Deadly affairs
Chief Azwindini slept with mayor Tenda’s wife and Thathe’s political leader is coming for the royal, guns blazing.
Tendamudzimu (Nat Ramabulana) is a raging bull staring at a waving red cape. On Friday 13 July, sneaky ex mayor Mulalo (Sydney Ramakuela) told him that his “perfect” wife Livhuwani (Anzani Tshivhase) strayed into another bull’s pasture and the fruits of their “grazing” is Tenda and Livhu’s daughter Ndiwanga (Gabrielle Taiwo). The bull in question? Thathe’s “upstanding” royal leader Chief Azwindini (Gabriel Temudzani). “Someone is going to die!” explains Nat calmly. “Tenda is handed evidence of Livhu’s cheating and he’s forced to accept it.” But in true soapie showdowns, there’s always going to be a twist…
WORK & SEX
Azwindini and Tenda’s working relationship didn’t get off to a great start but it didn’t begin during the 18-month time hop in March – it’s been simmer- ing since mid February when Livhu approached Azwindini to use his royal influence and business connections to help then-businessman Tenda with a project that would make or break him in the Venda region. “It’s clear that they don’t get on – you can see it on their faces. They don’t like each other one bit,” says Nat honestly. What Tenda hasn’t realised is that Livhu has been hooking up with Azwindini since Feb, keeping their love affair from prying eyes – barring Mulalo, who’s held onto the secret as a bargaining chip since March when he was ousted as mayor. The affair wasn’t to take advantage of a business rival though – Gabriel admits that his character isn’t perfect. “The one flaw Azwindini has is his uncontrollable love for women. But this time, it’s coming back to haunt him”.
Azwindini knows very well that it’s ex-mayor Mulalo who told Tenda about his relationship with Livhu – it could only be him and he wants revenge for being fired. “Mulalo divulging this secret causes irreparable damage between Azwindini, Tenda and the Mukwevho family,” says Gabriel. While Tenda tried to shrug off Mulalo’s claims at first, he realised that it was the truth on Tuesday 17 July when he again walked in Azwindini alone in his home with Livhu. “Azwindini explains that it’s ‘just a friendly visit’. There’s nothing untoward about it,” says Nat. But the mayor is no fool – he’s almost caught the cheaters red handed!
DIRTY SECRET
Tenda contains his fury on Wednesday 18 July but Gabriel warns that it’s only a matter of time before the fireworks. “Azwindini is walking around with a target on his back. The secret is eating him from the inside out. He is scared and concerned as to what Tenda might do. He will try every trick in the book to save himself.” But the actor adds that Azwindini’s attempts will be in vain because Tenda has something frightening in store. “The chief worries about the shame that he will bring the royal household, especially to his first wife Susan (Maumela Mahuwa),
who has always been there for him when he’s needed help.”
CONFIRMATION
Tenda’s paranoia takes over on Friday 20 July and “he secretly installs security cameras in his house to see what is going on while he is at work,” says Nat. And the results are almost instant: “He sees Azwindini and Livhu cosy up and his world comes crashing down. His hatred for the chief turns into a bloodlust. Azwindini must pay for this. He has to. But Tenda isn’t sure how to make his ‘leader’ suffer,” admits Nat. Tenda meets up with Mulalo again on Tuesday 24 July, knowing Mulalo is not longer his enemy. “He tells Mulalo that Azwindini is going to pay for bringing disrespect to his house and family. Tenda has trouble sleeping, especially next to his wife and he can’t stop thinking about the betrayal,” reveals Nat. When Tenda gets out of bed on Wednesday 25 July, he knows what fate awaits the chief – and he’s walking into their meeting locked and loaded.
BIG BOOM
Azwindini is nervous about the meeting on Thursday 26 July and his fifth wife Mpho (Azwi Rambuda) can sense it. “She knows that something is up. She can see that her husband isn’t his usual self and his pacing around the house, peeking through the windows concerns her,” explains Gabriel. Because of the shame, the chief doesn’t tell Mpho what’s on his mind even though he knows Tenda is on his way to the royal house for their meeting. Azwindini makes a fuss of getting everyone out of the house later on Thursday 26 July, making sure that he and Tenda are alone to settle “business”. Azwindini is still surprised though when he opens the door and Mulalo is standing there with a gun…
TIME OF RECKONING
Despite being armed, Tenda is still in two minds about his revenge. “He has not decided if he’s going to shoot the chief or just scare him,” says Nat. But the situation doesn’t worry Gabriel, who confidently says that “Tenda is cruel, but he isn’t cruel enough to pull the trigger. That would be too easy. Instead, he will look at options.” When a shot rings through the halls of the royal house on Friday 27 July, it seems that Tenda’s mind has been made up. Gabriel puts his fans at ease though – “It’s a warning shot.” What comes is more disturbing though, says the actor. “Tenda forces Azwindini at gunpoint to hang himself, making his death look like a suicide. Tenda is making it appear to be a suicide to cover his tracks.” Nat adds that “nobody can pin the blame on him now. People will think that Azwindini took his life because of the shame that he’s brought to his family. I think that Tenda is just trying to use suicide to embarrass the ‘great chief’ and show the community who the real coward in Thathe is.”
FUTURE IMPERFECT
The aftermath of this confrontation will have far-reaching effects throughout Thathe. “Things will change for Tenda and Livhu. Their relationship is cold and it gets worse – he wants nothing to do with her after her affair with Azwindini.” Gabriel revelled in filming the scenes and is expecting big things when the storyline plays out. “Drama! It’s going to be raining drama in buckets. Fooling around with another man’s wife is something you do to your detriment!” Those words don’t bode well for the chief’s future.
TURNING POINT
Despite the nature of the storyline, Nat is pleased with how it throws the cat among the pigeons. “It’s huge and I totally love it! It’s so well-thought- out and it’s intriguing, especially how Tenda arrives with the gun and there’s a shot. I could not wait to start filming the scenes! It was great.” His co-star Gabriel, who has seen and done it all as the chief, agrees: “This is the result of great planning and the perfect way come full circle with the characters.” Maybe Azwindini will pay for his philandering ways at last…