Toxic Thoko
Thokozile’s return is like poison in her son Nkululeko’s veins.
Viewers knew earlier this year that Thokozile (Nqobile Sipamla) wasn’t dead despite watching her son Nkululeko (Nkanyiso Mchunu) telling people that he had her remains cremated. “She escaped with her life and fled town, while Nkululeko, aware that the body he was looking at in the morgue wasn’t his mom, knows that Thoko is still out there,” says Nkanyiso. And out of sight has meant out of mind for the last few months. But now Thoko is back in town, she’s hiding under the cover of being a servant of the church, and she’s got inside help from Nkululeko’s girlfriend Fikile (Phindile Gwala). What does Thoko want and how far is she willing to go to get it? Let’s just say that the god of her church isn’t the only spiritual entity she is praying to. “Thoko brings muti. She’s even almost caught with it. This muti is going to help her,” adds Nqobile.
GRAND JOURNEY
Her return is for a fairly simple reason as it turns out. “Thokozile and Nkululeko’s previous conversation was heartbreaking (when Nkulu discovered her return in early April). All he wanted was for her to stay ‘dead and buried’, while Thoko was adamant that she wants to right the wrongs of her past – like during 2020 when she tried to threaten and blackmail Nkulu’s father Ngcolosi (Tony Kgoroge) into taking her as a second wife and giving her the lifestyle she’d always wanted. “She wants to try make amends with her son and rebuild their bond,” says Nqobile, adding that her character believes in ghosts herself so Thoko’s return from the grave isn’t unimaginable.
DISAPPEARING ACT
Nkulu is furious about Thokozile being back in town because her being alive makes him look like a liar. “People will say, ‘How did you not know that your mom didn’t die?’” says Nkanyiso. Raging, Nkulu orders his mom to leave the country and get as far away from him as possible – like Mozambique. While she’s distressed at first, it takes more than a simple threat to get rid of a woman like Thoko. “She has been though so much as a single mother struggling to raise Nkulu. She knows all about hardships,” says Nqobile. And Thoko has come prepared for Nkulu’s hostility, adds the actress. “The muti is meant to help her get her grandson Mepho (not onscreen) after Nkululeko has shot her down every time she mentions the child’s name.” Whether or not the muti works is hard to say, but there will be drama and panic when Mepho and Thoko both vanish…
PREVIOUSLY
Nkululeko found out that his mom Thokozile was back in town, and MaNdlovu went on a date with her new love interest Walter.
5 – 7 MAY
Nokuzola and Nkululeko’s conversation sees the pair blur the lines when Nkululeko tries to talk Nokuzola into staying part of the family and they kiss, and Fikile keeps Thokozile’s return under wraps, as well as the fact that she’s helping Thoko. Later, Nokuzola goes go church to get forgiveness for what she’s done but she finds something upsetting waiting for her.
10 – 14 MAY
KaMadonsela is assaulted by two other inmates as a reminder to follow the rules, and MaNdlovu is left with no option but to thrown Nokuzola out of the Bhengu family home after her abortion is exposed. Thokozile bumps into MaZulu but manages to escape her enemy’s clutches, and Fikile is forced to come clean to Nkululeko and reveal that she’s been aiding Thokozile after she returned. Thu Sheleni gives Zithulele advice that’s ignored, and Walter comforts MaNdlovu.
17 – 18 MAY
Nokuzola tries to forget about sleeping with Nkululeko when she and Zithu make up, and Thokozile goes to Phakade’s church.
CAST: Abigail Smangele Mathibela •Buhle Bhengu Vuyokazi Tshona
•Celiwe Brightness Zulu •Dinesh Naiker Ravi Rampersad •Fezeka Amanda Tobo •Fikile Phindile Gwala •Futhi Bhengu Nokwanda Khuzwayo •Jyothi Samantha Govender •KaMadonsela (Priscilla) Bhengu Brenda Mhlongo •Khanyo (Nokukhanya) Bhengu Nqobile Ndlovu •Khemisi Thabiso Lekoba •Khwezi Mongi Majola •Lindiwe Msweli Ntokozo Mzulwini •Lindo Anathi Gobeni •Lungani Sifiso Mchunu
•Macingwane Langalakhe Zwane •Makhosazana Nokulunga Kunene
•MaKhumalo Thokozile Priscilla Gumede •MaNdlovu Bhengu Thembi Mtshali •MaZulu (Nokubonga) Bhengu Leleti Khumalo •Menzi Muzi Mthabela •Mepho Eyethu Mkhwanazi •Mira Rampersad Mishka Gounden •Mpanza Bonginkosi Kulu •Ngcolosi (Zimele) Bhengu Tony Kgoroge •Nirupa Rampersad Jailoshini Naidoo •Nkululeko Nkanyiso Mchunu •Nokuzola Vuyiseka Cawe •Nomusa Mkhize Gugulethu
Mzobe •Nomfundo Thokozani Ndlovu •Ntombekhaya Mabongi
Khanyile •Nyawuza Zwai Mgijima •Pastor Ndamase Mlamli Ningiza
•Phakade Bhengu Sandile Dlamini •Phunyuka Khanyile Mduduzi Nombela •Ntombekhaya Mabongi Khanyile •Sanil Maharaj Jack Devnarain •Sebenzile Busisiwe Shezi •Sibahle Mpisane Sibahle
Mpisane •Shria Rampersad Kajal Maharaj •Sibongile Mseleku Sindisiwe Zondo •Sonwabile Mzingisi Ganyile •Thando Thanda Gcwensa
•Themba Kwenzo Ngcobo •Thokozile Nqobile Sipamla •Violet Xoli Zamisa •Yaveer Zahir Bassa •Zakithi Bhengu Nokubonga Khuzwayo
•Zamazama Khayelihle Ngubane •Zethu Khanyile Mchunu Nonsindiso Gcaba •Zithulele Bhengu Raphael Griffiths