The groom’s “gift”
The Welmans are far from well following DeWet’s wicked wedding plans. First the cake, then the coma!
It was the wedding of all weddings when Bonita (Hildegardt Whites) and DeWet (Dirk Stoltz) finally tied the knot recently. Who’s to say you can’t be married for a year and then finally have a big do later down the line? It’s the COVID way! And they certainly showed us how to celebrate. But as usual, DeWet had an agenda, and it definitely wasn’t only to give Bonita – the woman he now truly-sort-of loves – the fairytale wedding of her dreams. De Wet has given himself a little going away present too.
While the happy couple are jetting off to their honeymoon, the Welmans – the family DeWet holds responsible for the death of his son Shawn
(Deànré Reiners) – will be fighting for their lives.
Somebody get the name of that caterer, because the wedding feast has left them with something worse than indigestion.
CHOKE ON IT!
While the wedding guests enjoyed the party after the ceremony and Bonita and DeWet left the reception to cheers and tears, the Welmans and Fikani (Nicholas Nkuna) – their son-in-law – started falling ill one by one. They desperately wanted to get out of the venue and get help, but DeWet’s guests were all locked in. Eventually Uys (Daniel Coetzee) and some of the other men used tables to break the door and the ambulances arrived them.
Fikani’s wife Alexa Welman (Carina Nel) collapsed at the hospital and it soon became clear that her parents Mariaan (Deirdre Wolhuter) and Chris (David Rees) and sister
Amorey (Kristen Raath) were also in bad shape – they had all been poisoned! As their conditions deteriorated, almost the entire Welman family fell into comas… But just before Mariaan lost consciousness, she realised who the culprit was. “Mariaan actually had this constant nagging feeling [that DeWet will do something to them] after Bonita told her that DeWet is aware of the Welmans being responsible for his son’s death,” explains Deirdre.
While Alexa, Fikani, Amorey, Chris and Mariaan are fighting for their lives, their family friend Vanessa (Ingrid Paulus) calls Mariaan and Chris’s other son Rickus (André Lötter), who is in Kenya, to tell him about his family’s situation. And on their way to a resort for their honeymoon, DeWet tells Bonita that he is going to pin it on his henchwoman Koedoe (Michelle Ayden). No one betrays DeWet and gets away with it (read more on p31).
COUPLE GOALS
While the Basson union has had some pretty hectic ups and downs, there now seems to be trust and true love between Bonita and DeWet. But you never really know with those two! “Bonita would love to have a happily ever after for once, but not knowing what DeWet’s big plan might be after the wedding keeps her on a constant watch. He tells Koedoe on the phone how he rolled out the plan from the beginning and Bonita is in the car with him on the way to their honeymoon,” says Hildegardt. “The two are mysterious individuals – they have a Bonnie and Clyde thing. Let’s see how long this lasts,” Hildegardt teases.
And Dirk is quick to add, “Viewers can look forward to a dramatic turn of events because in true Hillside style there’s never a dull moment.”
PREVIOUSLY
Denzil empathised with Vanessa when she vented about the cruel world in which they live, and DeWet visited a hospital patient.
IN THIS ISSUE
Maxine is annoyed with the sloppy stock that she’s been receiving from the boutique’s supplier Gloria, Tanya is excited to be chosen as a contestant on the music gameshow Noot Vir Noot, and Denzil and Vanessa bond while packing food parcels for the soup kitchen. DeWet calls on Lesedi to help execute his plan, Vee and Eddie are frustrated with Ivy’s driving skills, and Augusta gives Tanya perspective and encourages her to go for what she wants. Romeo apologises to Maxine on behalf of Ivy, Lesedi points out the stark reality of what lies ahead to DeWet, and the Hillsiders enjoy a night out at the club.
Mariaan makes plans of her own, and Zee comes to the Visagies’ rescue. Bonita arranges a pamper session for her and the ladies, and Marvin is surprised by the contents of a letter he finds in Vee’s school bag. Alexa is relieved that her problem is resolved and finds herself overcome with emotion, Tjattas challenges Amorey to spend a day in the informal settlement, and Augusta interrogates the youngsters about the true meaning of Youth Day. Aggie is pleased to see Vanessa and Denzil as in love as they are, and Lesedi is at her wits end when Aggie steps in to save the day.