Saving the son
Susan’s ready to fulfil her wifely duty but giving the chief of Thathe his longed-for heir is no easy feat.
Muvhango Weekdays SABC2 (*192) 21:00
Royal wife Susan (Mahumela Mahawu) goes into labour on Wednesday 26 April and thanks to months of complications – including the very real chance of dying following her doctors’ warnings in August 2016 – it’s been a tough experience. Not that Susan’s deterred – she is going to see her pregnancy through and provide her hubby Chief Azwindini (Gabriel Temudzani) with a biological son.
LABOUR PAINS
Mahumela says that when her character goes into labour on Wednesday 26 April, “Things get risky and everyone in the royal house is in panic mode.”
She adds that “Susan is so afraid of giving birth because she is terrified of dying. But she has put her hopes in the magical necklace that Azwindini and royal witchdoctor Mulimisi (Humbulani Tsharani) gave her that is meant to help her escape death.” Susan fell seriously ill in December 2016 and was on the verge of losing her child then and there, but then the necklace took care of everything and she and the royal baby were saved. So does it have the power to save the pair now during childbirth? “Susan’s worried but she has been wearing that necklace ever since she got it. She’s praying that it will work in her favour. The necklace’s beads are enchanted and it serves as a vow that Azwindini has given a piece of his soul to Susan so that she can live longer and give him a son.”
HEY BABY
While Susan’s giving birth, expecting father Azwindini is refusing to think about anything bad happening to both his beloved wife and their baby. Mahumela thinks that the chief could be in denial because “Azwindini puts a lot of faith in the enchanted necklace and is certain that everything will be fine. It’s magic and not a certainty”. While viewers won’t see the birth, it won’t be long before we find out that Susan and Azwindini’s fears were unfounded after a healthy baby boy is delivered on Thursday 27 April. “Yes, it’s a boy and Susan is overjoyed, the chief is happy and so is everyone else in the royal house. There’s a huge sigh of relief for two reasons: one, Susan has survived and two, there is a legitimate heir to the throne,” adds Mahumela.
SLEEPLESS NIGHTS
Susan and her newborn are discharged from hospital and return to the royal home on Friday 28 April, but their homecoming isn’t so welcoming, says Mahumela. “While I can’t give too much away, Susan and her baby’s lives are going to get complicated. It’s going to be an adjustment for the family and there will be situations that involve the other wives”. It won’t be a surprise that Azwindini will want to spend some time with his new son and that means spending less time with his other wives and their kids. And that’s a problem for the jealous wives who’re losing time reserved for them. What Mahumela can tell us for sure though is that “Susan is doing well and that’s what matters, plus she isn’t going anywhere anytime soon!”