7 shocking moments from the first 10 episodes of Soft Life S1

The latest episodes of Soft Life are action-packed, filled with shocking secrets and jaw-dropping twists that we didn’t see coming.

We dive into the risky world of high-society companionship as Owami (Zizipho Buti), an ordinary township girl, discovers that living a double life isn’t easy. She must navigate impossible choices to settle her mother’s mounting medical bills while fearing that her new role could destroy everything she holds dear.

Soft Life opens with Owami celebrating her birthday. But her joy is short-lived as her mother, MaGqoji, collapses due to her worsening heart condition that requires urgent private healthcare. Meanwhile, Owami is invited to a NubiaBlaq launch party under the guise of becoming a potential brand ambassador. Hesitant but needing the opportunity, she agrees to her first official booking, and gets the shock of her life when she finds out what she needs to do.

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Here's a recap of the seven moments that left us gasping, laughing, and screaming at the TV.

1. MaGqoji’s health scare (episode 4)

Owami’s mother, MaGqoji (Nontsikelelo Ndzume), has another health scare and Owami steps up as a daughter. With the help of her new boss, Lady T (Kanyi Nokwe), she rushes MaGqoji to a private hospital, raising MaGqoji’s eyebrows about the mysterious source of funds. Meanwhile, podcaster MT (Letago Molapo) sets Owami up for public scrutiny on the Jozi Lies podcast. All this while Owami breaks her own rule by kissing a client, then bolting like it never happened. Adding to her stress, Lady T reveals the grim truth about The Girlfriend Experience at NubiaBlaq, leaving Owami torn between her morals and desperation for money.

2. Minnie wants in on the action (episode 5)

MT tricks Owami’s best friend, Minnie (Vuyo Novokoza), into oversharing about Owami and he has a field day with the info. With bills piling up, Owami struggles to decide whether to fully commit to The Girlfriend Experience. Minnie’s mom, Mama Zikode (Busisiwe Mambi), adds to the pressure, pleading with Owami to find Minnie a job at NubiaBlaq. Minnie also asks Owami to put in a good word for her. Spoiler alert: that favour came back to bite. Lady T reminds Owami that she needs money for her mom’s surgery, and that she’s booked with a client - only for Owami to discover that it’s a completely new man.

3. Masquerade mayhem (episode 6)

In episode 6, the glamorous masquerade party brought drama galore. MT crashed the event, Minnie stuck out like a sore thumb, and Owami snuck away with one of NubiaBlaq’s elite clients, Fumani (Chumani Pan), who later gifted her an apartment. But Minnie stole the show by disappearing with a mysterious man. When she didn’t return home, alarms were raised, and a full-on search began.

4. The search for Minnie continues (episode 7)

Minnie has not returned home, and Owami is worried. She rushes to NubiaBlaq offices to confess about bringing Minnie to the party and then records a video online pleading with her followers to help find Minnie. Mama Zikode opens a missing person case, and she eventually receives support from the Women Rights Organisation to help find Minnie.

5. Minnie returns home (episode 8)

It turns out that Minnie was in an accident with a mysterious man she vanished with during the masquerade party. The man, a wealthy soccer player named Zaba, paid her to stay silent about their night out, which ended in the accident. After recovering, Minnie returns to an overwhelmed Mama Zikode. When she finally meets with Owami, she is flooded with questions during their sit-down about what she was up to while everyone believed she was missing.

6. Friendship fallout (episode 9)

In episode 9, Owami’s world continues to unravel. Siv, Owami’s boyfriend, sees MT’s video bashing Owami about NubiaBlaq and spirals into worst-case-scenario mode. The breaking point comes when Owami and Minnie’s friendship explodes in a fiery argument, officially putting an end to their bond. Owami is furious at Minnie for exposing her personal business on MT’s podcast, which revealed that Owami and the women at NubiaBlaq engage in The Girlfriend Experience, involving relationships with wealthy men in exchange for money.

7. Family bombshells and ultimatums (episode 10)

In episode 10, Owami has a heated argument with Mama Zikode, who expresses her disappointment after learning about Owami's involvement with NubiaBlaq. Mama Zikode fears Owami’s actions will negatively impact MaGqoji, who is still recovering. 

The argument intensifies when Owami fires back, reminding her that MaGqoji is no better, as she had an affair with a married man, leading to Owami and her sister Buhle's (Zimi Mphefu) birth. Owami then reveals that their father is Councillor Mofokeng, who also happens to be the father of Buhle’s friend.

Meanwhile, Siv (Ayanda Daweti) discovers Owami’s new apartment - and her budding connections to The Girlfriend Experience. Owami heads to Siv’s house to settle things, only to find out that he slept with his colleague Hlubi. At the end of the episode, Siv is willing to take Owami back, but only if she leaves The Girlfriend Experience. Will Owami quit, leaving everything behind to live happily ever after with Siv? Will Siv's mother allow that to happen after everything has happened?

Soft Life has been serving all the tea and drama in these episodes, and it’s safe to say we’re hooked. What’s next for Owami, Minnie, and Siv? Only time - and maybe MT’s podcast - will tell.

Catch new episodes of Soft Life every Monday on Showmax until 10 February 2025.