Laying down the law
Alfred smells blood when Principal Thobakgale steals funds from the school for her personal use.
Skeem Saam Weekdays SABC1 (*191) 18:30
Principal Thobakgale’s (Elizabeth Serunye) reputation as the by-thebook headmistress hangs in the balance on Thursday 10 May. “She is freaking out,” explains Elizabeth. She was the one who enforced an anticorruption policy at Turfloop High but she’s broken her own rules by using school funds for herself on Wednesday 9 May. The sponsors come knocking on Thursday 10 May and ask for a progress report on the new sports complex, but “they never set a project deadline when they paid the money in April. She thought that she had time!” laughs the actress. Principal Thobakgale didn’t expect to have to answer questions so soon and she avoids the sponsors at all costs. She needs more than just time though – an enemy is lurking in the shadows. Deadbeat teacher Alfred (Putla Sehlapelo) wants the principal job to get himself a better salary and to get out of his own cash crisis.
CRACKING THE BILL
While no one has noticed the missing money yet, teacher Mr Manaka (Skhumbuzo Mbatha) can’t help but notice Principal Thobak- gale’s unusually jumpy behaviour on Friday 11 May. She brushes Mr Manaka off and makes sure cash and the sports complex are never topic of conversation. She also makes sure that no one finds out the truth about her whereabouts after the teachers’ meeting on Monday 30 April. “She went to a ‘finance conference’,” says Elizabeth. “This is the first time that she’s done something like this. She was desperate to fix her personal issues and put the sports field ‘down the line’ as she had time to put the funds back.” The actress admits that while her character is “usually rational, she realises her decision could get her fired or even banned from teaching again!”
PULLING STRINGS
Alfred learns the truth on Wednesday 16 May when Mr Manaka reveals how the principal reacted to the sponsors. “Principal Thobakgale doesn’t see his betrayal coming,” sighs Elizabeth. “She trusts him. This will be too much!”