‘Outlaws’ breakout star Keketso Mpitso dishes on his die-hard character Tlali

Keketso Mpitso portrayed his role so well, that he had viewers, hating him for his antics, week after week. Picture: Supplied

Keketso Mpitso portrayed his role so well, that he had viewers, hating him for his antics, week after week. Picture: Supplied

Published Jan 18, 2024

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Ever since Showmax Original ‘Outlaws’ premiered on screens, it’s gripped viewers with its dynamic storyline and actors who embodied the characters.

‘Outlaws’ is Tshedza’s second Showmax Original and is South Africa’s first modern-day Western series, centred around stock-theft wars between communities in Lesotho and KwaZulu-Natal.

The show follows two families at war: the Zulu, cattle-farming Biyelas and the Basotho, cattle-raiding Ts’eoles.

The cast was a well-blended mix of established actors and newcomers - with one of them being Keketso Mpitso as Tlali, the character viewers loved to hater.

“He’s unpredictable, a guy who just wants to do things on his own terms. You’d swear that he listened to you but he doesn’t, he’s a person who reacts quickly to situations,” described Mpitso.

Tlali’s ambitious personality constantly found him on the wrong side of the drama through his ambitions. “He just goes for what he wants.”

Keketso Mpitso as Tlali at the ‘Outlaws’ launch in September. Picture: Supplied

“When he wants to do something, he wants to do it at that moment. Whenever his mind is made up, no one can convince him otherwise.”

The young actor got to act alongside veteran Mmabatho Mogomotsi and Siyabonga Shibe which he calls a dream come true.

Having grown up watching Mmabatho in ‘Yizo Yizo’ and Siyabonga Shibe in ‘Gaz’lam’, Mpitso has nothing but respect for the legends.

“One of the things I’ve learnt from them is that you have to stay humble. They treat everybody equally, and take their work very seriously. They understand what it means to be an actor.”

Having never portrayed a character like Tlali before, Mpitso took on the challenge and nailed it. As viewers we can’t wait to see more from him.

IOL Entertainment