South African actor S’Dumo Mtshali is receiving widespread praise for his performance as Jonasi Gomora in Netflix’s new South African series The Polygamist, with many viewers saying the role proves just how much he has grown as an actor.
For many South Africans, Mtshali’s journey feels full circle.
He first became known to a national audience through Class Act, where he quickly stood out as one of the country’s brightest young talents. Years later, viewers say The Polygamist shows a more layered and mature performer — one capable of carrying a large-scale international production.
In the series, Mtshali plays Jonasi Gomora — a self-made CEO whose seemingly perfect life begins to collapse as his relationships, secrets and personal choices catch up with him. The story follows how the women in his life challenge the image of power and success he has built around himself.
Early reactions online suggest that audiences are not necessarily loving Jonasi as a character — but they are loving how convincingly Mtshali plays him.
Across online discussions, viewers have described the show as “messy but addictive,” with many saying Jonasi is one of those characters people love to hate. Several posts singled out Mtshali’s performance, with fans saying he makes the character believable even when Jonasi’s choices become frustrating and chaotic. Others have already started calling him “the perfect casting choice” for the role.
Reviewers have also pointed out that Jonasi sits at the centre of almost every major conflict in the series — meaning much of the show’s success depends on whether audiences buy into Mtshali’s performance. So far, the response suggests many viewers do.
With The Polygamist now streaming globally, some fans are even calling S’Dumo Mtshali one of South Africa’s most underrated actors — and for others, this role may be the one that pushes him into a new chapter of international recognition.
