Supporting role
Fikani steps up twofold when Romeo needs a father figure to take part in the lobola negotiations.
Romeo (Clint Aplon) is in a spot of bother: Not only is his detective dad Marvin (Duncan Johnson) presumed dead after being kidnapped in mid August, Romeo also needs to conclude the lobola negotiations with his fiancée Khethiwe’s (Sesethu Ntombela) family. But help is at hand from someone Romeo looks up to, who has gone through his own personal trials and tribulations recently too: Hillside’s resident nice-guy doctor Fikani Chauke (Nicholas Akuna). “Fikani definitely sees [helping] as an honour and something of a duty,” says the actor. And he’s going to give the young groom advice he wished he’d gotten himself.
FROM THE PAST
Fikani’s dad abandoned his family when Fikani was young and his mom died offscreen, leaving Fikani to raise his siblings. “He has grown into that fatherhood role. It was thrust on him and he wasn’t sure what he was doing but he made sure things were taken care of at home,” says Nicholas, adding, “Fikani didn’t have a dad, so he made a vow to himself to do the right thing in life. That’s part of the reason that he became a doctor. And now when he sees Romeo in need of help and support, he steps up to the plate.” It’s not just because Marvin isn’t around, though. Nicholas says that as a married man of stature in the community who’s close to the family, Fikani would’ve been part of the negotiations to start with. “He’s qualified to take part in the lobola talks as an elder, an uncle who can advise. He’s married and has done it all before. Marvin missing is sad, but Fikani would’ve helped anyway.”
BROTHERS IN ARMS
While the actual negotiations take place offscreen and there’s not a lot to see in terms of traditional outfits and protocol, Nicholas says that the effects of Fikani being involved are clear to see. “Fikani has always been something of a hero to Romeo, who works with Fikani as a male nurse. It’s almost like a brotherly respect and admiration, and this is only going to strengthen during the discussions.” Fikani also wants to see the younger group growing and developing into adulthood in the right way. “Culture and carrying on traditions are important to Fikani because he had to learn them all himself. His father was absent and while there’s hope Marvin will return, if he doesn’t, Fikani wants Romeo to have that fatherly support.”
PREVIOUSLY
Romeo put together his groomsmen for his upcoming wedding, Tiaan stopped by Hillside and chatted to Vanessa, and Aggie asked Shady to be a talent show judge.
IN THIS ISSUE
Zee and Uys are put on the same team for the talent show and neither is happy about it, and Alexa makes a huge mistake when she jumps to conclusions after eavesdropping on Lesedi and Aggie. Tiaan turns into an Agony Uncle for Uys, who’s struggling without his dad Werner, and Karmen wants to be in the talent show but her mother Vanessa says no. Mariaan thinks that every-thing is going well, and engaged couple Romeo and Khethiwe plan a romantic date night – alone.
Zee is the first person to stop and help Uys when his car breaks down, and Vanessa can’t help but be jealous of Aggie’s success with the talent show. Denzil finalises his talent show act, Uys and Zee go to dinner when Uys’s friends drop him at the last minute, and Shady tells herself that she’s going to have a good year ahead. Amorey and Alexa beg their mom Mariaan to do the right thing, Vanessa lets Karmen down in the worst way, and Khethiwe isn’t impressed with the way that her friend Shady is behaving.
CAST: Aggie Ngwenya Mimi Mahlasela •Alexa Welman Carina Nel
•Amorey Welman Kristen Raath •André Vosloo Marcus Muller
•Augusta Visagie Hannelie Warren •Bonita Meintjies Hildegardt Whites •Byron/Trigger Ruben Engel •Chris Welman David Rees
•Connie van der Lecq Quinne Brown Huffman •Denzil Jaques de
Silva •DeWet Basson Dirk Stoltz •Eddie Peterson El-Kody Langeveldt
•Erika Basson Corine du Toit •Esti Reandi Grey •Evelina Meme Ditshego •Fikani Chauke Nicholas Nkuna •Gabby Blyde Smith
•Hettie Karin van der Laag •Ivy Peterson Nazli George •Justin Dann-Jaques Mouton •Karmen Gabriella Linton •Kopano Thabo Mhlanga •Kotie Marian Hooman •Khethiwe Sesethu Ntombela
•Lana Basson Mila Guy •Lesedi Moloi KB Motsilanyane •Llewellyn Liaan Ferreira •Ludo (Ludwig) Venter Rubin Wissing •Mariaan Welman Deirdre Wolhuter •Marko Greyling Francois Lensley •Marvin Peterson Duncan Johnson •Maxine Lian van der Weshuizen •Mieke Basson Reze-Tiana Wessels •Mienkie Marijke Bezuidenhout •Nadine Mmapule Tsholo •Nikki Basson Danielle Retief •Nozi Dimpho More
•Oom Bricks Nico Allers •Ouma Motta Khadija Heeger •Rhulani Sabelo Radebe •Romeo Peterson Clint Aplon •Shady (Crushanda) Vermeulen Beáta Bena Green •Shawn Basson Deànré Reiners
•Tanya Visagie Liezl de Kock •Thomas Fouché Vian Singleton
•Tiaan Frank Rautenbach •Tjattas Rikus Strauss •Tumi Linda Sokhulu
•Vanessa Ingrid Paulus •Uys Visagie Daniel Coetzee •Vee Peterson Zoey Volkwyn •Werner Visagie Zak Hendrikz •Zee (Zakhele) Ray Neo Buso •Zelda Amor Vittone