In Turfloop, a vibrant town in Limpopo, rural meets urban, poor working class meet middle class, and university students mix with ordinary folk. Turfloop is a bit spooky in the dark hours, buzzes in the evening, has a lot of innocence with children playing and church women nearby.

Skeem Saam is a drama set in Turfloop that asks the question; how does a boy know when he has become a man? Skeem Saam explores the lives of three teenage boys and their families. Kwaito (Clement Maosa), a tough, confident boy who will go to extraordinary lengths to protect his future, Tbose (Cornet Mamabolo), a handsome boy who makes a life-changing mistake on his 16th birthday, and Katlego (Patrick Seleka), a kind-hearted boy who is comfortable in his own skin and doesn’t let his gender limit him in any way.

Vukile Madlala, publicity manager for SABC1 says: “Skeem Saam is a blend of stories about the journey to manhood. It examines the plight of today’s male children and the tough transformation challenges they face into manhood. The underlying premise for the series is: real men are made, not born. Viewers will laugh, cry, feel and learn. Isn’t that what good stories are all about?”

Skeem Saam tells stories driven by the boys, their parents, siblings and teachers. The central story is about a hit-and-run car accident that thrusts ordinary law-abiding people into frightening circumstances and tests family relationships. This story is supported by stories of absent fathers, the importance of education, sexuality, friendship and self empowerment.

“Skeem Saam examines the way in which these three friends deal with issues of masculinity, crime, gender relations, relationships, peer pressure, sex, etc. The boys are young and happening, fun and unpredictable. Their massive craving to be men is the engine that drives their behaviour. They are in a curious, experimental, questioning time of life. They fight, compete, and disappoint one another from time to time, but their underlying friendship keeps them together. They enjoy playing pool, watching movies and experimenting with all sorts of stuff. Like most boys, they have a tendency to risk life and limb for no good reason, and they want to give an impression that they are tougher and more resilient than they really are. Katlego will explore his journey in a safe way but Kwaito and Tbose will take life-threatening risks. What does it cost to become a man?” says Sane Zondi, SABC Education’s commissioning editor.

13 hourly episodes of Skeem Saam is scheduled for broadcast on SABC1, Thursdays at 20:30 starting 13 October 2011. Younger characters who feature prominently in the series are eight-year-old Clement (Vusi Leremi) and 11-year-old Pretty (Lerato Marabe), who are also preoccupied with their own childhood issues. The trials and tribulations in Skeem Saam are gripping from the first to last episode.