The monster is my mom
Itumeleng’s life has been a lie but nothing can prepare her for the revelation that Lindiwe is her biological mother.
Nothing makes sense for Itumeleng, explains actress Larona Moagi. She has only just got over the surprise of being told that she was adopted by the Mokoenas as a baby. Now she finds out that Lindiwe (Sindi Dlathu), who tried to bury her alive in January, is her real mom. “Words can’t describe her pain after she stumbled across a necklace in Lindiwe’s office that matches the one she was left with when she was abandoned as a newborn. It hit her in that moment that she is the daughter of a monster,” reveals Larona. The revelation adds to her worries, because her estranged husband Zolani (Lawrence Maleka) is Lindiwe’s nephew, which means that they’re cousins. “Her life is a mess. It hurts her that she is blood related to Zolani and Lindiwe, the people who killed her adoptive dad Thato (Don Mlangeni) [in February 2018]. She is devastated and wants revenge for them ruining her life,” reveals the actress.
Does Tumi knowing that she married her cousin officially end things? Definitely! There was also no going back after he confessed to her in January that he was an accomplice in Thato’s murder. Zolani promised to never lie to Tumi but their relationship has been built on a lie. The fairytale is over and she wants nothing to do with him. She looked up to Lindiwe as a mentor until she found out that she really did kill Thato. She wanted to be as successful as [mine owner] Lindiwe, running her own business and living a luxurious life. By the time Itumeleng realised that she was Lindiwe’s puppet to help her steal from her mine employees, it was too late. The residents of Refilwe turned against Itumeleng and the Mokoenas wanted nothing to do with her as well. Itumeleng believes that she can still expose Lindiwe for the snake that she is and win back everyone’s trust. How did Itumeleng’s relationship with the Mokoenas change? They’ve turned their backs on her. They think that she has been helping Lindiwe kick them out of their houses so that they could get rich. She only has her ex Lindani (Lunga Shabalala) on her side. Why hasn’t he also turned on her like everyone else? Lindani is the only person who truly knows her and believes that she isn’t as vile as Lindiwe. The others are too absorbed in Itumeleng’s mistakes, not realising that she was manipulated by Lindiwe. Lindani still loves Itumeleng and he wants to help her restore her good name. And maybe win her back.