane is the mechanic behind the spinning team and the person who opens Ethan’s eyes to what he can really do behind the wheel. Their meeting may happen by accident, but Shane quickly recognises something in Ethan and becomes determined to help him find another path. Loyal, protective and emotionally mature beyond his years, Shane has grown up surrounded by the crime and hardship of the Cape Flats without losing sight of what matters to him. He is deeply devoted to his friends and family and will go to great lengths to protect the people he cares about. As Ethan becomes increasingly caught between gang life and spinning, Shane’s friendship develops into something closer to brotherhood. But with his own father, Gary, trying to keep him under control, Shane is also learning to stand on his own and earn respect through his knowledge and skill with cars.

➜ What did Dillon Windvogel make of Shane’s loyalty, maturity and journey? Read the interview with the actor about his role in Spinners.

Braeden Buys as Trevor

Played by Braeden Buys, Trevor was the actor’s breakout television role. Trevor is one of the lively members of Shane’s driving team and a passionate part of the Cape Flats spinning scene. Every second Sunday, he can be found at the spinning pitch, hanging out with the team, enjoying a gatsby and enthusiastically cheering on the drivers as they put their skills on display. Trevor brings plenty of energy and personality to the crew, he’s the loudest supporter when things go right and the loudest laugh when things go wrong. His enthusiasm captures the sense of community and camaraderie at the heart of the spinning culture portrayed in Spinners.

Stephren Saayman as Jackie

Played by Stephren Saayman, Jackie adds another dimension to the spinning crew, capturing the friendship, personality and community that sit alongside the spectacle of the sport. Jackie is the stuntman of Shane’s spinning team and one of the crew’s more carefree personalities. A fun-loving ladies’ man with a strong sense of loyalty, he brings some much-needed humour and youthful energy to a group operating in an increasingly dangerous environment. For Jackie, the spinning team is about more than what happens behind the wheel. His friendships with Shane, Ethan and the rest of the crew create a sense of camaraderie that becomes increasingly important as the pressure around them grows.

Elton Landrew as Damien

Played by Elton Landrew, Damien is far more complex than a straightforward crime boss. He has a softer side and genuine connections with those around him, but when it comes to the business of the gang, he is prepared to cross almost any line. Damien is a powerful Cape Flats gang leader whose relationship with Ethan becomes one of the most complicated dynamics in Spinners. Tough, intimidating and quick to respond when his authority is challenged, Damien commands loyalty from those closest to him and can be fiercely protective of the people he considers family. For Ethan, Damien becomes something of a twisted father figure, offering him work and protection at a time when the teenager desperately needs both. But Damien’s influence comes at a price. Beneath his loyalty is a ruthless side, and his involvement in Ethan’s life increasingly pulls the young driver deeper into the dangerous world he is trying to escape.

Brendon Daniels as Hercules

Played by SAFTA-winning actor Brendon Daniels, Hercules is a formidable presence in Spinners, helping give the series its gritty portrayal of a criminal world populated by characters who are dangerous but never entirely one-dimensional. Hercules is Damien’s fiercely loyal right-hand man and one of the most intimidating figures in the gang. Ruthless, uncompromising and deeply committed to the gang, he is prepared to do whatever it takes to protect Damien’s interests and maintain his position. Where Shane represents loyalty rooted in friendship and family, Hercules embodies the darker side of loyalty, the kind that demands obedience and leaves little room for hesitation. His presence adds another layer of danger to Ethan’s world as the teenager begins questioning the life he has been drawn into.

Melanie du Bois as Kayla

Played by Melanie du Bois, Kayla represents another of the difficult family circumstances that shape Ethan’s choices and help explain why he feels such a strong responsibility to protect his younger brother. Kayla is Ethan and Byron’s mother, a single parent whose struggles have had a profound impact on her sons. Her problems and inability to consistently be there for her children have forced Ethan to assume responsibilities far beyond his years, particularly when it comes to looking after his younger brother. But Kayla is not simply defined by her mistakes. She remains a mother who wants to do better for her children and is determined to make amends. As Ethan becomes increasingly caught between gang life and his hopes for a different future, Kayla’s ability to step up when her family needs her becomes increasingly important.

Katlego Lebogang as Phumeza

Played by Katlego Lebogang, Phumeza brings a different perspective to Spinners, one that places the police investigation alongside the personal stories unfolding within the community. Phumeza is a young detective whose determination to do the right thing sets her apart in a department where she is the only woman on the team. Still relatively new to the force, she approaches her work with a strong sense of purpose and is guided by her faith. Called in to investigate an incident involving the Cape Flats gangs, Phumeza soon finds herself navigating a world where the lines between victims, criminals and those simply trying to survive are not always straightforward. Her investigation also brings her into Ethan’s orbit, and a growing interest in the young driver adds another personal dimension to her pursuit of the truth.

