If you haven’t been watching daily episodes of Gomora on DStv Now, you are missing out. Here are the “OMG” moments that went down last week, for those who weren’t able to stream them live or on Catch Up. (All previous episodes are available to binge-watch on DStv Now and on Showmax, and new episodes will land every weekday on both Showmax and DStv Now from 25 May 2020.)
Straight to jail, do not collect R200
Okay, so Thathi (Katlego Danke) is still believing that she’s somehow going to get money from her murdered hubby Mbongeni’s (Themba Ndaba) bank business or his life policies. It’s not going to happen. She can kick and scream until the cows come home, there’s just no money. Nada. Not one cent.
When her lawyer (Shannon Esra) makes an appointment to see Thathi in episode 7, we know it’s bad news. Thathi is smiling and says, “Please tell me there’s good news, I could really use some right now.” It’s not happening, shame. And while you may feel for her, Thathi’s lawyer feels feathers.
She sits down, looks Thathi in the eye and starts “I don’t know how to put this to you”, leaving her client hoping there’s good news. Then she bombshells Thathi coldly, “There’s nothing left for you.” And it gets worse: Thathi is reminded that she signed surety for her dead hubby’s loans. Ja, hey, nice mess this one is.
A wife’s warm words
In episode 8, the inner conflict in headmaster Melusi (Zolisa Xaluva) is etched on his face. His adopted son Teddy (Sicelo Buthelezi) has confessed to stealing his troublemaker brother Ntokozo’s (Ntobeko Sishi) school achievement medal. The same medal that was found in the burnt car in episode 2 that belonged to murdered CBS Bank owner and hijack victim Mbongeni.
Thing is, Teddy is the son that Melusi has dreamed of having, because Ntokozo is a write-off. The boy doesn’t listen, he’s hanging around with the wrong people, he isn’t honest. And now he’s dragging Teddy down with him.
But while Melusi is ready to take Teddy to the police, his wife Gladys (Thembi Seete) is the voice of reason, reminding him that Teddy isn’t street-smart or street-hard.
“He will confess to whatever they put in front of him even if he is innocent. Let me speak to him first,” she says to Melusi, instantly calming her husband’s rage.
In that moment, you can see that while headmaster Melusi means well and his morals are in the right place, his love for family is still stronger. Until episode 9 when Ntokozo reveals that he has found “his” medal…
The children’s voices
Spoilt formerly rich kid Langa (Siyabonga Xaba) and his sister Nobuhle (Amamkele Qamata) have made it clear to their mom Thathi that they hate living in Alex and miss their mansion in the north. They’re not going home anytime soon, nor are they getting new sneakers just because their old ones are dirty. Nothing is the same and it’s not going to change.
Thathi might not be used to life in the township anymore, but don’t be fooled by her manicured nails, designer wardrobe and jewellery – you can take the woman out of the township but you can’t take the township out of the woman.
So while the teens and their mom are standing in the middle of the street arguing about school and what they’re going to do, you can see the sass snap back into Thathi as her hands start waving about.
She’s not taking any nonsense from her babies, telling them, “Don’t worry about what people (their friends in Sandton) think” with a smile on her face. That’s when you know this tough cookie is ready to fight for her life – even if her kids need a hiding or two along the way.
All previous episodes of Gomora are available to binge-watch on DStv Now and on Showmax, and new episodes will land every weekday on both Showmax and DStv Now from 1 June 2020.
