A matter of life & death
Richard’s revenge plan against Celia lands her daughter Ndoni on a one-way drug horror trip.
From the outside, rich kid Ndoni (Anathi Seyisi) has it all on drama series Harvest (2017- current). Her parents Celia and the late Mandla (Masasa Mbangeni and Mutodi Neshehe) are entrepreneurs and they gave her everything she’s ever wanted. But it turns out that the family’s “vegetable farm” is growing a lot more – dagga! Their wealth isn’t from legal sources – it’s from smuggling drugs. And they’re not a happy family. “It’s a lie,” says Anathi. “Every- thing has been a lie!” Mandla’s former right-hand-man Richard (Muzi Mathebula) took Ndoni under his wing as part of his revenge plan. He’s angry that Celia took over the drug business that he had helped build. By Monday 26 June, Richard’s scheme is taking Ndoni to new lows by giving her new highs – “She’s addicted to [street drug] nyaope. She’s a mess! Richard told his cronies to get her hooked on drugs and they’ve achieved their goal. He wants to ruin Celia and Ndoni is the perfect tool!” explains Anathi.
HARSH TRUTH
The bond between the mother and daughter changed after Mandla was murdered in episode 1 and the cracks in their relationship started showing. “Ndoni went from being good and well-mannered to and out-of- control rebel, longing for Celia’s attention,” says Muzi. He explains that Richard has used this broken bond as an opening to manipulate Ndoni. “This girl looks up to Richard for the attention that she’s never gotten from Celia,” says Muzi. “Richard was in love with Celia and resents her for framing him all those years ago and sending him to jail.” He adds that this to hurt Celia for choosing Mandla over him. “They have a complicated relationship, Richard and Celia. They are all carrying the past around and it’s destroying their future,” adds Muzi.
A LITTLE TOO LATE
Richard does have a heart though and on Monday 3 July, he regrets pulling Ndoni into his revenge plan. “His feelings for Celia are deepening and he is desperate to get Ndoni clean,” explains Muzi. “Ndoni wants to quit and she tells him that she’ll try. But as they say – once you’re in, you’re in,” says Anathi. Muzi adds that “Richard considers saving Ndoni as a way to win Celia’s heart. Unlike her parents, Ndoni didn’t choose the drug world, it chose her. Richard just hopes that he can do it in time…”