That crush feeling
Newcomer Gcinekile gets love butterflies, but will Sindi?
Samke Makhoba and her character Gcinekile Nobengela have only been on The Estate for about a month since season 3 returned and she already has her eye on someone special, says Samke. “GK crushes on Sindi (Zenokuhle Maseko) because she tests her and intrigues her. She reveals another side to GK. Sindi isn’t like other women that she’s met and it’s a rush.” But that doesn’t mean Sindi feels the same. At least not right now…
“D” MEANS FREE
Sindi is getting a divorce after her marriage fell apart offscreen in the season break. And because news travels fast at Echelon Estate, GK overhears the news and her heart starts racing.
“GK is a fixer of sorts and she thinks that maybe she can help Sindi fix her heartache. Fixing Sindi’s mess becomes a catalyst for them and Sindi’s situation turns out to be more than GK ever expected,” says Samke.
But that doesn’t mean that Sindi sees GK in “that” way right now, because she needs a shoulder to cry on and someone to support her while she mourns her marriage, even though it wasn’t the best one in TV history. At the moment it’s all about helping Sindi to get back on her love feet, explains Samke. “GK sees Sindi as her new chapter, her new page and experience. She wants to be in a full relationship with Sindi but it’ll take time. Sindi reveals her vulnerable side to GK and it pulls GK in,” adds the actress.
HIT ME IN THE FEELS
Sindi on the other hand doesn’t know what she’s feeling about GK, who’s new in her world. “We don’t know if she sees GK as a rebound or a friend or whatever right now. We don’t even know if Sindi is interested in love right now, so it’ll be interesting to see how it plays out,” says Samke, who adds, “If they do date, it will be new territory because GK’s normal way of loving is to hit-and-miss. She does one-night-stands and then ghosts people. But Sindi is different. I hope that they will get together.”
Samke is excited about the direction of her new character, saying that it’s an important decision for productions to show this love. “I believe that their union is true, that it’s real. It will represent many queer relationships, yet it will be relatable for all relationships. What’s really nice is that both GK and Sindi have never been shy about their love. They don’t fear negative outcomes – they’d rather do something than not. That kind of impulsivity and wanting to try new things helps them form a bond.”
Will they or won’t they? It would be a nice change for Sindi to have a romantic partner who doesn’t abuse her physically or emotionally…
PREVIOUSLY
Castro flexed his muscles and made sure that Jo understood who’s boss, Mmakoena was unsure of a situation, and Melisizwe confessed what he’d done to his wife Noxolo but she didn’t react the way he’d expected.
IN THIS ISSUE
News of Sindi’s impending divorce reaches Gcinekile’s ears and there’s an instant glimmer of hope of a relationship, and Jo feels guilty for meeting with someone’s wife. Castro and Melisizwe’s plan is taking shape and they can almost feel Echelon Estate being theirs, and Jo’s world is spiralling out of control thanks to Castro and his evil schemes. Melisizwe is revelling in his new position of power and he throws his weight around at Sakhizwe, and Tsholo makes promises that will be impossible to keep.
Lwandle is struggling to find a job thanks to an unforeseen complication, there’s a new family moving into Echelon Estate, and Gcinekile puts on the charm to win over Sindi’s heart. Mzolisi realises that there’s no option but to consult the elders about the Vukani situation, and someone is about to be fired and there’s nothing they can do about it. The Nobengelas are setting in well at Echelon, but later a house party descends into chaos thanks to a furious Mzolisi making threats. Dumisani has to make a decision about being linked to the Nobengela family following the party fight, and Melisizwe tries to make sure that the family’s secret stays buried. Gcinekile and Sindi start dating, and Muzi’s ghost haunts Echelon.
CAST: Aarush Gopala Davies •Amogelang Dineo Rasedile •Boikanyo Thabo Malema •Castro Kamanga Aubrey Poo •Chantelle Lee Visagie
•Dumisani Mokobane Mpho Sibeko •Faniswa Khayakazi Kula
•Fareeha Vinette Ebrahim •Gcinekile Nobengela Samke Makhoba
•Gigi Nambitha Ben-Mazwi •Gilles Bradley Hartman •Goniwe Phakathwayo Linda Sebezo •Grace Hildegardt Whites •Jo Lorcia
Cooper Khumalo •Koko Mothibe Ivy Nkutha •Latifah Carla Fonseca
•Leah le Roux Penny Wolhurter •Lesiba Molefe Matli Mohapelo
•Lwandle Phakathwayo Jo-Anne Reyneke •Martin van Wyk Jacques Blignaut Melisizwe Nobengela Dumisani Mbebe •Mmakoena Molefe Dineo Langa •Mmathsepo Mokobane Clementine Mosimane •Muzi (Solomuzi) Phakathwayo Sdumo Mtshali •Mzolisi Nobengela Anga Makubalo •Noxolo Nobengela Lerato Mvelase •Oom Pretorius Anton Dekker •Papa M Nimrod Nkosi •Phasha Amos Ketlele-Chalale •Phenyo Bahle Hadebe •Precious Zandile Lujabe •Rethabile Palesa Madisakwane
•Ryan le Roux Charlie Bouguenon •Sanjay Ashish Gangapersad
•Shadrack Mokobane Don Mlangeni •Sindi Phakathwayo Zenokuhle Maseko •Siya Phakathwayo Sparky Xulu •Suzaan le Roux Nadia Velvekens •Tessa van Wyk Carla Classen •Tsholo Moliehi Didie Makobane •Vukani Nobengela Siya Xaba • Zodwa Amanda Quwe