Meet the Khumalos

Grace Khumalo, a successful and flamboyant businesswoman living in Durban with her husband, a doctor, and their son, Sizwe. Her seemingly stable life is disrupted when her former best friend and now rival, Bongi Sithole, moves into the neighborhood with her own family. The two women share a complicated past, marked by unresolved conflict, though the exact cause of their estrangement is not immediately revealed.

Tensions rise when it is discovered that their children, Sizwe and Sphe, are romantically involved. Disapproving of the relationship, Grace and Bongi engage in a series of comedic and increasingly exaggerated efforts to separate the couple, sparking a neighborhood dispute characterized by misunderstandings and humorous confrontations.

The situation culminates during a community event where longstanding grievances are addressed. Grace's mother-in-law offers an apology for previous behavior, while the husbands, who have remained amicable, encourage their wives to reconcile. The film concludes with Grace and Bongi beginning to repair their relationship, highlighted by a comedic moment in which Grace attempts to eat sheep's head, referencing their shared cultural heritage.

• Khanyi Mbau as Grace Khumalo, a woman with an idyllic suburban life, disrupted by the arrival of her high school rival.
• Ayanda Borotho as Bongi Sithole, Grace's former best friend turned arch-enemy, who moves in next door.
• Jesse Suntele as Sizwe Khumalo, Grace's model son, secretly dating Bongi's daughter.
• Khosi Ngema as Sphe Sithole, Bongi's daughter and Sizwe's love interest.
• Alizwa Sikhafungana as Lu Sithole, Sphe's younger sister.
• Bonga Dlamini as Vusi Khumalo, Grace's supportive husband.
• Siyabonga Shibe as Desmond Sithole, Bongi's steadfast husband.
• Connie Chiume as Mavis, Grace's mother-in-law{{Cite web |last=Tebele |first=Mbali |date=18 March 2025 |title=Late Actress Connie Chiume Stars in Upcoming Netflix Comedy 'Meet the Khumalos' - Briefly.co.za |url=https://briefly.co.za/entertainment/tv-shows/212132-late-actress-connie-chiume-stars-upcoming-netflix-comedy-meet-khumalos/ |access-date=16 April 2025 |website=briefly.co.za |language=en}}
• Nandipha Khubone, Wanda Ndzambule, and Mirriam Bassa in supporting roles

Meet the Khumalos was directed and produced by Jayan Moodley, best known for her work on the Kandasamys film series. The project was developed as a Netflix original comedy, with Moodley aiming to portray the dynamics of South African families in a humorous way{{Cite web |title=Meet The Khumalos: A Netflix comedy film set to release in April |url=https://www.glamour.co.za/lifestyle/meet-the-khumalos-a-netflix-comedy-film-set-to-release-in-april-8b084887-2d0a-4e7a-953d-12c8cf9b2b44 |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=www.glamour.co.za |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Booi |first=Silindokuhle |date=15 April 2025 |title=Have you watched 'Meet the Khumalos?'- Well here are 5 reasons why I think it's a must-watch |url=https://www.bona.co.za/entertainment/have-you-watched-meet-the-khumalos-well-here-are-5-reasons-why-i-think-its-a-must-watch/ |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Bona Magazine |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |last=Ehioghae |first=Noghama |date=22 April 2025 |title=Meet The Khumalos Movie Review: When Love Moves In, Chaos Follows

|url=https://africanfolder.com/meet-the-khumalos-movie-review/ |access-date=22 April 2025 |website=African Folder |language=en-US}}

The screenplay was written by Gillian Breskin and Wendy Gumede and Jayan Moodley, who infused the narrative with themes of rivalry, romance, and neighborhood drama. Drawing inspiration from familiar township dynamics and suburban feuds, the story centers on two mothers—once best friends, now bitter enemies—whose children fall in love, much to their dismay.

The film features an ensemble cast led by Khanyi Mbau as Grace Khumalo and Ayanda Borotho as her rival, Bongi Sithole.{{Cite web |last=Tleane |first=Lebo |date=19 March 2025 |title=Khanyi Mbau Bags Lead Role In Netflix's New Comedy Film |url=https://youthvillage.co.za/2025/03/khanyi-mbau-bags-lead-role-in-netflixs-new-comedy-film/ |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Youth Village |language=en-US}} Jesse Suntele and Khosi Ngema portray the central couple in the storyline. Connie Chiume appears as Mavis, Grace's mother-in-law, marking one of her final screen performances before her death in 2024.{{Cite web |last=Mdaka |first=Zintle |date=19 March 2025 |title=Connie Chiume to make a posthumous appearance on 'Meet the Khumalos' |url=https://www.bona.co.za/entertainment/connie-chiume-to-make-a-posthumous-appearance-on-meet-the-khumalos/ |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Bona Magazine |language=en-US}} The supporting cast includes Alizwa Sikhafungana, Bonga Dlamini, Siyabonga Shibe, Nandipha Khubone, and Wanda Ndzambule.

Filming occurred across multiple locations in South Africa, with principal scenes shot in Cape Town, Durban, and KwaZulu-Natal. The production showcased a mix of township and suburban settings that aligned with the film's comedic style.{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Ritesh |date=14 April 2025 |title=Is Netflix's Meet the Khumalos Based on a True Story? |url=https://moviedelic.com/meet-the-khumalos-true-story/ |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=Moviedelic |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=20 March 2025 |title=Meet The Khumalos Filming Locations (2025) - 4 Filming |url=https://4filming.com/meet-the-khumalos-filming-locations-2025/ |access-date=17 April 2025 |language=en-US}} Principal photography concluded in late 2024, followed by an expedited post-production schedule in preparation for its Netflix release in April 2025.

Meet the Khumalos premiered globally on Netflix on 11 April 2025. The film was released as a Netflix original and became available for streaming in several regions, including South Africa, the United States, and Singapore. It was featured as part of Netflix's April 2025 content lineup, as noted in the platform's official announcements. The premiere received coverage from various media outlets, which underscored its contribution to contemporary South African cinema.{{Cite web |title=Meet The Khumalos: A Netflix comedy film set to release in April |url=https://www.glamour.co.za/lifestyle/meet-the-khumalos-a-netflix-comedy-film-set-to-release-in-april-8b084887-2d0a-4e7a-953d-12c8cf9b2b44? |access-date=17 April 2025 |website=www.glamour.co.za |language=en}}{{Cite news |title=New on Netflix in April 2025 |url=https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/new-on-netflix? |archive-url=http://web.archive.org/web/20250412062234/https://www.netflix.com/tudum/articles/new-on-netflix |archive-date=12 April 2025 |access-date=17 April 2025 |work=Netflix Tudum |language=en}}

Ruchika Bhat of DMTalkies described the film as "a tight 1 hour and 30 minutes of entertainment from start to finish," praising it as a family-friendly comedy that highlights South African talent.{{Cite web |last=Bhat |first=Ruchika |date=11 April 2025 |title='Meet The Khumalos' Netflix Review: South African Film Is Perfect For A Summer Family Watch |url=https://dmtalkies.com/meet-the-khumalos-netflix-movie-review-2025/ |website=Dmtalkies}} Likewise, Ritesh Sharma of Moviedelic commented that the film "portrays everyday life in South Africa with humor and warmth," offering a narrative that balances comedy with emotional depth.

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• {{IMDb title|id=tt36242582}}
• {{Netflix title|id=81708891}}

Category:2025 films

Category:Netflix original films

Category:English-language South African films

Category:2025 drama films

Category:South African drama films

Category:South African action films

Category:Afrikaans-language films

Category:Zulu-language films

Category:2020s South African films