Smooth criminal
Buhle is crazy in love with Zenzele, but her world will come crashing down when she sees his violent side.
There is a saying that when you wear rose- coloured glasses, the red flags in a relationship look just like regular flags. That’s certainly true for sweet 21-year- old Buhle Bhengu (Vuyokazi Tshona), who is head- over-heels in love with Emsamo’s mysterious new barman Zenzele Maphumulo (Mlungisi Shabalala). “He has a sense of humour and she likes his body, obviously,” says Vuyokazi with a mischievous giggle. “And he studied law, so he’s intelligent. That is what attracts her. She does not really think before getting into this relationship.” But what’s a girl to do when Zenzele tells Buhle the real truth about his family – KZN’s most successful illegal gun runners – on Friday 20 July?
THE FIRST TIME
“He comes from a background that is criminal, but she has been blinded by love,” admits Vuyokazi. “She is worried about that issue, but when he’s with her, he is kind and he is nice to everyone. He is loving. You wouldn’t think that he is from the background that he is from.” While Buhle wrestles briefly with her mixed emotions, she takes a leap of faith on Tuesday 24 July and decides to give her virginity to him. “She would do everything and anything for Zenzele. At that point, she is excited but scared, but love just floods her and she wants to share her first time with him. It’s her first time having sex, so she is scared at first but she discusses it with her friend Mira (Mishka Gouden) beforehand,” adds Vuyokazi.
THE WORST TIME
Buhle is brought down from the clouds with a crash the very next day though when Zenzele fights off a gunman in front of her during a hostage situation at Emsamo. “It’s scary and she is shocked. It confuses her because she sees another part of Zenzele,” explains Vuyokazi. “How Zenzele responds to the guy with the gun tells Buhle that her man has experience. He takes the gun like it’s a normal thing! How did he learn to do that? How did he learn to just take a gun away and point it at someone?” Vuyokazi thinks that Buhle should give those questions some deep thought. “I am not judgemental, né” she says hesitantly. “But after seeing Zenzele’s background and based on Buhle’s family, I would advise her not to continue. I understand that Buhle does love him, but I would advise her to maybe take things slowly!”