Back to square one
Mazwi’s return sends his brother Smanga into fight mode.
Smanga’s (Moopi Mothibeli) jaw drops on Friday 23 November when he walks in on his self- centred older brother Mazwi (Musa Ngema) at the family mansion. “He immediately thinks that Mazwi has returned for the umpteenth time to take his place as the Moroka heir,” says Moopi. And Smanga couldn’t be closer to the truth. Mazwi acts like nothing happened and wants to pick up where he left off in August this year when he cut ties with the family. Discovering that the elders forced Smanga to have sex with his wife Sphe (Pearl Monama) to give infertile Mazwi an heir was the last straw, adds the actor. “Mazwi has made peace with the past. He wants to try fix his marriage with Sphe, but he doesn’t know that his brother is in love with her too.” Mazwi returning now means that Smanga has two fights on his hand: in the Ezweni boardroom and in the bedroom.
STOLEN MOMENT
Smanga knows his brother and doesn’t waste time winning over Sphe, starting with a kiss on Tuesday 27 November. “Smanga and Sphe are watching their daughter Rorisang (Lethokuhle Jiyane) fall asleep in her nursery and they get lost in the moment,” says Moopi. “Smanga leans in for a kiss and Sphe doesn’t push him away. She kisses him back.” Smanga has tried to prove that he’s the better man after Mazwi packed his bags and moved out and he isn’t giving Mazwi any ground. “He doesn’t want to go back to being her brother-in-law or Rori’s uncle. They’ve formed a bond and Smanga wants to convince Sphe that he’s a better partner than Mazwi ever was,” says Moopi.
LOVE LOST
The kiss reminds them not only of their chemistry in the past but also of two current issues: Smanga is dating Sphe’s bestie Zitha (Zoe Mthiyane) and Sphe really does love Mazwi. “They are conflicted about their feelings. Their families won’t allow them to be together,” warns Moopi. He isn’t going to back off, even after Sphe’s confession on Wednesday 28 November. “She tells him that she loves him but that she also loves his brother and wants to fix things with Mazwi. He hates that Mazwi has walked back in and beaten him again. It’s not fair,” says Moopi, hinting that his character’s devious side is bubbling to the surface. “Mazwi isn’t the only person who can manipulate in this family. Smanga has a plan to trick Mazwi into staying away from what Smanga calls ‘his’ family. His baby and ‘his’ wife…”