Moriti’s crisis: “I’ve got cancer!”
Moriti Mojalefa has massive news to share with her family: she’s got cancer!
The Mojalefa family’s going through a rough patch lately. Monday 14 December sees Matshidiso (Buhle Samuels) reveal that pregnant Carol (Phuti Komo) isn’t sure if the baby is Lerumo’s or his son Morapedi’s (John Morapama and Rantebeng Makapan), and then on Tuesday 15 December, Moriti (Tshidi Vera) sits the family down for a tear-jerking announcement. She has cancer and is dying.
IT’S ALL RELATIVE
Breaking the news to her loved ones weighs heavily on Moriti’s shoulders, says Tshidi. “Moriti was feeling ill over the past few weeks and went for a few check-ups [which were never shown onscreen] – that’s when she finds out that she has cancer”. She adds that “when she tells her family, she’s very factual about it but she’s still traumatised”. When the news sinks in on Wednesday 16 December, Lerumo and Morapedi put their Carol-babymama-drama differences aside and move Moriti to top spot on their list of priorities. Says Tshidi, “The Mojalefa family are worried about Moriti and her health, while she hopes that the cancer reunites them.”
LETTER FROM MORITI
As bad as the news seems, it’s actually worse. On Thursday 17 December, Mangwashe (Tumi Malefo) learns just how serious her mom’s illness is. She’s devastated and hurt. Making it worse, Moriti can’t bring herself to have a discussion about death with Mangwashe. “Moriti knows for a fact that she is dying. She can’t turn back the clock,” explains Tshidi. But she can express herself in a letter to her daughter, which is what Moriti does on Friday 18 December. “Moriti’s letter is about staying strong and moving forward in life,” says Tshidi. “She wants Mangwashe to understand what she’s going through and what her final wishes for her daughter are.”
AT DEATH’S DOOR
While the topic is sensitive, the disease can affect anyone and everyone, which Tshidi is proud that these scenes show. “Moriti’s storyline teaches viewers that cancer is real and it’s not just a ‘white people’ illness.” Still in a state of shock at the news, the family obey Moriti’s final wishes on Tuesday 22 December: “for family to stick together, support her and stay by her side,” Tshidi says.