Here is what you may have missed on Gomora last week.
Zodwa has had a new vibe going for the last two weeks after giving up her boozing. She’s got a job, she’s not drinking – at all – and she’s got custody of her son Teddy.
But in episode 42, her devious nature comes to the fore again. She’s bought Teddy video games, which he’s playing when she wakes up. While he apologises for ruining her sleep, Zodwa tells him that it’s okay, although she does not like him apologising all the time.
“I do not like that you apologise all the time. I am not Gladys,” says Zodwa. She then says the unthinkable and asks Teddy to take a day off from school.
Now any mom who has lost their child and is given the opportunity to be a parent again wouldn’t be speaking like this. It’s not surprising, though – because that’s how Zodwa is. She’s manipulative, she’s conniving, she wants people to be like her and behave like her.
“This isn’t the principal’s house,” she continues, only for Teddy to realise what’s going on.
“Is that why you bought this game (for me)? So that I can be stuck in here with you?” he asks.
Teddy might not be the brightest kid in school, but even he can see Zodwa’s tricks and devious schemes from a mile off – and she’s not done yet, as she lays the guilt thick and hard.
“I sacrificed our groceries just so that I could buy you this game. I did this all for you. Because I wanted to see you happy,” she says. The guilt on Teddy’s face is apparent, but you can’t help but wonder if this is a sign of the old Zodwa returning.
Mother and daughter at loggerheads
Mam’Sonto ordering a hijacking is the root of all her current problems. Her son-in-law Mbongeni was killed in the botched hijacking she planned and Sonto has been lying to her daughter Thathi ever since, while allowing the widowed mom of two to move back home with her.
The law caught up to Mam’Sonto recently. She was arrested, only to be released due to lack of evidence. The thing is, while she wants to try bury the hatchet (like that’s going to happen), Thathi takes every turn to fire off shots at her – as you’ll see in episode 44, when the women are face to face in the kitchen.
Mam’Sonto starts off by saying, “Listen here Thathi – I’m not a criminal. Unlike your husband who stole money from the poor.”
“And that makes what you do okay?” snaps Thathi.
“I’ve sold some cannabis here and there, a fridge and a few TVs … but just so that I could put food on the table,” explains Mam’Sonto. But Thathi isn’t letting her mom get off lightly.
“I can’t believe you. So I should thank you for not pimping me out when my husband is dead? Are we meant to applaud you for being a parent? Wow!”
As Thathi storms off, Mam’Sonto is left fuming because of her daughter’s behaviour and words.
Melusi tries to help
It’s no secret that Gladys wants to see Zodwa fail at being a parent so that she can take back Teddy and give him a stable home.
But her husband Melusi sees things a different way and he tells her in episode 45 that he’s helping Zodwa, which riles up Gladys.
“My love, I want to give Zodwa a cleaning job at school,” says Melusi.
The tension is so thick in the room you could cut it with a knife. Poor Ntokozo looks on, caught between what will become an awkward exchange of words between mom and dad.
“But you know the kind of person she is, Papa,” replies Gladys. It’s clear that she has no time entertaining her husband’s ideas even though she has no say in the matter.
“She is going to cause trouble at school. Teddy doesn’t need that kind of drama.” Gladys doesn’t even give Melusi a chance to answer back – instead, she changes the topic and speaks to their son instead.
When he realises that there’s no point in responding, Melusi tells Ntokozo to grab his bags and get ready for school. The conversation between both parents ends abruptly as Melusi realises that he has a serious problem at hand.
Catch up on all new episodes of Gomora on Showmax and DStv Now, streaming every weekday!
