Bend or break
There’s only one queen bee in the kingdom and even failing health won’t force Queen Mosadi out the door.
The Throne Mon-Thu Mzansi (*161) 19:00
“She will die with her crown on,” says Monnye Kunupi defiantly of her character Queen Mosadi on Mzansi Magic’s newest telenovela The Throne. “She is queen. She will not be forced from her throne. It’s an impossibility,” adds the actress. Since the show first aired in late July, the kingdom’s ruler has faced an armed assassin in her palace, she’s come face-to-face with her spiteful brother Moseki (Don Mlangeni) and she has been told by her royal physicians that she is dying from incurable cancer. “That is nothing to her,” reveal Monnye. “Mosadi isn’t new to this world. She has faced many threats to her reign and she’s survived through every ordeal.” But how much longer will the queen be so lucky?
How is Mosadi so calm in the face of these threats against her? She has been on the throne for many years. During that time, she has had many enemies who have wanted what is hers. They have all long disappeared. This new group will be nothing new to her. She knows how much power she wields and she knows who her allies are. But her attackers are a lot closer to home this time… They’re her own flesh and blood! Moseki will never rule – a man cannot be on the throne. But his daughter Dipuo (Keke Mphuti), Mosadi’s niece… she is the eldest grandchild, so it is her birthright to be the next queen ahead of Mosadi’s daughters Kefilwe (Lerato Zah Moloi) and Mosetsana (Tshegofatso Seakgoe) and even the queen’s younger sister Odirile (Sindi Dlathu). There are a lot of jackals waiting for their chance. The queen is dying – why doesn’t she just pack her bags and retire and live out her days in peace? It’s simple: there’s no one good enough to take over from her, to lead the kingdom. This queen, she is stubborn but that’s also why she has been successful – because she knows when to fight, when to rest and when to make peace. That doesn’t mean she isn’t above fighting dirty too…