The thirst for power is what drove Azania Maqoma to plan a grand scheme. He decides to allow the citizens of South Africa to choose whether a man charged with murder is guilty or not. What seems to be a choice is, in reality, far from it. The organization, Namoor, headed by Maqoma, takes over the courthouse where the verdict of a man was to be decided. They locked the building and took it hostage. Maqoma live-streamed the trial. He requested his audience to vote on whether or not they found the man innocent. If he was considered guilty, then Maqoma would kill the man on live television. Judge Bengu tried to reason with the organization by pointing out how it was only through law and order that one could expect justice and a fair trial. Maqoma was not interested in what she believed in. According to him, the system had been worthless, and therefore it must be brought to the ground. While the group was formed to serve its people, Azania’s ambitions were larger than that. “Justice Served” is bound to remind you of “Money Heist” with the masked faces and the hostage situation. The series had a lot going on for itself, but the ending was far-fetched and disappointing.
Spoilers Ahead
‘Justice Served’ Plot Summary: What Is The Series About?
Azania Maqoma, the leader of the Namoor gang, took over the courthouse during the hearing of the Allen Harvey case. The white man had shot a black youth, Zoli, and he defended his actions by stating that it was an act of self-defense. Zoli was carrying a gun, and Harvey believed that he could be harmed in that situation. He claimed it to be an act not driven by racism, but Maqoma did not feel the same way. He believed Harvey was not an innocent man, and to prove his position, he started to delve into his past. Harvey had physically tortured his wife and son. Initially, he denied killing an innocent man, but when he looked at Maqoma in his eyes, he realized that he was the same man he had once tortured. When he was in the tactical unit of the army and was tasked with controlling the MK Communist camps in Angola during the 80s, he shot Maqoma’s friend dead. Maqoma carried the scar of torture even now. He could never forgive Allen for his actions. He reminded Allen of his sins and how even if he shot the guy as an act of self-defense, it could never justify all that he had done in his entire life. Harvey was ashamed of himself. Even though he claimed to be a changed man, it did not absolve him of his sins. Allen’s mother, who believed her son, initially changed her stance and called him a monster. The whole situation was broadcast on live television.
The live television was controlled by Baby, an open supporter of Namoor. They called the members of the Namoor freedom fighters and requested their audience vote for Harvey’s death. Baby was also responsible for sending Karabo to the courthouse on her first day at the job. She was chosen because of her lack of experience and as bait for Maqoma’s plan. Meanwhile, the situation was handled by Brigadier Mampho Mashaba, whose husband was a rebel and was shot dead by a masked man. But the power was soon taken away from her by General Hassen, who claimed to be appointed by the Minister of Police. While Mashaba intended to save the hostage, Hassen wanted to eliminate the group at any cost. It was later understood that Hassen was instructed by the Minister of State Security and not the police. The Minister of State Security was in direct conflict with Maqoma, and it is gradually being established how the two were connected in the past. The live broadcast caught the attention of the public, and many started to support the Namoor mission. They agreed that the system had failed them, so they needed to fight it and establish a new system that would cater to the people.
Who Was Itu? What Was The Relationship Between The Minister Of State Security And Maqoma?
While Brigadier Mashaba tried to handle the situation, her daughter, Itu, took to the streets with her friends to support Azania. Her spoiled boyfriend, Menzi, wanted to be a revolutionary without knowing what it took to be one. He found the Azania situation the perfect time to protest against the system. While Itu trusted Menzi, her best friend, Thabi, warned her that he was using her for her ideas. Itu did not mind it; she was happy to be a part of the movement without having to be the face of it. They were arrested for protesting in front of the courthouse. Mashaba took Itu and Menzi to their camp outside the court to explain how their protest was distracting the police from controlling the situation. She requested they protest at a different spot, and Menzi agreed. Though he secretly asked Itu to take her mother’s phone and inform Maqoma about the intention of the police to enter and kill him. Since Maqoma had contacted her mother, she had his number, and Menzi believed that it was their duty to warn him of the danger. While Itu did as she was told, she was outed by Maqoma on television, and everyone wondered who Itu was.
Menzi took their plan a step further and revealed Itu’s identity to the media, without considering how uncomfortable and risky it would be for her. The police caught hold of Itu, and Mashaba could not help her. When she was about to be transferred to prison, the protestors led by Menzi stopped the police car and forcefully pulled out Itu. He held Itu’s hand as they stood on the roof of a car while the crowd chanted her name. The temperament soon shifted when Hassen shot Itu in the chest from afar. Mashaba grabbed hold of her bleeding daughter while the crowd dispersed. After losing her husband, Mashaba had spent months mourning his death, and now her daughter was murdered as well. She somehow felt responsible for her inability to make her daughter understand the difference between fighting the system to bring justice and being a rebel for attention. She wanted to know if the people who killed her husband were the ones behind her daughter’s death. The situation became personal for her, and she needed closure. She later learned that her daughter was shot because the minister believed she was a Namoor.
