Desperate measures
Maureen is willing to go to any lengths to become a mom after she learns that she’s infertile.
Shebeen queen Maureen (Vele Manenje, Evelyn since April this year in soapie Skeem Saam, 2013now, see p22) runs the trendiest tavern in Diepsloot. She’s married to gangster Mgedeza (Mduduzi Mabaso, Suffo in Rhythm City, 2007-now, see p27) and together, they are respected by their community. What more could she want? “A baby,” says Vele. “Maureen has been struggling to conceive. All she wants is a soccer team of kids running around her home,” adds the actress.
After recently experiencing classic pregnancy symptoms – fatigue, nausea, and missing her period – Maureen was certain her prayers had been answered. “She announced the news to Mgedeza, and he shared the excitement,” says Vele, whose character’s happiness is short-lived as her pregnancy test came back negative. Instead of revealing the truth to Mgedeza, Maureen pretends that she’s pregnant…
CAUGHT OUT
Mgedeza notices that his wife is acting out of character and he confronts her for her strange behaviour. “At first, she hesitates to tell him that she isn’t pregnant, but she cracks,” says Vele. As expected, Mgedeza is furious that Maureen didn’t tell him the truth right away. They’ve never kept secrets from each other, why now? “Mgedeza feels betrayed, which is understandable. In Maureen’s defence, she feels that it’s unfair that other women can fall pregnant without much effort and it’s such a challenge for her,” adds the actress. And while Mgedeza is angry, he reassures her that he loves her.
COVERING HER TRACKS
Worse news follows: tests reveal that Maureen is infertile. “She’s a wreck and locks herself in her room and weeps,” says Vele. Maureen’s insecurities take over her and she doesn’t tell Mgedeza about her diagnosis. “She plots to get a baby no matter what,” reveals Vele, whose character meets a shadowy figure. “I don’t want to spoil the storyline for viewers because Maureen’s scheming will prove just how much she wants a baby,” teases the actress, adding that Maureen is willing to lie, cheat and steal to become a mother…
WEARING MANY HATS
Besides DiepCity and Skeem Saam, Vele plays feisty airport security guard Princess in new Afrikaans sitcom G.I.L. “It’s easy to juggle all the characters because they speak different languages. “Maureen is a Venda-speaking diva with a blonde wig and gold teeth. Princess speaks isiXhosa and Evelyn is Sepedi-speaking former teacher. Being multi-lingual comes in handy.”
PREVIOUSLY
Nox rescued her sister Lungile from their mom Zandile’s loansharks who kidnapped the teen as leverage. Zandile came close to losing her job after a colleague caught her committing crime, and Lerato used her charm to outsmart an old frenemy.
19 – 21 MAY
Nobarbwire resorts to using muti to get Zandile fired from her cleaning job, and the cracks in Mgedeza and Maureen’s marriage are starting to show. Nox has every reason to doubt Herbert’s intentions when he asks her out on a date but she ignores her intuition, and Zandile has had enough of Nobarbwire’s bullying ways. Mgedeza smells a rat when he sees Maureen meeting with corrupt detective Jomo, and Sne encourages her bestie Nox to give Herbert a chance to prove that he’s serious about her.
24 – 28 MAY
Nox fights her feelings for Herbert because she’s still not sure about trusting him, and the tension between Nobarbwire and Zandile boils over and the ladies get into a brawl at their workplace. The girl gang go digging for information about a warehouse that they think is perfect for their next heist job, and Maureen is caught in a web of lies. Someone surprising isn’t impressed to learn that Nox and Herbert are an item, and Bonga organises a romantic dinner to express his appreciation for his wife Zandile. Nox runs into Herbert while robbing the warehouse, and Nobarbwire is jealous after discovering unsettling news about Zandile.
31 MAY – 1 JUNE
Nobarbwire ruins two of her colleagues’ day, and Bonga and his daughter Lungile are excited to see Zandile in a happier mood.
CAST: Asanda Zikhona Bali •Baqede Bheki Ngiba •Bonga Jele Hamilton Dlamini •Hamilton Abe Pupunyane •Herbert Akhona Ndlovu
•Jomo Thabang Mphahlele •Khumo Lungile Radebe •Lerato Kgaogelo Monama •Lungile Luyanda Shezi •Mary Moshine Mametja •Maureen Vele Manenje •Mgedeza (Elliot) Mduduzi Mabasa •Nobarbwire Yokokazi Noruwana •Nox Jele Nozuko Ncayiyane •Ringo Obed Baloyi
•Sibusiso Tshiamo Molobi •Sne Nompumelelo Vilakazi •Zandile Jele Dawn Thandeka King