Family feud
Boniswa wages her life to turn a father against his daughter.
If there’s one thing villainous Boniswa (Lusanda Mbane) does better than anyone else, it’s selling a good story. Whether it’s pretending to be a domestic helper to find dirt on someone or faking her son Romeo’s (Hungani Ndlovu) death in December 2020, she knows how to put on theatrics. This fortnight, she’ll put on one of her best shows yet – but Boniswa could very well die in the process…
Following Mamba’s (Simo Magwaza) failed political campaign against his estranged daughter Poloko (Upile Bongco), it’s time for them to reunite and welcome Poloko back. But Boniswa has a different plan – and it doesn’t include Mamba’s daughter. “Poloko is, at a very basic level, an irritation to Boniswa because she’s just another person standing in the way of what she wants,” explains Lusanda. In this case, Boniswa wants a seat at Mamba’s table and money. Lots of it. But Poloko threatens to ruin it all.
POISONED CHALICE
While we can’t reveal the exact nature of Poloko’s threat, we can give you a glimpse into what Boniswa is willing to do to ensure she comes out on top. The plan is simple: frame Poloko for an unthinkable crime – attempted murder.
But to make it believable, Boniswa will have to put her own life on the line to make Mamba believe his daughter is out to kill him. “What I can say is that she’s in hospital following suspected food poisoning,” teases Lusanda.
Weak and suffering, Boniswa begins to spin her web of lies from a hospital bed as she convinces Mamba that he was the target of an assassination attempt. “She’s playing up the idea that Mamba could’ve died, but that she (Boniswa) took one for the team. She plays the hero,” reveals Lusanda. According to the actress, it doesn’t take much for Mamba to be convinced that Poloko is greedy enough to resort to murder. “He doesn’t want to believe Poloko could’ve done this, but all the evidence points to her,” says Lusanda.
FURIOUS FATHER
Fuming, Mamba sends his henchman Gorbachev (Khulu Skenjana) to get rid of his daughter. Lusanda reminds us that when it comes to killing, Mamba isn’t shy. “He’s the one that found out his wife Violetta (Cindy Mahlangu) cheated on him and we know what happened to her,” she recalls, referring to Violetta’s murder earlier this year. So Poloko is by no means safe. “He will go as far as needs be – family or not…”