Keneilwe Matidze spills the beans ahead of ‘Youngins’ final season premiere

by Zintle Mdaka

Mzansi anticipates the return of the award-winning series, Youngins to see what will happen to the big five as they face a murder case.

Actress and casting director, Keneilwe Matidze recently shared behind the scenes secrets. As a double threat herself, she plays the character of Miss Pearl – a Life Orientation teacher.

Speaking about the Youngins casting process, Keneilwe expressed that despite the long hours of shooting, the vibe remained infectious.

“The energy was electric. Kids showed up from 8am to 8pm and despite the long hours, we all ended up dancing together outside. That vibe was infectious. I thought, ‘If I were watching, I’d be hooked!’ The talent was off the charts,” she said.

“We needed triple threats – kids who could act, sing and dance. Lebo was always dancing, full of life and positivity. Lebo naturally fits that role. He’s collaborative, contagious with his energy. He started with raw talent and grew into a fantastic actor.”

“If an actor stands out, they encourage us to bring them forward and see what characters we can develop for them. Katlego Moloke’s casting was particularly memorable for me. He shaped Alex into a character I hadn’t originally envisioned.”

Produced by Tshedza Pictures, Youngins is a hard-hitting teen telenovela that is set at a boarding school in Johannesburg. When a teen flees from a family tragedy in rural KZN to a boarding school in Joburg, she finds herself entangled in a scandal of epic proportions.

This Showmax original series stars Ayakha Ntunja, Kealeboga Masango, Lebohang Lephatsoana, Thabiso Ramotshela and Toka Matabane.

Entertainment commentator, Jabulani Macdonald took to his X (formerly Twitter) page to share the trailer of the final season.

Youngins is set to premiere on September 19 on Showmax.

 

Also see: Youngins actor shares how his role motivated him to learn a new language