Caught out!
John has nowhere left to hide when Mokgadi confronts him over his secret affair.
From the outside, varsity lecturer John Maputla (Africa Tsoai) is the perfect husband and family man. Alongside his wife Meikie (Harriet Manamela), they have built a solid, honest name among the Turfloop community and their spaza business has been a success story. Except John isn’t the honest, upstanding man he claims to be – he’s been sleeping with his business associate Charity (Makgofe Moagi). “He’s conflicted by his feelings for both women [on Thursday 3 August] says Africa. “He and Meikie drifted apart after many years of marriage.” Africa adds that his character blames himself for cheating on Meikie and it’s something he never thought he would do. “John doesn’t want his family to fall apart. In his heart, he knows that he loves Meikie, but he also has strong feelings for Charity.”
STOP IT OR I’LL…
John’s sneaking around town would put 007 secret agent James Bond to shame, but he hasn’t taken one factor into consideration: his investigative journalist daughter-in-law Mokgadi (Pebetsi Matlaila). She’s smells a rat and starts digging into John’s behaviour on Friday 4 August. “Mokgadi doesn’t confront him yet. She’s suspicious but doesn’t raise her concerns as there’s no evidence,” explains Africa. Mokgadi goes undercover and tails John to his rendezvous, where she takes photos of John and Charity.
Mokgadi confronts her father-in-law for his betrayal on Monday 7 August and tells him to “end it” with Charity. If he refuses, Mokgadi will tell Meikie what John’s been up to. And it seems to work! “John is scared of losing his family. He sits down with Mokgadi to discuss the affair,” says Africa. “John promises to dump Charity. He’s going to focus on his marriage and try rebuild his broken trust with Mokgadi.”
TRAPPED
A leopard doesn’t change its spots and John goes back on his deal with Mokgadi the very next day, on Tuesday 8 August. Not that it was unexpected – Mokgadi’s put a tail on John and knows exactly where he is and who he’s with. She confronts him later that same day with a new ultimatum. “John doesn’t know what to do,” explains Africa. “It’s complicated and they’re both hooked. John makes a renewed promise to his daughter-in-law [on Wednesday 9 August] but I don’t know if he’ll do it.”
TRAPPED LIKE A RAT
While John’s made a promise, he hasn’t bargained on Charity not playing ball. She refuses to end things on Friday 11 August and makes it clear that she wants her cake and to eat it too. “This opens a door for another rollercoaster ride for John,” laughs Africa. “He’s just made a promise with Mokgadi but he knows what will happen if he tells her that things haven’t ended…”