Time for healing
Andile and Thabo’s reunion changes Thabo’s life for good as he tries to overcome his booze battle.
When Durban Gen Hospital’s former head surgeon Thabo’s (Meshack Mavuso) childhood bestie Andile (Melusi Yeni) unexpectedly arrives in town to catch up this fortnight, it’s quickly revealed that it isn’t a reunion between the friends, but it’s rather a send-off. “With a few weeks to live after he was diagnosed with lung cancer, Andile left his family in Cape Town to tick off items on his bucket list such as going bungee jumping with Thabo and partying in the best nightclubs on the west coast,” explains Melusi.
However, Andile soon realises that he isn’t the only one who’s facing a rough patch as Thabo is also battling his own demons. “The reunion becomes a healing experience for both men and they support each other at the lowest points of their lives,” reveals Melusi. IN DIRE STRAITS It doesn’t take long for Andile to work out that something is amiss thanks to Thabo’s odd behaviour. When Thabo isn’t already drunk, he’s binge drinking to avoid discussing his issues. “Being the caring friend that Andile is, he seeks to help Thabo out of misery, and he does that by getting to the root of his problems,” says Melusi. After plenty of probing, Thabo lets his guard down and he eventually reveals that he hasn’t been coping following a series of unfortunate events. First, Thabo conducted his father
Bab’Dlamini (Martin Ziqubu) heart surgery in September but he died midway through the procedure. Days later, it was revealed that Thabo’s wife Precious (Lihle Dhlomo) had an affair with his brother Sibusiso (Ntando Mncube), resulting in Precious falling pregnant and giving birth to a son – of whom Thabo thought he was the father. Feeling betrayed, Thabo murdered Sibusiso in the same month in a drunken rage and he lost his job as well as his family. “Andile becomes the support system that Thabo needs. They express their feelings and at some stage, Andile tells Thabo to turn his life around before it’s too late.” THE LAST RESORT Just as Andile becomes Thabo’s lifeline, the ex-surgeon sets out to save his pal’s life. He convinces Andile to undergo surgery. “However, Andile won’t let anyone but Thabo do the procedure,” explains Melusi. So, Thabo kicks his habit and he tries to prove to the hospital board that he is fit to return to the operating theatre. “While I can’t reveal how Andile’s surgery goes – or if he survives – what I can assure is that Thabo changes his ways and he seeks professional help.”