A foot in the grave
Bab’Gumede’s lies catch up to him and end in tears when his greatest lie sees his wife MaCele suffer a heart attack.
Durban Gen receptionist MaCele (Thuli Zulu) is wheeled straight back into the emergency room shortly after being discharged – and it isn’t looking good. MaCele experienced heart murmurs after the recent revelation than her paramedic hubby Bab’ Gumede (Sifiso Sibiya) was hiding illegitimate son Msizi (Nhlankanipho Mhlongo) and mistress MaShange (Zanele Zulu) for 17 years, and that condition worsens after yet another confession, reveals Sifiso. “Seeing that she almost died, MaCele calls a meeting with their financial advisor, who reveals that the Gumedes have run out of funds.” Bab’Gumede secretly paid for Msizi’s hospital bills after the boy was diagnosed with bone marrow disease months ago. With the R450 000 savings depleted, Msizi was sent to Durban Gen public hospital, which blew the paramedic’s cover. “The news is too much for MaCele to bear. Tears stream down her face, she begins to shake and collapses,” adds Sifiso. But even a rushed transfer to the hospital won’t make much difference: MaCele’s heart has stopped beating.
BLAME GAME
MaCele’s sudden death sends shockwaves through Durban Gen, especially for Bab’Gumede, who blames himself.
According to Sifiso, his character feels that had he confessed his lies sooner, MaCele would still be alive. “He is miserable and beyond regretful. It’s all his fault that MaCele is gone,” says Sifiso.
Leading up to the funeral, the family are pulled apart as Bab’Gumede’s son Calvin (Bhekisizwe Mahlawe) wants nothing to do with his father following his mother’s passing. “Calvin grows hostile. He is fuming and at this point, there’s nothing Bab’Gumede can do to remedy the situation. Like MaCele, the entire family were blindsided by Bab’Gumede’s lies.”
THE HEART OF THE MATTER
The self-blame doesn’t do Bab’Gumede any good and he goes on a downward spiral. “The Bab’Gumede who enjoys joking around is no more, we begin to see a broken man,” says Sifiso. What is worse is that Bab’Gumede doesn’t have any money to bury his wife. “He is embarrassed that he’s put his family in this position: destitute and without their matriarch,” says Sifiso. And Bab’Gumede is plunged deeper into despair when MaCele’s family arrive guns blazing and threaten to kick him out of his home. “Bab’Gumede has no fight left. If Calvin, who’s also struggling with the loss, doesn’t step in, the family will be torn apart,” says Sifiso, hinting that his character’s disaster life will continue…