A tidy solution
MaZulu’s earrings look temptingly shiny after Celiwe falls into a loanshark’s clutches
The Bhengu family’s housekeeper Celiwe (Brightness Zulu) might be a gossip and a snoop, but she’s also loyal to a fault and have you seen that house? Neat as a pin! Thanks to her comedic timing, she’s also been one of our favourite background characters in the soapie since episode 1. Fans will be biting their nails when a sinister loanshark comes swimming to the door on Thursday 22 November. But unlike
Eunice (Matshepo Maleme) in Housekeepers (2018- current) on Mzansi Magic, Celiwe doesn’t have a gambling problem; she just has a big heart. “Celiwe is the breadwinner and takes care of all her family, her niece got sick and needed to go to hospital, so she got into debt for that and groceries for her sister’s family,” reveals Brightness.
FEAR & TEMPTATION
Poor Celiwe is petrified and her fear drives her into temptation on Friday 23 November as she spots her boss
MaZulu’s (Leleti Khumalo) jewellery. The Bhengus are rich. They might not notice a ring or a pendant here and there, right? MaZulu has been so distracted lately that she’d probably think she just misplaced it herself… But Celiwe only gives in to that inner voice when she spots some cash lying about on Monday 26 November. “It hurts that she is betraying them. She’s ridden with guilt,” admits Brightness. “It’s the hardest thing to do, since she feels they are her family. She justifies it that since they are rich, they might not notice.” But when the cash isn’t enough and Celiwe is unable to borrow more money on Tuesday 27 November, she is frantic – justifiably so, since the loanshark even breaks her finger as a threat on Wednesday 28 November.
TAKEN BY SURPRISE
With her back to the wall, Celiwe picks up MaZulu’s earrings on Wednesday 28 November. But she just can’t go further. “Her conscience gets the better of her,” reveals the actress. And on Thursday 29 November, it spills out – the stealing, the loanshark, her family problems – as she tells MaZulu everything. “She is scared as she tells the truth, but getting the burden off her shoulders, whew!” says Brightness. MaZulu’s reaction will be nothing like she expected though and on Friday 30 November, it’s the loanshark and not Celiwe who should be running. It turns out the truth really does hurt, but it won’t hurt Celiwe.