Meanwhile, Menzi returned home, realizing the consequence of his childish actions as he mourned the death of his lover. It was because of his plan to rat out the police that the nurse who worked at his house lost her husband, the security guard at the courthouse. He risked the lives of all those who were trapped without even realizing it. Abel Kunene, the Minister of State Security, used to be a Namoor, but he changed sides after he tasted power. Abel and Maqoma knew each other from their childhood days. When they were in school, they distributed leaflets speaking against the authorities. The army shot their friend, Thambi, and the boys were tortured. They later joined MK and fought for liberation in Angola. After being brutally tortured by Harvey, Abel and Maqoma were initiated into Namoor. The Namoor were a secret group that abided by a creed. Their purpose was to remain a shadow and work for the people, but never to lead the people. They treated everyone in the group as brothers and sisters.
Maqoma popularized the idea that it was Suku, a member they lost, who before dying asked him to carry out this plan. Whereas in reality, she asked Maqoma to restart Namoor in Yemen and forget the past. Maqoma contoured her words to his liking, to rule the world the way he wanted to. Abel was sent by Suku to understand the Paladin situation in the new government formed. According to their information, the Paladin was a secret capitalist organization that controlled the government and ultimately wanted to lead the nation. Suku did not wish for the Paladins to hijack their revolution with the new arms deal with France, and Abel was assigned to the mission. Even though when he returned, he was a changed man. He cared more about wealth and control. He was asked by the Paladin to capture the President and bring in the government tenders. Maqoma knew that his brother was changing sides, though he chose to not believe it. Later, Abel brought his men to the Namoor camp and shot the members dead. Maqoma survived. He rebuilt the group, though he was driven by revenge.
‘Justice Served’ Ending Explained: Was Allen Harvey Killed?
When the police attempted to enter the building, a policeman shot Karabo. As it turned out, the policeman was Namoor, and he had recently joined the force to execute the plan. The news of the police shooting an innocent civilian became a sensation just the way Maqoma had imagined. Karabo survived, and Uhuru helped her with her injury. Even though Uhuru was a Namoor, he did not trust Maqoma completely. He knew that what Maqoma was doing contradicted the Namoor beliefs. Karabo and Uhuru developed an affection for one another. From inside the courthouse, Karabo managed to find a phone and spoke about how the entire shooting was a sham. It was created to manipulate the audience. The voting started to affect her after she went on air, and the people decided that Allen Harvey was not guilty. Whether or not people believed in Harvey’s innocence will remain unknown, but surely people were against watching a barbaric event unfold on live television. People voted for law and order, but Harvey was now convinced that he was guilty. He believed that he must be punished for all the wrongs he committed in life. Maqoma was enraged after he was informed of the voting result. He believed that the people had failed him and that the common people did not deserve democracy. Nonetheless, they proceeded to phase 2 of his plan. He allowed the hostages to leave the premises, and he asked the police to send a car for his men. He surrendered himself in front of the police.
Abel confronted him and reminded him how Namoor was a failure. In less than the anticipated time frame, he would declare a state of emergency and become the leader of the people. He believed that Namoor could not even imagine what he was about to fulfill. But Maqoma was ahead of his plan. He blew a secret powder kept hidden in his pouch, which dropped Abel to the ground. He was gasping for air. Maqoma informed him that he had hijacked his plan. Every cell that Abel had built was taken over by Maqoma’s men. The Paladin was over, and it was the age of the Namoor. Namoor police officers took control of the situation, and Maqoma was free to rule the world.
Meanwhile, we get to know that Zilo’s brother joined Namoor and shot Allen Harvey dead. Allen was ready to sacrifice his life for his wrongdoings. Maqoma sends out a message to the people of the nation; he warns them that they could either join his army and become a Namoor or they would be labeled as their enemies. Therefore, Maqoma became the dictator that Abel wanted to be, even if that meant that he was betraying the original Namoor ideals.
Justice was never truly served; it rather became another form of repression. While the Namoor were those who fought for the people from the shadows, it had now, under Maqoma’s leadership, become a controlling power. At the end of the day, it is always about power play and never truly about serving the people.
“Justice Served” is a 2022 South African Drama series streaming on Netflix.
