Getting the last laugh
Sindiswa should have thought twice before stealing her friend Mapula’s business idea.
As 9-Nine radio station’s most promising assistant, Mapula (Mapula Mafole) is looking at climbing the corporate ladder. “Not only is she hardworking and efficient, Mapula is the type of employee who goes beyond the requirements of her job description. She deserves a promotion,” explains Mapula the actress. To prove that she’s capable, Mapula considers pitching an idea to her boss Ziyanda (Linda Sokhulu), which could bring more listeners to the breakfast show. “It’s called DJ For A Day. Basically listeners record a soundclip and send it to the station. The listener with the most creative clip is invited to co-host the show,” adds the actress. But her character makes a mistake of revealing her idea to her DJ bestie Sindiswa (Mbalenhle Zakwe).
What follows is disastrous, reveals Mapula. “Sindiswa steals Mapula’s idea and presents it to Ziyanda as her own, which means two things: no promotion for Mapula, and Sindiswa is praised.”
CAUGHT RED-HANDED
In Sindiswa’s defence, it was her total desperation to make an impression at the radio station’s corporate office and win the DJ Of The Year award that pushed her to steal Mapula’s idea. “In that moment, she didn’t care about her friendship with Mapula – or that Sindiswa is married to Mapula’s cousin Sabelo (Ishmauel Songo). Sindiswa wanted attention and she gets exactly that as she becomes the talk of the office,” says the actress.
By the time Mapula discovers that her idea was stolen, 9-Nine’s management team has approved the new segment and they’ve credited Sindiswa as the mastermind. “Mapula is seething! She confronts Sindiswa, who’s far from remorseful. Sindiswa tells Mapula that she’s smart enough to think of another creative idea. So Mapula gives Sindiswa an ultimatum: confess the truth or I’ll do it for you,” says Mapula.
BATTLES & WARS
Sindiswa calls Mapula’s bluff and she refuses to come clean. Deep down, Sindiswa believes that Mapula wouldn’t stoop to her level and expose her lies. “Mapula is distraught when Sindiswa is presented with an award. She’s afraid to claim the idea as her own this late in the game as she might come across as bitter or jealous,” explains Mapula. But there’s light at the end of the tunnel, because Ziyanda offers Mapula a promotion nonetheless and she’s tasked with choosing 9-Nine’s DJ line-up for the station’s Youth Day event. “Mapula settles the score by excluding Sindiswa from the event, and Sindiswa is fuming. That’s karma,” says Mapula.
PREVIOUSLY
Zak was torn between forming a bond with the Ngobeses and making amends with his biological mother Ziyanda, and Pearl launched her attack plan against the Ndlovus.
5 – 7 MAY
Nandi refuses to visit her sister Ziyanda in hospital following a car crash, and Blossom offers Kea an assistant job at the spaza shop. Puleng is concerned when her stepson Mzi continues to emotionally detach himself from the family, and Sindiswa is nominated for an award.
10 – 14 MAY
Khulekani extends an olive branch to his sisterin-law Ziyanda, and Mampho threatens to expose Sindiswa for stealing Mapula’s event idea. Mzi’s attempts to protect Suffocate from going to prison don’t go as well as he expected, and Ziyanda convinces Zak to move in with the Ngobeses. Puleng arranges a meeting with Pearl to strike a deal but the women struggle to find commonground, and Mapula lashes out at Sindiswa from stealing her idea. Khulekani’s ultimatum unsettles Nandi, and Mapula gives Sindiswa the silent treatment.
17 – 18 MAY
Zak and Zinhle start dating again secretly, and Suffocate considers handing himself to the police for committing murder.
CAST: Advocate Maponya Getmore Sithole •Amanhle Cebile Hlatshwayo •Banele Oros Mampofu •Blossom Khuse Slindile Nodangala
•Busi Thabo Ntshubela •Candy Johanna Difile Molotsi •Chicken Nelson Ntombela •Constance Mokokobale Makgopa •Cuba Magi Noninzi Williams •David Genaro Jamie Bartlett •Deaconess Sonto Limakatso Mokhiti •Detective Madikgetla Lerato Moloi •Dikeledi Reshoketswe Kekana •Dumisani Siyabonga Mtshali •Emmanuel
Nkosi Cengani •Fats Tselapedi Mpho Molepo •Hammer Abraham
Abe Pupunyane •Hlompho Sello Motloung •Gail Pam Andrews •Gift Nyaniso Dzedze •Jafta Nakumba Sandile Dlamini •Jamaica Mzamo Gcabashe •Jonas Charles Baloyi •Kea (Keabetswe) Kamogelo Molatlhoe •Khulekani Ngobese Mncedisi Shabangu •Kop Khuse Setlhabi Taunyane •Lefa Tshiamo Molobi •Lerato Samkelo Ndlovu
•Lerumo Khotso Nkhatho •Machiliza Sannah Mcunu •Mampho Nakumba Itumeleng Bokaba •Mandlakhe Menzi Brighton Biyela
•Mapula Mapula Mafole •Mkhushulwa Jacob Ntshangase •Musa Thabiso Mokhethi •Mr Murray Anthony Coleman •Mose Mpho Sebeng
•Mzi Ndlovu Jesse Suntele •Nandi Ngobese Nompilo Gwala •Nqobi Khwezi Ntsika Mbabela •Palesa Hloni Padi •Pastor Makoro Kabelo Moalusi •Pearl Genaro Petronella Tshuma •Pinkies Cebile Mlaba
•Pule Zamani Mbatha •Puleng Mofokeng Tebogo Khalo •Quinton Cidjey Andrews •Reneilwe Khuse Amogelang Chidi •Sabelo Ishmauel Songo •Sindiswa Mbalenhle Zakwe •Stixx Matshosa Joseph Sedibo
•Suffo (Suffocate) Ndlovu Mduduzi Mabaso •Vukile Baxolise Mfidi
•Zak Bohlokwa Mpiti •Zinhle Ngobese Kealeboga Masango •Ziyanda Linda Sokhulu •Zolani Melusi Mbele