Death & division
Chris and Azania’s already fragile marriage is blown apart by their newborn’s death and a race war.
Retired soccer star Chris Myburgh (Emmanuel Castis) kicked his painkiller addiction in late May 2017 when Azania (Engle Maphumolo) gave him an ultimatum: pills or their marriage and child. While Chris chose his ladies, baby Ofentse was born in early June with a medical condition and didn’t survive the month despite “life-saving” surgery. “Chris is broken,” explains Emmanuel. “He thought he’d have his happy family with Azania and their baby.” He may not even have a wife by the end of this fortnight – the couple’s families hijack the funeral plans on Wednesday 5 July and it isn’t just about Ofentse’s death…
TUG-OF-WAR
Chris and Azania are pushed to the background while their families’ feud gets out of control on Thursday 6 July. The Myburghs never liked the Moswanes and don’t support the idea of Chris being in an interracial marriage. “He and Azania can’t handle this fighting,” says Emmanuel. “They are trying to come to terms with their loss and this is overwhelming.” But, adds Emmanuel, “For the first time, his family are there to comfort him in his time of need” on Friday 7 July when the grieving parents bury their baby. “Chris and Azania are devastated. They thought that they’d have more time to spend with Ofentse out of hospital and now they’re forced to say goodbye,” says the actor.
FADING LIGHT
But just because the funeral is over doesn’t mean that the pain is going away. Azania is battling in silence and from Wednesday 10 July, she begins to isolate herself from Chris and her family. “He wants to be there for his wife. They’ve had troubles in the past and always resolved things,” explains Emmanuel. Unlike Chris, Azania wants to get on with her life and on Monday 17 July she goes back to work, using it as a distraction. “It isn’t good for her,” says Emmanuel, hinting that “Azania hasn’t dealt with her frustrations and that could come back to bite them”.
DUMMY RUN
The soapke used a doll instead of a real baby “because it’s only in a few scenes, never really seen and once the child dies, the storyline is over,” says publicist Belinda Mashashane.