Fatherly feud
Leshole puts his irresponsible dad BigBoy firmly in his place.
Skeem Saam Weekdays SABC1 (*191) 18:30
Leshole (Thabo Mkhabela) has been the underdog from day 1 at Turf Loop High thanks to his poor family situation. And he becomes the laughing stock at school on Wednesday 7 June when Principal Thobakgale (Elizabeth Serunye) announces the date for this year’s awards evening – Friday 30 June. “He thought that his social life would be exciting by matric,” says Thabo. “The other students look down on him because of his drunkard dad BigBoy (Charles Maja), who embarrassed him at last year’s ceremony.”
CAUSING A STIR
But this year will be different, explains the actor: “Leshole is used to the bullying. He uses the negative energy to push himself and prove that he can succeed.” On Thursday 8 June, he asks his dad for money for a tutor and textbooks. “BigBoy stops him immediately – there is no money for that,” explains Thabo. “But then Leshole stands up to his dad – he’s tired of coming second to BigBoy’s drinking and it ends now!”
Leshole reminds his father that he is in matric and needs the right study equipment to pass. “He’s blunt and tells his dad to put in effort and be a better father,” explains Thabo. Leshole turns to his pal Manaka (Skhumbuzo Mbatha) on Tuesday 13 June for help and Thabo says that “Manaka promises to get his friend what he needs. He believes in Leshole when no one else does”.
HELPING HAND
Manaka approaches his friend Kamo (Mulalo Ndou) to tutor Leshole later on Tuesday 13 June but there’s a problem, says Thabo: “She’s hesitant. She’s heard a lot of horror stories about Leshole’s alcoholic dad and she doesn’t want to be part of that.” And she wants to be paid. Leshole speaks to his dad again on Thursday 15 June but “BigBoy says that Kamo is expensive,” Thabo adds.
That’s when something clicks in Leshole’s head. “He’s not going to let this drunk old man stand in his way of going to university,” explains the actor. “He refuses to help his dad at his carfixing business and that’s a problem.” BigBoy realises that this is a war that he may not win – and he concedes defeat, “giving Leshole R400 per week after Leshole convinces his dad that he can do this,” says the soap’s publicist Percy Vilakazi. “And there is added incentive for BigBoy – he wants to see Leshole outshine his enemy MaNtuli’s (Dieketseng Mnisi) daughter.”