Keeping it real
Justice is speechless when Pieter’s new identity is revealed.
A change is on the cards for Pieter (Coco Merckel), who is the main investor in the ASA gym that is run and owned by his best friend Justice (Saint Seseli). Pieter has been going through an onscreen transformation since June 2017 and despite keeping his transgender identity a secret to avoid bad press and negativity, Justice is suspicious of his friend. Little does the ASA boss know what’s heading his way on Monday 28 August!
CHALLENGE AHEAD
“There have been hints about Pieter’s transition from male to female. Pieter doesn’t want to scare anyone or create a scene – he just wants to be true to his identity and feels that the best way to do such was to be transgender,” explains Coco. The first sign of Pieter’s transgender status was on Tuesday 13 June when a playful scuffle between Justice and Pieter at the gym ended with a flash of Pieter in ladies underwear. That led to a heated debate and falling out when Justice made nasty comments to Pieter. Coco adds that “it’s a difficult position. Imagine being in the sport world where everybody is seen as ‘manly’ and here’s Pieter, who is showing his feminine side!”
MEET JACQUELINE
Justice needs a pick-me up on Monday 28 August after all the drama with his boxer Tladi’s (Solomon Sebothoma) rape arrest and the other issues taking place at the gym. The only person able to “fix” Justice is Pieter, so Justice sucks up his pride and calls his friend to meet at a bar later on. But when Justice gets there, Pieter isn’t Pieter – he’s standing there in all his glory as Jacqueline, his new transgender identity.
Pieter is upfront with Justice on Tuesday 29 August and Coco explains that “basically Jacqueline wants to tell Justice why she’s transgender and that it isn’t a sin or a crime. She wants him to understand her and support her. She also wants Justice to know that she will always be loyal to him and that their friendship hasn’t changed because of who she identifies as now.” In other words, Jacqueline is leading by example and Justice must respect that.