➜ Want to find out more about Phumeza and Katlego Lebogang’s experience playing the determined detective? Read the interview with the actress.

Jihaad Otto as Byron

Played by Jihaad Otto, Byron may be one of the youngest characters in Spinners, but his presence is central to Ethan’s story and gives the series’ coming-of-age drama its emotional heart. Byron is Ethan’s eight-year-old younger brother and one of the biggest reasons behind his determination to find a way out of gang life. With their father gone and their mother struggling, Ethan has taken on much of the responsibility for keeping his little brother safe and cared for. Young, vulnerable and largely dependent on Ethan, Byron represents the future his older brother is fighting to protect. Every difficult choice Ethan makes, from working for Damien to exploring spinning as a possible escape carries the weight of knowing that his little brother is counting on him.

Beyond the characters highlighted above, Spinners features a strong supporting ensemble that brings the wider world of the series to life, including David Isaacs as Nazeem, Keeno Lee Hector as Gary, Albert Pretorius as Pieter, Zenobia Kloppers, Carel Nel as Dr Bloom, Clayton Evertson as Vernon and Ernest St. Clair as Ray.

When and where to watch Spinners Season 1?

Where is Spinners Season 1 airing?

Spinners Season 1 returns to Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) from Sunday, 30 August at 9PM. The award-winning drama will then make its free-to-air debut on e.tv from Friday, 4 September at 9:30PM, airing on DStv Channel 194 and Openview Channel 104. The return gives viewers another chance to experience the high-octane South African drama before the arrival of its highly anticipated second season.

When does Spinners Season 2 premiere?

Spinners Season 2 premieres on Mzansi Magic (DStv Channel 161) on Sunday, 25 October 2026. The eight-part second season picks up two years after the events of Season 1, with Ethan and his friends having transformed themselves into successful spinning stars in Johannesburg.

New cast members joining Spinners Season 2

Spinners S2 world premiere at Silwerskermfees

Season 2 introduces a new crime family and brings several new faces into Ethan’s world. The new cast includes Aphiwe Mkefe, Luyanda Zwane, Mondli Makhoba and Clementine Mosimane, who play members of the powerful Maseko crime family. Mosimane plays the family’s matriarch, Makhoba plays her bodyguard, while Zwane and Mkefe play her children.

Returning favourites including Cantona James, Chelsea Thomas, Dillon Windvogel and Brendon Daniels. The Season 2 cast also includes Nahum Hughes, Siyamthanda Bangani, who was among the cast at the season’s world premiere at the kykNET Silwerskerm Festival in Cape Town. The new and returning cast came together for the world premiere of Spinners Season 2 at Silwerskermfees, where the cast walked the blue carpet ahead of the screening.

What is Spinners Season 2 about?

Season 2 moves the action from the Cape Flats to Johannesburg, with Ethan and the Underdogs now established as major stars in the spinning world. But the success and new life they have built cannot keep Ethan’s past away for long. When Hercules needs Ethan for one last job, he is pulled back towards the world he fought so hard to escape. Ethan then comes face-to-face with the Maseko crime family, one of the most powerful crime families in Soweto, when its troubled son Sayi becomes his biggest spinning rival. Caught between his new life, his old enemies and a powerful new family, Ethan must once again decide how far he is willing to go to protect the future he has built.

Who produces Spinners Season 2?

Spinners Season 2 is a co-production of MultiChoice, a CANAL+ company, in association with STUDIOCANAL. The series is produced by Joachim Landau for Federation Middle East, Africa and Caribbean and co-produced by Ramadan Suleman for Natives at Large.

The season is created and showrun by Benjamin Hoffman, directed by Jaco Bouwer, and written by Matthew Jankes and Sean Steinberg.

Who is returning for Spinners Season 2?

Cantona James returns as Ethan, alongside Chelsea Thomas as Amber, Dillon Windvogel as Shane and Brendon Daniels as Hercules. They are joined by the new Maseko family cast and other additions to the Spinners ensemble. With Season 1 returning to Mzansi Magic and e.tv before Season 2 arrives, now is the perfect time to get reacquainted with Ethan, Amber, Shane, Trevor, Damien, Hercules and the rest of the Spinners cast and to discover the characters who will take the story into its next high-octane chapter.

The wheels are turning again and this time, the stakes are higher!