Suddenly we’re family
APRIL
Futhi exposes personal information about the women in the support group when she gets carried away during a radio interview. MaZulu is shattered when Ngcolosi reveals that his ex-lover Zandile (Buhle Samuels) is pregnant, but matriarch MaNdlovu insists that Zandile’s child will be a boy and advises MaZulu to just accept the situation. Zithulele sets up a meeting between Thu Sheleni and MaNdlovu, and Zakithi steals MaNdlovu’s photo album to prove to Zithulele that MaNdlovu is hiding the truth about her sister and that Thu Sheleni is part of the Bhengu family via MaNdlovu’s sister. Khanyo and Lindiwe have sex the night before Khanyo’s ordination, and Khanyo must choose later: her church or her lover.
MAY
Zandile moves in with the Bhengus, but a paternity test can’t be conducted without endangering the foetus, and MaZulu snoops through Zandile’s possessions. Zandile works on seducing Ngcolosi and tattles to him that MaZulu isn’t being nice to her, and MaNdlovu later urges Ngcolosi to take Zandile as a second wife. MaZulu turns to Macingwane and Phakade for help when Zandile turns manipulative, angering kaMadonsela and sparking her bond with Zandile. MaNdlovu visits her sister’s grave with Thu Sheleni before introducing him to the Bhengu family, while Nomusa explores Indian culture.
The ancestors have a message for MaNdlovu, who is hiding a secret that will interfere with the ritual that MaKhumalo wants to conduct with Thu Sheleni. MaNdlovu asks Nerupa to pay inhlawulo (damages) to the Bhengu family for Nerupa’s brother getting MaNdlovu’s niece pregnant, and a ghost forces MaNdlovu to finally reveal her big family secret – but not before Thu Sheleni pays the price for her stubbornness. A mystery man named Ciaphus (Mduduzi Mnguni) has a violent encounter with Nkululeko after Buhle publishes photos of Nkululeko in her online art portfolio. Zithulele investigates Nkululeko’s past, which involves danger and mercenaries, Nkululeko springs into action when he finds out that someone has ordered a hit on Ngcolosi, and Zithulele and Nkululeko lay a trap for Ciaphus, believing him to be behind the hit.
Manqoba is abusive and controlling in his relationship with Zakithi, trying to dictate that she not wear pants or drink alcohol, and Zakithi is drawn to Nkululeko. A mystery is resolved when Phunyuka gets out of prison, and Zethu is thrilled to have her dad back. Thenjiwe is flashing cash thanks to a new getrich-quick scheme, and Nomusa’s drunk mother Duduzile (Mpume Mthombeni) rocks up at Emsamo with bad news.