Wife makes a plan
Suzaan sinks to desperately low measures to keep up the lie that she’s part of a happy family.
Suzaan (Nadia Valvekens) is the resident Karen in the complex (that woman in the social media memes who’s always complaining and wanting to speak to the manager) – she likes to know everyone’s business and she puts on a great show when others look at her, making sure that she doesn’t give away too much. “It’s more of a ‘do as I say’ than ‘do as I do’,” says Nadia. But Suzaan’s facade came crashing down recently when her hubby Ryan le Roux (Charles Bouguenon) told her not only that he’s gay, but that he’s moving out. “This is something she never expected,” says Nadia. “That hit her like a tonne of bricks,” adds the actress. But while Suzaan is desperately trying to salvage her marriage, Nadia says that “it’s hopeless. He’s gone.”
CLINGING ON
The month of May hasn’t been kind to Suzaan, adds Nadia. “Remember when Ryan told my character that he was gay and leaving? She jumped on the bonnet of his car as he drove down the road – nothing subtle, hey?” says Nadia, who was strapped to the car in real life while it was driven slowly for the scene. And it gets worse – Ryan arrives at his daughter Leah’s (Penny Wolhuter) birthday with his secret new lover, which leaves Suzaan both furious and embarrassed. “What will the guests think? She has put up this dream idea of a white picket fence life and in the space of a few days, Ryan has destroyed that,” says Nadia.
Suzaan may be down, but she most certainly is not out, adds Nadia. “She isn’t evil, but she is devious to get what she wants. So she fakes an emergency – it’s a horrible, horrible thing but it’s the only thing that she can think of. Ryan helps, but only because Suzaan is the mother of his daughter, so there is that bond,” says Nadia, adding that you won’t believe your eyes when you see what fake situation Suzaan conjures.
CLUELESS & CRAZY
When Ryan returns home (to help deal with his wife’s “emergency”), Suzaan turns on the charm and tries to remind him of what they once had. “It’s almost like she believes that he’s having a midlife crisis and everything will be okay when he realises what he has at home,” explains Nadia. But there’s a problem: Ryan is serious about being gay and he isn’t staying. “She’s going to stoop to crazy levels,” teases Nadia. “She can’t compete with another man, so this is a fight that she’s going to lose.”
PREVIOUSLY
Muzi dragged Goniwe into his crime masterplan, Martin’s finances were in ruins and he had to go to a loanshark, and Suzaan’s world collapsed when her husband Ryan revealed that he’s gay.
19 – 21 MAY
Muzi stuns his wife Lwandle with the revelation that Shadrack’s son Tumelo (not seen) is buried on the estate grounds, and Tessa and Leah put their differences aside when they realise that they both have parent problems. Suzaan fires Zodwa without reason, and a home invader breaks into Goniwe’s home while she’s there. Shadrack gets into a war of words with a close friend, and Dumisani and Sindi kiss.
24 – 28 MAY
Castro sends a thug to intimidate Goniwe and he plans to use Muzi as leverage. Suzaan fakes a terrifying situation to get Ryan home, and Shadrack’s land-grab plan blows up in his face when Muzi confronts him publicly. Dumisani demands justice for Zodwa and tells Suzaan to hire her back and apologise, and Mmakoena goes on a spending spree and buys houses in the estate without telling Lesiba. Lwandle gets information that could change everything, and Suzaan convinces herself that she can get Ryan back and continue with their marriage. There’s a protest outside Muzi’s press conference, and Castro sends a new threat to the Phakathwayo family. Martin meanwhile gets financial help.
31 MAY – 1 JUNE
Shadrack is forced to beg the ancestors for forgiveness for his sins, and Lwandle and Muzi discuss the possibility of becoming parents.
CAST: Arrush Gopala Davies •Boikanyo Thabo Malema •Castro Kamanga Phakathwayo Aubrey Poo •Dumisani Mokobane Mpho Sibeko •Faniswa Khayakazi Kula •Gigi Nambitha Ben-Mazwi •Goniwe Phakathwayo Linda Sebezo •Leah le Roux Penny Wolhurter •Lesiba Molefe Matli Mohapelo •Lwandle Phakathwayo Jo-Anne Reyneke
•Martin van Wyk Jacques Blignaut •Mmakoena Molefe Dineo Langa
•Mmathsepo Mokobane Clementine Mosimane •Muzi (Solomuzi) Phakathwayo Sdumo Mtshali •Ryan le Roux Charlie Bouguenon
•Shadrack Mokobane Don Mlangeni •Sindi Phakathwayo Zenokuhle Maseko •Siya Phaka-thwayo Sparky Xulu •Suzaan le Roux Nadia Velvekens •Tessa van Wyk Carla Classen •Tsholo Moliehi Didie Makobane •Zodwa Amanda Quwe