Facing the truth
Masasa Mbangeni’s latest character goes to extreme lengths to reconcile with her long-lost daughter on Mzali Wami
Season 1 Mondays Mzansi Magic (*161) 20:00
Two mothers are connected by the secrets they share in new drama series Mzali Wami. Over 20 years ago, a grieving Sibongile (Nolwazi Shange, Sheila on drama show Mina Nawe, 2017-now) lost her newborn and targeted Joyce (Masasa Mbangeni, best known as Thembeka Shezi, 2013-2020, on soapie Scandal!, 2008-now). She stole Joyce’s infant daughter Ntokozo, now played as an adult by Lungelo Mpangase (Khethiwe on drama show eHostela, 2019now) at a bus station. Sibongile was certain that she’d gotten away with the kidnapping. “But as fate would have it, the women were reunited,” says Masasa.
A SHOCKING DISCOVERY
Joyce and Ntokozo’s story isn’t a simple case of a stolen baby. When the series started in late January, Joyce discovered that her ex-fiancé Terror
(Dumisani Mbebe, Siviwe on telenovela
Isono, 2020-now, see p36) runs a human trafficking ring. This was after she had signed documents allowing him to take girls from her orphanage. “When Joyce signed the files, she was under the impression that he was sending the orphaned girls abroad to further their studies,” says Masasa.
But that was just a lie to rope Joyce into his tricks. Terror also planned to abduct orphan Francine (Zikhona Bali, Londi on drama series Is’thunzi, 2016-now) and when Joyce uncovered his schemes, she struck a deal with him: to kidnap her new employee Ntokozo, along with the other orphans instead – not realising that Ntokozo was her own daughter. “Joyce didn’t want to lose another daughter. She’d developed a bond with Francine,” explains Masasa.
When Joyce wanted to expose
Terror, he revealed that he has incriminating documents and a recording of Joyce giving him permission to seize the girls from her orphanage “She threatens to expose him, but he vows to take her down with him,” adds Masasa, whose character had no other choice but to live with her sins at the time.
A MATTER OF CHANCE
It’s when Sibongile arrived in Johannesburg to search for Ntokozo in early February that the two mothers came into contact again. Sibongile unknowingly arranged to meet with Joyce to find answers that would lead her closer to her daughter – only for Joyce to recognise Sibongile as the woman who ran off with her baby two decades earlier. The women clashed, but they were forced to set their differences aside to rescue “their” daughter. “While they were not thrilled to work together to save Ntokozo, they had no other choice,” says Masasa. Through lies and Joyce’s connections, they find Ntokozo and bring her home safe this fortnight.
Joyce is excited at the prospect of catching up on lost time with Ntokozo although she isn’t sure about revealing Ntokozo’s baby-snatch history. “Tired of all the betrayal and deception, she considers telling Ntokozo that she is her birth mother, but Sibongile isn’t willing to let Ntokozo go without a fight and she tries to stop Joyce at all costs,” says Masasa. And the situation will push the women to war again in order to win Ntokozo’s affection. “It won’t be easy for Joyce to win Ntokozo over, especially because there are plenty of skeletons in her closet,” adds the lead actress.
Will Ntokozo choose the mother who stole her at birth and raised her, or the secret birth mother who sold her off to crooks to save another girl?
AN ALL ROUNDER
Masasa has played cut-throat characters in the past, such as villainous Thembeka who thrived on chaos, murder and crime on Scandal!.
But Joyce is a breath of fresh air, a more reserved character but equally intense when it comes to fighting for those she loves. “I’m grateful to portray this character. Her personality is shaped by collaborating with the other cast members and directors on set,” explains Masasa. “Joyce is an entirely different character [than I’ve played before]. She allowed me as an actor to showcase my range and acting ability.”