Pride before the fall
MaNtuli’s cash crisis causes chaos in the Seakamela house.
Unemployed single-mom MaNtuli (Dieketseng Mnisi) thought nothing of her hospital bosses paying her more than she was due when she quit in July, but she should’ve listened when her family warned her about her wild spending. “The officials discovered their mistake and they’re demanding repayment,” says Dieketseng. “But she has spent it on clothes and furniture. There’s nothing left.” Even daughters Sthoko and Pretty (Innocent Sadiki and Lerato Marabe) can’t get through to her after MaNtuli refuses to return her expensive couch on Tuesday 4 September. “She will hear nothing of it. MaNtuli wanted to be a supermom, buying her kids everything they dreamt of after Lucas (Patrick Shai) abandoned them in 2013. She feels bad for putting them in this position again, living from hand to mouth,” adds the actress.
CRISIS MANAGEMENT
“MaNtuli’s fear is what the community will think. They’ll know that she’s broke again,” says Dieketseng with a raised eyebrow. But keeping her secret is out of MaNtuli’s hands on Wednesday 5 September because Pretty asks their neighbour Meikie (Harriet Manamela) to get her best friend MaNtuli to give up her new furniture. “MaNtuli is furious that Pretty has aired her dirty laundry in public,” adds Dieketseng. “She didn’t want anyone knowing – especially Meikie. MaNtuli has always compared herself to wealthy Meikie. Now she’s struggling to get by.”
THE TALK OF TOWN
Things get real though on Monday 10 September when Kwaito (Clement Maosa) offers to help his mom and sisters at home and that’s when MaNtuli realises she’s in trouble. “She has a sharp pain in her chest,” says Dieketseng. “Usually, MaNtuli holds her head high even when her world is falling apart. This forces her to look for a job to fix this mess.” MaNtuli isn’t the only one forced into a difficult position: Sthoko goes back to her abusive ex- con businessman hubby Dennis (Clevy Seleka) hoping that he will save them. You know what they say about leopards though…