Pulling punches
Bad-guy Gazini’s secret life is under threat from jealous Neo.
Mon-Thu Mzansi Magic (*161) 19:00
Money drama almost closed the boxing gym in mid-November. But like a knight in shining armour, mixed martial artist Gazini (Siyabonga Radebe) arrived on Thursday 16 November and helped attract new faces – and much-needed income. But that’s not the only thing he attracted: Rendani (Fulu Mugovhani) hasn’t been able to take her eyes off him, laughs Siyabonga. “But he’s hiding a dark and dangerous side.” No ones knows that Gazini takes part in underground fights and he sneaks illegal immigrants into the country. “He will even murder if it means extra money,” says Siya. “When it comes to Rendani, he is putting on this teddy bear act to trick her.”
FOOL ME ONCE
While Rendani may be head over heels for MMA fighter Gazini, “Neo (Mpho Sebeng) has an uneasy concern about this newcomer,” explains Siya. “Maybe it’s jealousy that Gaz is a better fighter, maybe it’s because Neo is jealous that Rendani likes Gazini more than him.” The tension between the two show bulls is easy to pick up on Thursday 23 November and that’s mostly because Neo’s cool, calm and collected nature has been replaced with a green-withenvy monster. “It’s very interesting to play out this kind of love triangle – it shows that Neo really loves Rendani but at the same time, Gazini is using her and putting on a show,” says Siya.
CLASH OF HORNS
The fighters almost come to blows on Monday 27 November as Neo’s urge to protect Rendani and the gym takes over. “No one knows what Gazini does. And he wants to keep it that way. Neo is going to do a bit of digging but I’m not sure what he will find,” Siyabonga explains. “Gazini has been hiding his criminal ways for some time. He knows when someone is following him and he isn’t someone you want to annoy…”
FIGHT MODE
Siyabonga was put through the same boxing training as his co-stars “but I had the benefit of practicing karate growing up,” he says. “It was for the discipline, not to fight. I am very different to Gazini. He fights and does illegal things! [Laughs]”