Gail Mabalane Opens Up About Playing Detective Phello Mohapi in New Telenovela Pimville

SABC 2 is entering an exciting new era with Pimville, a brand-new, high-stakes telenovela set to premiere in the first half of 2026. The show will air Mondays to Fridays at 21:00 and promises gripping drama, powerful storytelling and a fresh chapter for local television. At the centre of this upcoming series is actress Gail Mabalane, who plays Detective Phello Mohapi — a strong-willed, determined woman trying to survive the difficult world of policing while dealing with love, betrayal and danger in the heart of Soweto.

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After starring in major international productions like Netflix’s Unseen, Gail told TRUELOVE why returning to South African television was deeply meaningful to her. For her, joining Pimville was more than just another role.

“I have the responsibility to do it. It’s my job. I’m from Kimberley, so going home is a no-brainer,” Gail says.

She explains that even though many people see her on big global platforms and streaming services, coming back home still holds a special place in her heart.

“People see me on international platforms and streaming services. There’s something about going home that not only does something for me, but does something for the people. So, coming back and doing a show on our national broadcaster was a very important choice for me to make because we have to support our broadcasters. We want to see them thrive, we want to see the broadcaster continue to grow and evolve. It’s hope.”

Gail compares her decision to return to SABC 2 to a successful child who chooses to go back home and improve the family home before moving on.

She says, “Just like as a person when you start working and you start earning. We have the need to go back home and fix the house, fix the kitchen, redo the house, before you go out and buy your mansion or you move to the suburbs or whatever. You build your house. You fix your mother’s house and your dad’s house or your granny’s house. You make sure they have a toilet inside… and that’s really the narrative for me.”

Through her role as Detective Phello, Gail also gets the chance to show a side of police officers that many people do not often think about. She is learning how detectives think, what they fear and what they sacrifice in their jobs.

“There’s an incredible detective that I’m walking a journey with and it’s just been such an eye-opening moment getting to understand cops, how they think, what they compromise, what they fear, what they worry about – getting to know them as human beings. That’s been amazing.”

But the role does not come without challenges. She admits that the hardest part is showing the humanity behind the badge.

“The hard part has been finding that humanity and then portraying that because they face a lot, from trauma to just their real lives. I mean, cops are humans. So, being able to peel away at those layers — Phello is a woman who is faced with a lot of challenges.”

Gail says Phello is tough and fearless at work, a strict and churchgoing woman, but she also carries personal struggles.

“She’s this tough cop at work, very tough, very hard, churchgoing woman. But she has struggles, she has flaws and it’s about tapping into those flaws that I’m hoping will allow our men and women in blue to watch the show and go, ‘I see myself. Or thank you for portraying that side, or thank you for showing South Africa that side of us’.”

With Pimville, Gail is not only taking on a powerful character — she is stepping into a role that highlights the real, human stories behind South Africa’s police force.