Departing for her daughter
Gita kidnaps little Ava and disappears from The Laan.
Ava is played by twins Roxanne and Danielle Bornman. Weekdays SABC2 (*192) 19:00
If there’s one character we can trust to do the dishonourable thing in Hillside, it’s businesswoman Gita McGregor (Jo da Silva). Every time that it’s seemed she’s turning over a new leaf, Gita has disappointed us and proven that a leopard won’t change its spots. And it’s the same old story on Wednesday 3 August when Gita abducts her daughter Ava (Roxanne and Danielle Bornman) right under a bodyguard’s nose.
Jo says that Gita is desperate to be with her daughter. “She was elated when Ava arrived at the hospital the previous day [Tuesday 2 August] after Ava’s dad Tim (Marius Weyers) gave permission for her to visit Gita. The joy that Gita felt when she saw Ava [whom she last saw in 2011] can’t be described,” Jo explains. So that’s why Gita made herself so ill – she planned to kidnap Ava. So sneaky! The last that viewers will see of Gita is later on Wednesday 3 August when she falls asleep next to Ava, wearing the disguise she wore in March when she was suspected of Herman’s (Deon Coetzee) murder. Don’t be fooled by that grin – Gita’s not leaving without one final hoorah!
LIFE AFTER GITA
Jo filmed her final scene on the 7de Laan set at the end of May and it was an emotional day, she says. “I’ve been playing Gita for the past eight years and it was difficult saying goodbye to her. Many tears were shed that last day, but I had to make a change. On a practical note, it was great finally getting out of Gita’s hospital bed after a few weeks,” Jo jokes. Gita being ill was all part of her plan to get Ava.
The actress resigned from the SABC2 soap to move to Cape Town to be closer to her own daughter Caitlin (19), who’s studying marine biology. “My life now is completely different and much more chilled – something that I needed,” Jo says. “There are new acting roles in the pipeline but it’s not a priority for me now. I’m hitting pause and enjoying the view.”