Brotherhood battle
The 68 Gang force their new recruit Sabelo to turn against his bestie Suffocate by murdering him.
Rhythm City Weekdays e.tv (*194) 19:00
“If there’s one place on Earth that you never get used to, it’s jail. It’s deadly and Suffocate is struggling in there,” says Mduduzi Mabaso of his character’s second prison stay. Suffo feels alone on Wednesday 31 January after his pal Sabelo (Ishmauel Songo) joins the 68 Gang who want Suffo dead. “The 68s envy Suffo. After he was released from jail in his 20s, he built a business empire and they now want Sabelo to kill his friend Suffo,” adds Mduduzi. An impressionable Sabelo worries that he’s going to be on his own soon – Suffo wasn’t directly involved when Sabelo killed child kidnapper Skhumbuzo (Mncedise Thambe) with a punch in late December 2017. Suffo helped hide the accidental murder because Sabelo was trying to protect his brother Dumisani (Siyabonga Mtshali). In a cruel twist, Sabelo murdering Suffo will guarantee him protection from the 68 Gang that he wouldn’t have if Suffo was released.
KING OF THE HILL
The 68s hate the attention that Suffo has been getting since arriving in early January. “Everyone respects Suffo, from the wardens to the convicts who were there with him the first time. No one messes with Suffo and that has sapped some of the 68 Gang’s power that they want back,” says Mduduzi. Despite the pressure to kill Suffo, Sabelo tries to warn his friend on Monday 5 February. “Although Sabelo is a troubled kid, he isn’t a bad guy. He didn’t mean to kill Skhumbuzo and he doesn’t want to kill Suffo either. He’s in a dead-end: he’s joined the 68 Gang and has to keep his word and follow orders, but this is his pal we’re talking about,” says Mduduzi.
FLESH AND BLOOD
With his guilt eating at him, Sabelo jumps at his chance to warn Suffo on Friday 9 February and they agree to stage a fight on Tuesday 13 February. “Suffo is like a big brother to Sabelo. He understands the pressure the boy is under and he’s willing to risk his life to save Sabelo instead,” says Mduduzi. They pull off their prison-yard “murder” carefully and a bloody Suffo is taken to the prison infirmary. But almost-dead isn’t good enough for the 68s – they want him dead-dead, says Mduduzi. “They give Sabelo one last chance to finish Suffo.” Sabelo doesn’t know what to do now, but with his friend wounded and unable to protect himself, maybe his choice has been made for him.