Skeem Saam
One not-so-little secret is about to destroy Mokgadi’s marriage.
Skeem Saam Weekdays SABC1 (*191) 18:30
The Maputla family’s perfect daughter-in-law Mokgadi (Pebetsi Malaitja) is always on top of her game. As Turfloop’s most fearless journalist, she fights for the truth and holds the wrong accountable for their actions. But on Wednesday 15 March, it seems like there are a few skeletons in Mokgadi’s closet. Her meddling mother-in-law Meikie (Harriet Manamela) is the first to sense nervousness about Mokgadi, which arouses her suspicions. “Meikie’s right!” says Pebetsi. “Mokgadi’s hiding a secret that could tear her life apart.” She does everything she can to keep her in-laws and especially her hubby Leeto (Eric Macheru) in the dark about it, but the truth always has a way of coming out…
ALLY & PUNCHING BAG
Mokgadi realises on Thursday 16 March that Meiki is onto her and she becomes increasingly paranoid, thinking that everyone in the Maputla household is watching her like a hawk. “Her guilt is eating her from the inside,” explains Pebetsi. To cope, Mokgadi calls in her mom Mary (Motshabi Tyelele), who’s always been her ally and with whom her secret is safe. This move makes Meikie even more wary, as her relationship with Mary’s already strained. Plus, Meikie spots the mother and daughter huddled conversation – even though they pretend everything’s fine – and she knows that something’s going on behind her back.
Leeto, who’s been busy feuding with his parents about their meddling in his marriage again in early March, also picks up on his wife’s restlessness on Friday 17 March. We know what Mokgadi is hiding [we’ve been sworn to secrecy about the revelation], but because she can’t open up to her hubby or in-laws as that would let the cat out the bag, Mom Mary is her confidante – and she has to help deal with her daughter’s anxiety. “Mokgadi feels trapped,” Pebetsi explains, “and deep down she blames her mom for what happened in her past.” Mokgadi lashes out at Mary on Tuesday 21 March in front of her stunned in-laws, who don’t know what to make of the spat. “The Maputlas are confused – they thought that Mokgadi and Mary have always had a great relationship. It’s a shock for everyone,” Pebetsi adds.
MOMENT OF TRUTH
That fight with Mary forces Mokgadi into a realisation: she needs to come clean. The family gathers for her father-in-law John’s (Africa Tsoai) birthday on Wednesday 22 March and Mokgadi reckons this is the perfect opportunity to get the big secret off her chest. But despite her efforts to be as diplomatic as possible in breaking the news, it doesn’t go down well. “Of course Meikie makes a huge fuss about it,” says Pebetsi. “She starts screaming, calling Mokgadi all sorts of names. It’s chaos.” And Leeto is so devastated that he tells the family the next day, Thursday 23 March, that he wants a divorce. “He wishes that Mokgadi told him before sharing the news with everyone at the party,” says Pebetsi. “Leeto’s parents try to stop him from ruining his marriage, but it seems like he’s made up his mind.”
IT’S ALL OVER
Tensions rise and by Tuesday 28 March, Leeto calls off all work on the house that he’s building for him and Mokgadi to live in together. Mokgadi is desperate to hold on to her husband and Pebetsi says that “she tries to talk to him and resolve the matter. But Leeto’s adamant that he wants to call it quits. He isn’t ready to forgive her.”