Puleng Khumalo
Puleng Khumalo
Played by: Ama Qamata
A 16-year old student.
- Antagonistic Offspring: Puleng gets abrasive with her parents, especially when she learns Julius wanted Thandeka to get an abortion, and later that Thandeka was likely unfaithful.
- The Determinator: Puleng is absolutely determined to prove Fikile is her sister, no matter the setbacks nor trouble doing so gets her in. Not even a DNA test stops her as she immediately assumes it was tampered with.
- Fatal Flaw: She is incredibly impulsive and makes a lot of questionable decisions, putting herself at risk and making enemies in the process. Somewhat Justified as she is not quite aware of just how powerful (and dangerous) the people she's messing with are.
- It's for a Book: Puleng often pulls this when she is caught snooping.Puleng: Uh. I was taking a picture of that frame for my... Pinterest board.
- Literal-Minded:Wade: No more, scout's honour.Puleng: You were a Boy Scout?
Fikile Bhele
Fikile "Fiks" Bhele
Played by: Fikile Bhele
A popular swimmer at Parkhurst College.
- Bittersweet 17: Turns 17 in the first episode, proceeds to learn piece by piece that her whole life has been a lie.
- Happily Adopted: Sort of. Even after finding out the truth about her parentage, she desperately wants her life to go back to normal and remain a Bhele.
- Nightmare Fuel Station Attendant: She discovers the contents of Puleng's diary containing her investigations at the end of season 1, prompting Puleng to tell Fiks that she believes she is her sister.
Parkhurst College students
Chris Ackerman
Chris Ackerman
Played by: Arno Greeff
A wealthy rebel in Fikile's friend group.
- Big Brother Instinct: He is extremely protective of his friends, especially Fikile. Bumping into Fiks is enough to get a shove and talking to. Anything more than that and he becomes a Knight Templar.
- Big Ego, Hidden Depths:
- Calling Parents by Their Name: Chris calls his parents Michael and Sarah.
- Class Clown: He likes to mess with Wendy during class, such as when he plays a cricket sound effect from his phone while she is asking people to join the matric dance committee.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Chris can be an asshole, but you can't deny he would do anything for his friends. He also shows a more sympathetic side in season 2.
- Lonely Rich Kid: He is definitely among the wealthiest students at Parkhurst. His parents spend most of the year traveling, and he is pretty distant from them in general. This seems to underline a lot of his issues.
- Smug Smiler: Most of the time.
KB Molapo
Karabo "KB" Molapo
Played by: Thabang Molaba
A boy in Fikile's friend group.
- My God, What Have I Done?: Has one when he realizes the main reason Puleng was hanging out with Wade was because he was helping her investigation rather than because she was cheating on him.
- Sibling Triangle: Downplayed. Puleng and KB start dating. KB has a brief flirtation with Fikile, but it doesn't seem to go anywhere.
Mark Tedder
Mark Tedder
Played by:
One of Chris' love interests.
Reece van Rensburg
Reece van Rensburg
Played by: Greteli Fincham
A girl in Fikile's friend group.
- A Fool and His New Money Are Soon Parted: She is not wealthy and her mother isn't a very stable source of income, so she mostly gets by through drug dealing. She is initially successful, but then she gets conned by Mr Ferreira and loses it all.
- Captured on Purpose: She is tasked by Principal Daniels with finding out who is contributing to the drug problem at school. She ultimately turns herself in, but season 2 ends on the Cliffhanger of not knowing how Daniels will react.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: She's "the biggest bitch in the southern hemisphere" but also a loyal friend.
- Wacky Parent, Serious Child: A rather serious variation. Her mother Philippa has severe mental health issues that worsen as Reece notices she has not been taking her medication. Reece ends up checking her mother into a facility.
Sam Nkosana
Sam Nkosana
Played by: Leroy Siyafa
The son of the new school counselor introduced in season 2.
- Calling the Old Man Out: Confronts his mother when he realizes she's aiding the conspiracy.
- Immigrant Parents: He is probably at least half Zimbabwean given he speaks Shona.
- Nice Guy: He is a genuinely nice, supportive guy with a clear understanding of right and wrong. The only time he lets Fiks down is because he and his mother have to go into witness protection, meaning he is unable to contact her rather than because he is ignoring her.
- Spotting the Thread: He realizes that his mother framed Puleng because the drugs that were found on her were the same ones she took from him.
Tahira Kahn
Tahira Kahn
Played by: Mekaila Mathys
Wendy's only friend and Fikile's competitor for Head Girl.
- Nice Girl: She is overall a sweet person.
Wade Daniels
Wade Daniels
Played by: Dillon Windvogel
The son of Principal Daniels and one of the first Parkhurst students to befriend Puleng.
- The Confidant / Secret-Keeper: Although Wade pushed Puleng into telling him what is going on, he fulfills this role for her from then on, especially when she and Zama are not talking. Even if it means breaking the rules, which he would have never done before.
- Dogged Nice Guy: He is disappointed when Puleng is not interested in him.
- Momma's Boy: He clearly has a lot of respect for his mother and fears disobeying her.
- Nervous Wreck: His voice goes very high when he is nervous.
Wendy Dlamini
Wendy Dlamini
Played by: Natasha Thahane
The abrasive and competitive daughter of an MP.
- Character Development: Becomes much less obnoxious in Season 2.
- Hypocrite: Wendy sees herself as a revolutionary and resents Fikile for being a privileged rich girl, despite being highly privileged herself.
- Soapbox Sadie: Wendy considers herself to be something of a revolutionary activist and is often confrontational with teachers and other students over it. She also wears a red beret when leading the school magazine.
- Took a Level in Kindness: Becomes much more reasonable over the course of the second season, to the point where she covers for Reece because Chris asked despite having a legitimate reason to snitch on her.
Parkhurst College faculty
Principal Daniels
Nicole Daniels
Played by: Sandi Schultz
Parkhurst's principal.
- Only Sane Man: Daniels is basically the only normal adult, but of course as principal her job is on the line due to everyone else causing the school problems.
Coach Chad
Chad Morgan
Played by: Ryle de Morny
The swim coach in season 1.
Janet Nkosana
Janet Nkosana
Played by: Zikhona Sodlaka
The new school counselor in season 2.
Mr Ferreira
Mr Ferreira
Played by: Ivan Botha
Business teacher.
Meadowridge
Zama Bolton
Zama Bolton
Played by: Cindy Mahlangu
Puleng's long term best friend.
- Bi-Wildered: She initially has difficulty wrapping her head around Chris' polyamorous brand of pansexuality.
- The Confidant / Secret-Keeper: She is one of the only people who knows the truth of why Puleng transferred to Parkhurst and after making up, Puleng confides in her in season 2.
- Two Guys and a Girl: Chris, Mark and Zama.
Family members
The Khumalos
Thandeka Khumalo
Played by: Gail Mabalane
Puleng's mother.
Julius Khumalo
Played by:
Puleng's father.
Siya Khumalo
Played by: Odwa Gwanya
Puleng's younger brother.
The Bheles
Nwabisa Bhele
Played by: Xolile Tshabalala
Fikile's mother.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: Genuinely loves her husband to the point that she flat out threatens to reveal everything if her husband is incriminated.
- Nice Job Fixing It, Villain: The conspiracy might have gotten away with framing Puleng if she hadn't talked with her mother about Fikile's visit to Pollsmoor with earshot of Fikile (since Fikile hadn't told her, and since the only other person who knew adamantly denied it, this tips her off that maybe there is a conspiracy.)
- The Load: Seen as this by some of the other conspiracy members.
