Given Stuurman is giving audiences a closer look at the emotional journey behind his latest role as Sphelele Dlamini in Netflix’s South African crime thriller uMthetho.
The actor, who has spent much of his life in the entertainment industry, takes on a character whose struggles extend far beyond the crime and drama surrounding the series. Sphelele is a young man trying to build a life while dealing with fatherhood, relationships, family expectations, financial pressure and the consequences of his decisions.
A role rooted in real-life struggles
For Stuurman, getting into Sphelele’s head was less about inventing a character from scratch and more about identifying with the experiences and emotions that shape him.
“I think for me, how I came about writing the book was seeing what was presented in front of me, seeing what I know that relates to it, and then deciding what different element or what different thing can I bring to it,” Stuurman explained.
One of the actor’s biggest challenges was avoiding the familiar stereotypes often associated with portrayals of young men from township communities.
“That was my journey, trying to find those emotional beats, those moments, those heartfelt moments that a lot of kasi guys run away from,” he said.
Sphelele is the younger brother of Mbali, played by Nqobile “Nunu” Khumalo, and Moses, played by Tony Kgoroge. While his siblings are navigating their own complicated worlds, Sphelele is trying to establish himself and prove that he can become the man his family needs.
He is also a father and partner, while attempting to complete his studies and establish a business.
The weight of growing up without a father
One of the themes that resonated strongly with Stuurman was Sphelele’s experience of growing up without a father.
Sphelele’s father died when the siblings were still young, leaving him to navigate many of the defining moments of adulthood without a direct father figure.
“It’s a reality that a lot of black men face, growing up without a direct father figure or any father figure for that matter. Sphelele’s father died when they were very young,” Stuurman said.
The actor said the character’s journey is ultimately about self-discovery and understanding what it means to become a responsible man.
“The self-discovery comes from navigating being a good guy, being a good boyfriend, and now he’s a good father,” he said.
That internal battle becomes an important part of Stuurman’s performance, particularly as Sphelele attempts to make decisions that will benefit the people around him while sometimes making choices that have devastating consequences.
When one decision changes everything
uMthetho revolves around justice, crime, family and the difficult choices people make when their circumstances become increasingly complicated.
Sphelele finds himself at the centre of some of those difficult decisions, with one choice eventually resulting in him being imprisoned and forcing his sister Mbali to fight for his freedom.
For Stuurman, that unpredictability is one of the elements that makes the series compelling.
“All the characters, you could literally pick the one scene where, had this character done something different here, the story would have totally been different,” he said.
“I think that’s what’s exciting to watch, because in those scenes, the characters make the worst decisions.”
The actor was particularly interested in the quieter moments behind those decisions – the moments where Sphelele is forced to examine who he is, what he wants and the type of man he wants to become.
“There’s a lot of emotional beats, a lot of emotional moments, a lot of self-introspective moments, I felt, even though they were not obvious. But there are moments where you could see, okay, Sphelele is introspecting himself now,” Stuurman explained.
From child star to one of South Africa’s familiar faces
Stuurman’s journey in the entertainment industry stretches back to his childhood.
He first gained widespread attention as Xolisi “Speedy” Ncebe in the SABC1 drama series Tshisa, a role he played from 2006 to 2012. He later became a familiar face to television audiences through his role as Kgosi in e.tv’s long-running Scandal!.
His career has also included appearances in productions such as Invictus, Straight Outta Benoni, Shuga and Jiva!.
That long career has allowed Stuurman to move from child performer to an established actor capable of tackling increasingly complex roles.
His portrayal of Sphelele in uMthetho represents another evolution in that journey, giving him an opportunity to explore vulnerability, masculinity, fatherhood and family conflict.
A more vulnerable Given Stuurman
While audiences may recognise Stuurman from some of his earlier television roles, uMthetho presents a different side of the actor.
Sphelele is not simply defined by the mistakes he makes. He is a young man attempting to balance competing responsibilities while trying to make sense of the world around him.
That complexity is what Stuurman appears to have embraced.
Rather than playing Sphelele as a stereotypical troubled young man, the actor has focused on the character’s emotional vulnerability and the pressures that sit underneath his actions.
The result is a performance that explores how family history, fatherhood, relationships and difficult circumstances can influence the choices young men make.
uMthetho makes its mark
The Black Brain Pictures production has quickly attracted attention since its release, with the crime thriller reaching the number-one position on Netflix in South Africa.
The series features a heavyweight ensemble cast, including Sindi Dlathu, Nqobile “Nunu” Khumalo and Tony Kgoroge, and follows a story in which questions of justice, loyalty and family collide.
For Stuurman, however, Sphelele’s story offers something more personal – an exploration of what it means to grow up, become a father and find your identity when the guidance you need is missing.
And as audiences continue to follow Sphelele’s journey, Stuurman’s performance demonstrates just how much emotional depth can exist beneath the surface of a character whose decisions repeatedly threaten to change his life forever.
uMthetho is currently streaming on Netflix.
