Nobody has known loss more than Vuyiswa Jola-Sebata. She lost her unborn baby, lost Bakang, Jerry and Thato. As memories of the people she lost come flooding back, Vuyiswa has a sudden longing to fill this void with a child.
Back to school for Akhona
After reportedly being dismissed from The Queen in 2019 for alleged misconduct off set, 33 year old Khanya Mkangisa made a dramatic return to the show as stand-in Corner House manager, filling in for Cindy Mahlangu who plays Siyanda. Not long after Akhona took the job, a Corner House patron, Clive Mthembu (real name Lebo Msiza) became infatuated with her the moment he laid eyes on her. Akhona made the rich Clive Mthembu work very hard for her love. But what seemed a Cinderella story – poor girl meets rich young prince – soon became a horror story.
No sooner had Akhona said yes to Clive’s rushed marriage proposal than he became the fiancé from hell. He chose the clothes she wore, banned her from seeing her friends, constantly belittled her and even took control of the administration of the Corner House, even though the establishment does not belong to Akhona. Finally the gang – Schumacher, Georgina, Mjekejeke and the money-grubbing Patronella, who previously worshipped Clive – intervened. With all her friends behind her, Akhona finally broke off the toxic relationship, ending a month of torture for The Queen Mzansi viewers who had had it up to here with him.
But Schumacher was not happy with just seeing Clive and AKhona’s breakup. Led by Schumacher, a bunch of Tembisa residents took Clive hostage, tied him up before whipping him while shirtless. Clive momentarily escaped but he wasn’t going to get very far, running with hands tied behind his bleeding back. When the angry mob caught up with him, one of the vigilantes handed Schumacher a gun. Mercifully, Georgina, Mejekejeke and Akhona arrived on the scene just in time to stop Schumacher from killing Clive, not just for the emotional abuse on Akhona but also for Schumacher’s own unresolved childhood trauma which had been triggered by the Clive-Akhona affair.
https://twitter.com/RewindMzansi/status/1482024475491278848
After his release, Clive, who had begged for his life like the coward that he is, returned with new confidence, walking behind him were Tembisa police. He fingered Schumacher as the man responsible for kidnapping him but Georgina and the gang offered an alibi for Schumie. The cops walked away. With Clive behind her, Akhona announced her departure to university. She is going to study for a Masters degree.
Harriet shows no mercy for suicidal Goodness
As you might recall, Goodness arrived with Mvelo at the Khoza mansion, seemingly distraught over Kagiso’s decision to move out and live with another woman. Much later, Harriet learned the truth. Goodness had cheated on Kagiso – an inappropriate kiss – with her personal trainer. Goodness pleaded husbandly neglect in her defense. But Kagiso and Harriet showed no mercy as they bludgeoned Goodness, using cutthroat lawyer, Sandra Stein (real name Shannon Esra) as a blunt instrument. Using CCTV footage of Goodness drinking by the poolside while Mvelo cried, unattended, Kagiso strong-armed his wife into giving up her parental rights to Mvelo. Even the normally heartless Sandra Stein was visibly moved as Goodness signed over her daughter. Stein allowed Goodness a few more days with Mvelo after which time the child was to be transferred to Kagiso. But Harriet, who had been away in Brazil, arrived and immediately threw Goodness out and siezed her granddaughter. She already knew about Goodness’ little indiscretion.
After her child was taken from her, Goodness felt she had nothing to live for. Moments after driving out of the Khoza mansion, Goodness – childless and bent on ending her pain – sat in her car with windows rolled up and a hosepipe pumping exhaust fumes into the vehicle. Lucky for Goodness, Noma found her unconscious and called the paramedics.
Goodness in a coma
Although she had survived the suicide attempt, Goodness remained in a coma for days. When she finally came to, she had no recollection of her most recent years. But Noma jogged her memory by showing her a picture of Mvelo. Noma should have left things alone.
Goodness remembered everything, but this sent her into depression, leading to a convulsive fit and another coma. Noma and Olerato pleaded with Harriet to take Mvelo to Goodness’ bedside, hoping that the proximity of her baby would rouse the comatose Goodness. But Harriet remained ice-cold.
Vuyiswa wants a baby
Vuyiswa met an old friend of Thato, along with his baby. This triggered thoughts of Jerry and Thato until finally Vuyiswa fell into a vortex of broodiness. She suddenly found herself wanting a baby. But Hector, at 50, isn’t keen on breeding. Perhaps it was the guilt of causing Thato’s death that made Hector agree to her pre-menopausal pregnancy. And Thando is already playing the jealous older sister; she has tried very hard to stop the pregnancy from happening. But on the other side of her father’s bedroom door, Vuyiswa is working hard to catch a fast-swimming tadpole from the constantly exahusted Hector.
Speaking of Vuyiswa and unborn offspring, there is talk of children elsewhere.
Revamp for The Queen Mzansi?
Ferguson Films casting director, Lesedi Matsunyane-Ferguson has put out a casting call. The production company is looking for four actors – all must be fluent in the unadulterated KZN version of IsiZulu – to play Brutus Khoza’s sons. Sounds like Vuyiswa may have new criminals to chase once she is done making a baby, assuming that the boys would join the family business.
https://twitter.com/Ferguson_Films/status/1481241441636700164?s=20
The Queen Mzansi has come under heavy criticism in recent months as the show continues to fall down the TV ratings list. To put into perspective the stats below, DSTV subscribers are just as happy to watch very old episodes of Gomora as they are to watch current episodes of The Queen!
https://twitter.com/MediaChangeSA/status/1481541005581115393
Could the news of more actors joining The Queen be an indication of a show revamp on the horizon? Unfortunately casting director Motsunyane-Ferguson remained tight-lipped when asked. Long time fans of the show can only keep their fingers crossed for what would be a long-overdue rescue mission of The Queen.
Till next week, my pen is capped
Connect with the writer on Twitter @RewindMzansi
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