Making it official

Jama proposes to Ayanda to save their dying relationship, but she’s stalling on an answer.

Weekdays SABC1 (*191) 18:30

Ayanda’s (Pretty Ncayiyane) insecurities have skyrocketed since finding “evidence” that her boyfriend Jama (Nkokheli Oros Mampofu) is cheating on her two weeks ago. Neither realised that the condoms in Jama’s backpack were planted by Ayanda’s manipulative ex Emkay (Mlungisi Mathe), who desperately wants her back. Ayanda is struggling to trust Jama again and the cracks in their relationships have become craters by Thursday 23 June. Then Jama does the unthinkable in order to hold onto his girl, but before he gets an answer, tragedy strikes for the young couple…

IT ALL COMES CRASHING DOWN

Taking strain, Jama goes out with his friends on Friday 24 June in an effort to get away from the domestic drama at the flat he shares with Ayanda. “He’s always been a reckless drinker. Because he’s such a goody-two-shoes, he goes the extra mile when he has Jama is eyeing a quick fix to his relationship problems. a good time,” says Oros. “He tries to compensate for the fun that he never really has on a day-to- day basis.”

But his girlfriend is having none of it and on Thursday 30 June, Ayanda calls him out over his constant drinking and irresponsible behaviour, forcing him to take a long, hard look at himself. “Jama has never lived with a girl before and doesn’t understand the implications of going out and not saying that he’ll be back late and leaving Ayanda alone,” says Pretty. “It was his idea to move in together and she feels that he’s being inconsiderate and immature.”

WAKE-UP CALL

But Jama quickly sobers up on Friday 1 July when Ayanda gets news that her application to intern at a company in KwaZulu-Natal has been successful. “This becomes another obstacle,” says Oros. “Their love is tested and it’s especially hard on an idealistic Jama, who hoped for them to stay together until marriage.” Meanwhile, Ayanda is feigning excitement while she wrestles with her emotions regarding the news. “It’s Ayanda’s last year [at university], Ayanda’s taken aback by Jama’s proposal.

TAKING THE PLUNGE

Faced with the prospect of losing the love of his life, Jama takes drastic action on Tuesday 5 July. “His desperation of wanting to keep Ayanda leads him to go the extra mile, hoping that it gets her to compromise,” Oros says of his character’s decision to propose to his girl. But a stunned Ayanda doesn’t give Jama the “yes” that he’s hoping to hear. In fact, she’s pretty hesitant about getting hitched. “They’re still students and her parents don’t even know about the relationship, let alone that they’re living together,” Pretty says. “She really loves the guy, but they’ve only been dating for about six months and she thinks that it’s too soon.” But she also doesn’t say no – instead, Ayanda says that she needs time to think about it. “He thinks it’s because she’s still hung up on Emkay, but he’s mature about it and gives her the space to decide,” says Oros. Little do they know that they don’t have much time left…