Tony Kgoroge on Playing Moses in 'Umthetho: Prison Revolutionary' With Political Fire
- Tony Kgoroge revealed how he shaped Moses' commanding presence in Netflix's Umthetho using political charisma rather than typical prison-boss energy
- The actor described Moses as a 'prison revolutionary' who could have thrived as a foreman or politician given different circumstances
- Kgoroge compared Moses' natural oratory to that of Eugène Terre'Blanche, explaining what drew him to the character's layered fight against the system
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Tony Kgoroge isn't playing your average prison boss in Netflix's Umthetho. The seasoned South African actor has given his character Moses a different kind of edge, one borrowed from the world of politics, not the yard.
In a recent interview with The Citizen, Kgoroge opened up about how he approached the role and what makes Moses tick beneath the surface of what looks, at first glance, like a straightforward fight for prison justice.
More than fighting the system
For Kgoroge, the show's prison backdrop carries a meaning that goes deeper than the phrase "fighting the system" ever could. He recalled growing up with that language, where it usually meant clashing with police or rejecting anything connected to government structures. He added:
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"But now, in terms of the jail kind of like system way of looking at things, there were just so many layers in there. And even the walls themselves, they are becoming part of the system."
The prisoner as revolutionary
Rather than leaning on conventional prison-boss intimidation, Kgoroge studied political figures and orators to find Moses' voice. He said:
"It kind of like helped for me to look into the political side of things and say, okay, let me bring a little bit of that into this guy. So I call him the prisoner, the prison revolutionary."
When asked whether Moses' gift for commanding a room could have translated into a political career, Kgoroge drew a striking comparison.
"I think if he was given a chance to go and study and become someone, he would be like Eugène Terre'Blanche. Whether you liked him or not, when you watch him speak, you are like, 'there's something about this guy.'"
Umthetho Season 1 is currently streaming on Netflix. He closed with a reflection that doubles as the moral backbone of Moses' entire arc:
"Whatever choices you make in life will lead somewhere, whether good or bad. It's up to you to choose which one you want to stick with. And if you choose that one, go all the way."
Tony and S'thandiwe Kgoroge's marriage impresses SA
A post on X celebrating veteran actors Tony and S'thandiwe Kgoroge's 24-year union went viral on 13 August 2026.
The couple, who share three children, are praised for keeping their relationship completely free of public scandal.
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