Working with the enemy
Fashion powerhouses Funani and Alex need to work together… but there can only be one king of the thread.
Funani Zwide (Vusi Kunene) isn’t the type of man to share his kraal with another bull. But he and his right-hand woman Laz (Khaya Dladla) will have to rub shoulders this fortnight with their biggest rival in the fashion industry – Alex Khadzi (Warren Masemola). Having seen interns come and go, Laz knows Alex personally and doesn’t like him. It’s contentious when he comes back rubbing his success in Laz’s face, but she knows keeping House Of Zwide afloat is more important. “She might hate breathing the same air as Alex, but she won’t let him have the satisfaction of winning,” Khaya says.
Funani is conflicted too. “Funani arrives at a difficult decision to work with Alex and it comes at great cost,” Vusi teases, referring to the fact they have to collaborate on a DTI (Department Of Trade And Industry) deal to both get a slice of the prize. The DTI forces them to create a joint fashion line that represents South Africa, with Alex designing for men and Funani for women. As a result, Alex ends up sharing space at House Of Zwide and stepping on people’s toes.
A IS FOR ARROGANCE
Alex’s successful fashion house blends street and couture style. He fuses his township roots with a taste for finer things to build his company Khadze Couture. The arrival of Alex at the Zwide studio also causes tension between Funani and his son, Nkosi (Wanda Zuma), who is upset that Funani chose the R100 million DTI deal over avenging his mom’s death. “To get this deal, Funani had to let Faith (Winnie Ntshaba) go free for murdering his wife more than 20 years ago. That’s something Nkosi feels is unfair,” says Vusi, secretive about why Funani had to let Faith go in order to seal the deal.
THERE’S NO I IN TEAM
Alex is greedy, though, and in an attempt to keep the deal all to himself, Alex offers Funani the chance to step away despite knowing that he actually needs Funani’s team to finish things. “The courtesy call for House Of Zwide to walk away is a ruse. He is working on a plan to end up being the only one pocketing the money from the deal,” says Warren. “He’s the type you hate to love but his charisma won’t have you mad at him for long. He will be a fan fave.” But he certainly isn’t a favourite on the House of Zwide camp and the clothing line may not be worth the cloth it’s cut from…
PREVIOUSLY
Sandile tried to tell Ona the truth, the DTI made a surprising decision that left both Funani and Alex furious, and Nkosi and Ona had an unexpected run-in.
IN THIS ISSUE
Alex and Funani agree to begin setting up their teams, Funani attempts to reach out to Ona for the last time, and Funani prepares to move on from Ona as design assistant. Back at House Of Zwide, Zanele and Laz begin their search for the next face of House Of Zwide, Ona assures Sandile that she will never return, and both Shoki and Mampho eye the position of the face of House Of Zwide. Rea is left with no choice but to stage an intervention, Zanele and Laz find themselves caught between Shoki and Mampho, and Ona gets food for thought from an unwelcome source.
Nkosi learns that his babymama and girlfriend are vying for the same job, Molefe and Dorothy are in deep trouble with the law, and Sandile has the rug pulled out from under him at House Of Zwide. Someone unexpected comes to Molefe and Dorothy’s rescue, Shoki and Mampho find themselves competing against each other, and Zanele encourages Sandile to take the fight to her own family. Nkosi faces accusations from both Shoki and Mampho, Sandile has to make some very important decisions about his future, and the competition for the face of House Of Zwide heats up. Molefe begins to question the value of his shisanyama, and Mampho decides to be proactive against Shoki.
CAST: Alex Khadzi Warren Masemola •Benjamin Philimon Tjale
•Busi Ntandose Mosibi •Bra Carter Andile Mbatha •Bra T Paul Maila •David Lerato Mokwena •Dorothy Brenda Mukwevho • Jacob De Villiers Noah Cohen •Faith Zwide Winnie Ntshaba
•Funani Zwide Vusi Kunene •Gugu Kayise Ngqula •Isaac Molapo Jeffrey Sekele •J’adore Niza Jay Ncoyini •Keletso Karabo Magongwa •Kelly Khumalo Kelly Khumalo •Laz (Lazarus) Khaya Dladla •LJ Mondli Dlamini •Mampho Gaisang Noge •Mavuso Jacob Ntshangase •MaZwide Nandi Nyembe •Molefe Motlsi Mafatshe •Ona Molapo Nefisa Mkhabela •Nambitha Sikelelwa Vuyelani •Nikiwe Thembisa Mdoda •Nina Tshiamo Modisane
•Nkosi Zwide Wanda Zuma •Nomsa Lwazilubanzi Mthembu
•Pearl Lois Du Plessis •Rea (Reabestswe) Matshepo Maleme
•Sandile Paballo Mavundla •Shoki Shalate Sikhabi •Soka (Sokalezwe) Linda Nxumalo •Senzo Olwethu Mackay •Zanele Zwide Londeka Mchunu •Zechariah Ernest Ndlovu