uBettina Wethu
Season 1 Mon-Wed SABC1 (*191) 19:30 Drama
Board member Lakhe (Ayanda Bandla, Nokuthula in sci-fi series Omen, 2020) has repeatedly tried to overthrow her CEO at Nubia brand agency Dingaan Jiyane (Zweli Dube, Phumlani on drama series Agent, 2019-now) since dramedy series uBettina Wethu started in April 2021. “Lakhe has Nubia’s best interest at heart. She’s convinced that Dingaan isn’t the right fit,” explains Ayanda.
The 31-year-old actress explains that Lakhe’s resentment towards Dingaan is rooted in grief. The marketing exec was engaged to Dingaan’s moral identical twin Dumisani who was meant to take over Nubia, but he died in an offscreen car crash. “Dingaan isn’t equipped to bring Dumisani’s vision at Nubia to life, to turn it into a global empire. Instead, Dingaan is a spoilt brat who’ll never live up to Dumisani’s standards. He is the type to skip a crucial meeting with investors to nurse a hangover,” explains Ayanda, adding that her character feels she is better suited as CEO. “Lakhe is certain that she’s the only person able to fill Dumisani’s shoes. To an extent, I think that because Dingaan looks like her dead fiancé, she’s reminded of what she lost when she looks at Dingaan.”
Not only has Lakhe tried to poach Dingaan’s clients, she’s enlisted her creative director cousin T-bang (Brighton Ngoma, Quinton in 2008-2020 in soap Scandal!, 2005-now, see p27) to drag Dingaan’s reputation through the mud. “Lakhe is relentless. She won’t give up until she has Dingaan’s office with her cat Coco by her side,” reveals Ayanda.