Sins of the pastor
Mbatha is back from the US with tricks up his sleeve.
It’s as though a carnival has come into town when Mbatha (Thabo Mnguni) rolls back into KwaMashu after his supposed fellowship with the famous Bishop TD Jakes in the US. He doesn’t skimp on anything: over-thetop colourful outfits, brass bands and his massive ego marching the streets to let everyone know that he’s back. “Mbatha has idolised US TV preacher Bishop TD Jakes and wanted to be like him. So when he lost his pastorship at KwaMashu Kingdom Church (KKC), he got his lackey Vusi (Mzandile Gumede) to get him a fellowship with the bishop,” says Thabo. Off Mbatha went to the US, leaving his friend Vusi in KwaMashu. And while Mbatha returns like a warrior victorious from war, he’s lying through his teeth.
SPINNING A YEARN
Turns out Mbatha was deported back to South Africa before he could even meet Bishop Jakes. “He got arrested by the FBI for having fake documents. The only legit document that he could produce to the FBI was the letter offering him the fellowship,” explains the actor.
Instead of coming back home with his tail between his legs, he fabricates evidence of his one-on-one time with the great preacher TD Jakes. “Mbatha lies about what happened. He photoshops pictures of himself in the US and with TD Jakes and he convinces people that he now has connections to famous and influential people. So they can go through him if they want access to these people. He even speaks with a US accent,” says the actor laughing.
The charade has a dual purpose – Mbatha has nothing and he’s using his congregants to provide for him: everything from cleaning to being his personal assistant. He promises to pay his helpers with fake dollars from his fake trip. “Mbatha hasn’t changed one bit, he still doesn’t think that the young Pastor Gwala (Menzi Biyela) is worthy of being the KKC pastor, but that he himself is,” says Thabo. “He does everything to portray the image that he can do better than Gwala.” He goes as far as cleaning the church on his own to show that he is a servant of KKC.
LIAR LIAR PANTS ON FIRE
But it’s not long before Vusi discovers his friend’s devious tricks. Mbatha begs and pleads with Vusi not to oust him to the people of KwaMashu, but Vusi doesn’t want to hear a word. “Mbatha says sorry and begs for forgiveness just so that he doesn’t get kicked out of the church again. There’s no honesty here,” says the actor, hinting that his character has more lies ready to save his bacon.
PREVIOUSLY
Sibonelo started playing games with the police and Raphael, MaMlambo got herself in trouble trying to be a Good Samaritan, and Nosipho bought herself a gun to protect herself from her abusive boyfriend Njeza.
IN THIS ISSUE
MaMlambo discovers fishy info about Hlelo, and Gabisile isn’t ready to enter into a relationship but Nkunzi isn’t willing to take no for an answer. It’s time for MaMlambo and Hlelo to face the music for their crimes, and Gabisile is beating herself up for the part she played in getting Hlelo into trouble. Sibonelo is struggling to find a buyer for his stolen diamonds, Mr Mbatha comes back with a shady story to tell, and Nosipho tries to contact her family. KwaMashu Kingdom Church members get involved in trying to assist Njeza and Nosipho with their relationship, and Gabisile is running out of plans to help Hlelo.
Sbu and Njeza want to be paid by Sibonelo for the job they’ve done, but Sibonelo is only interested in showing his dad Nkunzi all of the money that he’s got, and the congregation wait to see if Nosipho will attend the gender-based violence sessions at the church. Pastor Gwala ponders God’s plans for KwaMashu, Sibonelo pushes his friends away, and Nosipho gains the courage to take a good look at her relationship with Njeza. Njeza has another fit of rage and he destroys Nosipho’s belongings in the moment, and the residents of KwaMashu are shocked by Njeza’s behaviour.
CAST: Amos Bongani Masondo •Cocoa Nomalanga Shabane •Detective Mondli Thembinkosi Thwala •Detective Nyawo Cebo Mthembu
•Detective Yamkela Mpambani Jet Novuka •DK Sonto Maphumulo
•Fikile Nelisa Mchunu •Gabisile Baby Cele •GC Khaya Dladla
•God-father Sizwe Khumbuza •Hlelo Nothando Ngcobo •Hleziphi Sibongiseni Shezi •Khehla Thobani Nzuza •Khomo Sello Ramolatloane •Last-Number Mxolisi ZuluBoy Majozi •Lilly Noxolo Mathula
•MaDongwe Zama Magubane •Mageba Mike Mvelase •MaMlambo (Hlengiwe) Gugu Gumede •Mazaza Mpume Ngwenya •Mpume (Mpumelelo) Hlatshwayo Fezile Makhanya •Mrs Madlala Ntombifuthi Dlamini •Mr Mbatha Thabo Mnguni •Mumsy Nomcebo Gumede
•Mrs Nhlapho Mary Ngcobo •Njeza Nkanyiso Makhanya •Nkunzi (Nkunzebovu) Mhlongo Masoja Msiza •Nokwanda Welile Khanyile
•Nomcebo (Cebo) Meyiwa Nombulele Mhlongo •Nonka Thuthuka Mthembu •Nosipho Xulu Nompilo Maphumulo •Pastor Gwala/ Sambulo (Sambo) Menzi Biyela •Phelelani Omega Mncube •Pitshana Thandanani Qwabe •Qhabanga Mhlongo Siyabonga Shibe •Raphael Nduduzo Khowa •Sbu Simphiwe Majozi •Sibonelo (Sibo) Wiseman Mncube •Siphilile Nomthandazo Tee Xaba •Thobile Nokuthula Mabika
•Thulani Mbele Thulane Shange •Wenzile Enhle Mbali Maphumulo