Growing pains
Leeto’s plans to man up and move out are wrecked by his nosy parents who’re trying to control him.
Skeem Saam Weekdays SABC1 (*191) 18:30
Self- confessed mama’s boy Leeto Maputla (Eric Macheru) has longed to prove to his parents John and Meikie (Afrika Tsoai and Harriet Manamela) that he’s a responsible adult. He started building his dream house for his wife Mokgadi (Pebetsi Malaitjia) in February this year and his parents seemed thrilled with the idea at first, but on Thursday 2 March Meikie changes her tune and puts the brakes on Leeto’s plans.
“It’s war in the Maputla house. Meikie thinks that Mokgadi is stealing her son from her and doesn’t want her to see Leeto,” explains Eric. John also questions whether Leeto could live without his supervision, which gets Leeto’s back up. He’s stunned that his parents appear to be thwarting all the adulting he’s busy doing. He gave up his dream of becoming a DJ and got married as they suggested, and now that he’s trying to prove that he’s a man, they’re again standing in his way. “So Leeto hits out,” Eric says. “He is never right in his parents’ eyes. He is moving out with Mokgadi – whether they like it or not!”
MOMS AT ODDS
To make tensions worse in the Maputla house, Mokgadi – who’s also a “mama’s child”, Pebetsi explains – brings in her own mom Mary (Motshabi Tyelele) on Thursday 9 March. This rubs Meikie up the wrong way. “She’s livid! She sees Mary as her rival and hates that she always takes over when it comes to the children’s financial issues. Like when she gave Mokgadi and Leeto money for their wedding early last year,” says Pebetsi. And she does it again! Mary offers her daughter and son-in-law the money that they need to finally finish building their dream home on Friday 10 March.
“Meikie loses it,” says Pebetsi. She feels inadequate compared to Mary and to address this, she offers Mokgadi and Leeto her insurance money. She also plants the idea in her son’s head that Mary will expect favours from him if they take her money.
Spoilt for choice in a way but also aware of the possible consequences of taking money from either of the moms, Leeto and Mokgadi are confused. “It’s difficult for them,” Pebetsi says. “They don’t know whose money to take – and they also really desperately need it.”
MONEY TALKS
Mary and Meikie are both overprotective and controlling and like getting their own way. They’re also bad losers, so on Monday 13 March, Meikie desperately tries to convince Leeto to refuse Mary’s money and take hers. But Leeto realises what’s behind all of this: an old rivalry between the women and he doesn’t want to be part of it. “He can’t stand being in the middle,” Pebetsi reveals.
The next day, Tuesday 14 March, Leeto and Mokgadi announce that they will be accepting Mary’s offer. Meikie is miserable – not only has she lost this round of the battle against her rival, but deep down, she also feels left out, like she couldn’t contribute to making her son’s dreams come true. “It’s too late for Meikie to put a stop to the couple’s plan. Leeto and Mokgadi are stronger than ever,” adds Pebetsi.