Ladies & their lovers
Tshidi’s in trouble and turns to her ex, while Nolwazi’s former flame is the problem.
When it comes to love, feisty businesswomen Tshidi Phakade (Letoya Makhene) and publicist Nolwazi Buzo (Thando Thabethe) have had their fair share of bad romances – and the month of love isn’t getting easier. Tshidi’s accountant drops a bomb on Wednesday 1 February: her marketing and advertising business #hashtag World is bankrupt. Tshidi’s shady businessman ex-boyfriend Jack Mabaso (Vusi Kunene) badmouthed her to clients after their break-up on Wednesday 11 January and Letoya says that “Tshidi is fighting for her life. She’s desperate and has nothing – all she wants to do is survive”. Her plan? Running back to her abusive ex-hubby Gadaffi (Vuyo Dabula) for help. Thando adds that it’s just as bad for
her character Nolwazi: “She convinces herself that she’s doing fine after her [Tuesday 31 January] break-up with the love of her life Mazwi Moroka [Musa Ngema] by getting a rebound guy, but that only gets Nolwazi tangled in even bigger drama.”
FOOL ME ONCE, SHAME ON YOU
Without even a roof over her head, Tshidi asks Gadaffi for an apartment in his building Siqalo Court on Monday 6 February and he cruelly gives her the worst spot available. “It belonged to Gadaffi’s ex-mistress Karishma (Tarina Patel) in 2015 and Gadaffi does this on purpose to hurt Tshidi,” says Letoya. He’s forcing his power over her and on Thursday 9 February, Gadaffi offers to buy back #hashtag World but “it sets off alarm bells in her head. Gadaffi has money and Tshidi comes up with a plan to steal it,” teases Letoya. Tshidi has always wanted to be independent and Letoya explains, “The break-ups and drama in her life have taught her to be self-reliant. Tshidi has gone back to Gadaffi but with a purpose – she plans to take what’s hers from Gadaffi, even if it means tolerating him and living under his roof.”
OFFICE OBSTACLE
Nolwazi is in a very different situation after she and Mazwi go their separate ways on Thursday 2 February. Mazwi’s still married to pregnant Sphe (Pearl Monama) and he’s ditched his fiancée Nolwazi after finding out that he’s infertile on Thursday 26 January. Thing is, Mazwi is still Nolwazi’s boss at Ezweni and they’ll still be working together. Thando says that “Nolwazi pretends that she’s unaffected by the break-up. The chemistry’s still there but she’s hurt. There’s a lot of resentment.” She adds that Nolwazi is sad “but she is too proud to let it show or let anyone know”. On Thursday 9 February, she throws a break-up party to show her friends that she’s over Mazwi and on Valentine’s Day, Tuesday 14 February, Nolwazi’s best friend Getty (Andisiwe Dweba) finds her in bed with Mazwi’s brother-in-law Fana (Mnqobi Duma). “She isn’t ready to fall in love again,” explains Thando, “and this shows that she isn’t coping at all.”