Created by the late Shona Ferguson, Netflix’s ‘Kings of Jo’burg’ is a South African crime thriller series that revolves around the powerful and influential Masire brothers. They have a foothold in the city’s criminal underworld as they basically rule it. However, their life is turned upside down when a supernatural family curse haunts them. Things go from bad to worse when the brothers discover that they are also trapped in a web of betrayal from one of their own, all of which pose a threat to everything they have built and gained until now.
The thriller show features impressive onscreen performances from talented actors, including Zolisa Xaluva, Connie Ferguson, Cindy Mahlangu, Sello Sebotsane, and Lunathi Mampofu. While the suspenseful narrative keeps the viewers hooked through each episode, the use of some exciting locations makes one wonder where ‘Kings of Jo’burg’ is shot. If you are one such curious soul, you might be interested in what we have to share about the same!
Kings of Jo’burg Filming Locations
‘Kings of Jo’burg’ is filmed entirely in South Africa, particularly in the Gauteng province. Shooting for the inaugural iteration seemingly started in August 2019 and concluded in February 2020. As for the principal photography for the sophomore round, it reportedly commenced in June 2021.
However, due to the tragic death of the show’s lead actor and producer, Shona Ferguson, from COVID-19, the production process was halted in July 2021. After several months of pause, shooting for season 2 finally resumed around May 2022 and wrapped up in July of the same year. So, without wasting time, let’s walk through all the specific places that can be spotted in the Netflix series!
Gauteng, South Africa
Many pivotal sequences for ‘Kings of Jo’burg’ are lensed in and around Gauteng, the smallest of all the nine South African provinces, in terms of land area. Since the story is set in Johannesburg, as the series title suggests, most of the show is recorded on location in the city.
Johannesburg is the provincial capital and largest city of Gauteng, as well as South Africa. From the looks of it, the filming unit travels across the city, including the commercial and residential suburbs of Rosebank, to tape scenes against different backdrops. Also known as The City of Gold, Johannesburg is a cultural hub in the country and is home to various cultural venues, including museums and galleries. Some popular ones are the Adler Museum of Medicine, the Apartheid Museum, the Origins Centre Museum, and the Zoology Museum.
In addition, during the production of the first two seasons, the cast and crew members were spotted shooting several key scenes in Roodepoort, a town in the Gauteng province. Located on the Highveld, the province is considered the nation’s economic hub as it influences many sectors, including transport, manufacturing, technology, finance, and telecommunications. Over the years, Gauteng has hosted the production of many movies, including ‘Dredd,’ ‘The Salvation,’ ‘Money Monster,’ ‘Collision,’ and ‘The Last Days of American Crime.’
Read More: Is Netflix’s Kings of Jo’burg Based on a True Story?