The other man

Unhappy-in-love Nikiwe cheats on S’khu… with Gabriel!

Nikiwe seals the deal with her new guy. Weekdays SABC3 (*193) 19:00

Nikiwe’s (Linda Sokhulu) been single for a little over two weeks after asking restaurant-boss boyfriend S’khu (Sisa Hewana) for a break from “them” on Thursday 18 August. Now it’s time for her to get into bed with the man she’s fallen for: Horizon Deep’s sleazy ex-pastor-turned-business schemer Gabriel (Aubrey Poo).

COME DINE WITH ME

Tension’s been building with the pair’s late-night meetings and flirting, and on Friday 2 September, Gabriel charms Nikiwe into a dinner date. “Gabriel is an opportunist,” says Aubrey. “He sees Nikiwe as a beautiful conquest – it’s a beneficial relationship for him because he gets the girl and she can also fund his extravagant lifestyle. For Nikiwe, she could lose friends and respect…”

DECEIT & DRAMA

While Gabriel has his prize right where he wants her on Tuesday 6 September, there’s still an on- off boyfriend-shaped problem. “S’khu hates Gabriel because of what he did to S’khu’s younger sister Aphiwe (Khanya Mkangisa) [Gabriel assaulted her in November 2015] and the men don’t see eye-to-eye,” Aubrey explains. “S’khu’s disgusted at the sight of Gabriel and he’s interested to know why Gabriel is hanging around Nikiwe like a parasitic leech on Wednesday 7 September.” S’khu’s wary of Gabriel but Nikiwe reassures him later that day that they only have a work relationship. But S’khu should’ve listened to his gut…

HOTEL HOOK-UP

Nikiwe builds up the courage on Thursday 8 September and she leads her new love interest to the bedroom of her suite at The Duncan hotel. While they do have sex, Aubrey says that “Nikiwe is sober and she sees Gabriel in a very different light. She’s intrigued by him and his world, but she has to choose between Gabriel and S’khu”. But while Nikiwe can hide her rendezvous from her boyfriend, her dad Lincoln (Lindani Nkosi) notices the change in her relationship with Gabriel on Monday 12 September during a Sibeko meeting.

Lincoln puts his foot down and gives Gabriel a warning to stay away. Adds Aubrey, “Lincoln is a devious character because he knows that Gabriel has info about everyone in The Deep from his days as a pastor and that can be used to Lincoln’s advantage. Lincoln isn’t happy about Nikiwe and Gabriel, but does Gabriel care? He doesn’t because he’s selfish and self-serving!”