Free of sin… for now
Sindi isn’t in the mood for a cleansing ceremony after her abortion and she’s willing to anger the ancestors.
The past few months have been a rollercoaster ride for Sindi Phakathwayo, explains actress Zenokuhle Maseko. “She’s had to go through a lot. She was emotionally and physically abused by the people she trusted most in her life. And she had an abortion to save her sanity – she didn’t want to bring an unwanted child into this cruel world.” Custom dictates that Sindi needs to undergo a cleansing ceremony to heal herself in the eyes of the ancestors, but she’s not up for it, says Zeno. “It’s not that she doesn’t agree with it – she’s just in an emotional space and a lot is happening right now, so she doesn’t necessarily care about it.”
MARRIAGE MAYHEM
It’s no secret that Sindi’s marriage to businessman Dumisani (Mpho Sibeko) was a nightmare. “Their breakup and divorce has been messy. He was abusive. Sindi’s happy to be rid of him because he’s a monster. So getting an abortion wasn’t a difficult decision for her,” explains the actress, who adds that it’s not something that should ever be taken lightly because it’s a complex emotional subject: “Sindi has saved herself by doing it. And because she has done [the abortion], she now has to take part in a ceremony to cleanse herself and her unborn baby. In any black culture, if you miscarry or abort, the belief is that the baby continues to grow in the afterlife, so you have to give it a name. The ceremony is organised by Dumisani’s family but he doesn’t have to take part,” says Zenokuhle. Because Sindi had the abortion, she needs to acknowledge her “mistake” and apologise to the ancestors. “Dumi’s family tell her to perform the ritual because the dark cloud of her actions will haunt her and (unfairly) Dumisani,” adds Zeno.
YOU CAN’T FORCE ME
At the same time, Sindi has already moved on from her marriage and she’s now dating Gcinekile (Samke Makhoba). “She doesn’t go to the cleansing ceremony and that forces Dumisani to apologise to the ancestors on her behalf. She’s broken the promise made by his family and it isn’t something that should be taken lightly. In her absence, Dumi names the child and that is going to have major ramifications down the line,” says Zeno, who’s remaining tightlipped on whether her character will eventually cleanse her aura. “Sindi feels judged as a woman. It’s her body and she can do what she likes.”
PREVIOUSLY
Dumisani’s aunt attacked Sindi about her abortion, Vukani was furious about GK’s revelation, and bones stolen previously by Muzi were returned home at last.
IN THIS ISSUE
Melisizwe and Noxolo make sure the funeral incident is covered up properly so Vukani is free from blame, and Lesiba is given approval to take over as head of the household. Secrets start tumbling out of the closet for two families and it’s only going to get worse for them, and Tsholo’s big tender business plan hits a roadblock.
Castro realises he’s a small fish in a huge ocean and he’s got to pay up to the people backing him or he’ll lose more than just his funding. Mmakoena is desperate to get her life back on track but that won’t be easy, and GK begs Dumisani for help. Castro can almost smell the R10 billion tender payout but there are a few things he’s got to do first, and Melisizwe and GK discover just how dangerous Castro is when they don’t fulfil a contract deal. Tsholo puts her plan in motion, Sindi refuses to take part in the cleansing ceremony organised by her family, and two businessmen’s argument turns into a fist fight. Tsholo misses an important business meeting, the cleansing ceremony is a nightmare, and Lesiba is determined to find out more about the Cape Town trip.
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 (GK) 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