Mind over matter
Azania focuses on work to forget about her dead newborn.
Weekdays e.tv (*194) 20:00
When the going gets tough, wedding planner Azania (Enhle Maphumulo) deals with her emotions by interfering in other people’s problems. It’s no different on Wednesday 19 July when she offers to help with her brother Uhuru (Thapelo Mokwena) and adoptive-sister Thandi’s (Joanne Reyneke) lobola negotiations. “That’s not where it ends,” says Enhle, whose character tries to convince her family to include her ex- con dad Ace (Sello Sebotsane) in the talks despite no one trusting him. “She’s always wanted Ace to be part of the family and the perfect opportunity has presented itself for Azania to get her family together,” says Enhle. But Azania isn’t in the perfect headspace to be dealing with family matters – she’s still grieving the midJune death of her daughter.
NEW TASK
What she doesn’t expect is to be shut out on Thursday 20 July – along with Ace. “It’s a scary time for Azania! She feels alone and doesn’t want her family pitying her,” says Enhle. To make sure that her thoughts don’t drift towards her baby, Azania finds a new project: on Friday 21 July she befriends Brandon (Danny Roos), a troubled teen who sells fast food at her business. While Brandon is the one person in Azania’s world who doesn’t know of her loss, Enhle explains that “he’s experienced deep pain. His mom died a while ago and Azania wants to connect with him.” She talks to him and gets to know him better. “He is a breath of fresh air. Brandon doesn’t feel sorry for Azania and she can be herself around him – that’s something she’s been searching for,” adds the actress.
HEALING PROCESS
Chatting to Brandon gives Azania new hope and she makes a big change on Monday 24 July: she decides to stop wearing black, the traditional colour of mourning. “It’s some sort of a rebirth for her,” explains Enhle. Azania’s colleague and office-mother Charmaine (Shaleen Surtie-Richards) suggests that Azania talk to her hubby Chris (Emmanuel Castis) about their loss. “She’s right,” adds Enhle. “Charmaine thinks that Azania should spend more time fixing her broken marriage than working, but Azania thinks that she has everything under control.” And she’s not entirely wrong – but it’s going to take time for Azania to get back to her old self.