Gomora: Cleo’s scamming and Buhle’s despair

It’s the telenovela that has Mzansi talking – Gomora airs weeknights on Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) at 19:30 and it’s packed… literally packed… full of drama in every episode. If you’ve missed anything, the good news is that you can catch up right from episode 1 on Showmax.

Here’s a peek at what was hot on Gomora last week…

Belting it out

Okay, so Ntokozo and Buhle’s (Ntobeko Sishi and Ama Qamata) young romance hasn’t exactly gone to plan (remember the nude selfie scandal at school?). But being forced apart by their parents – Melusi and Gladys (Zolisa Xaluva and Thembi Seete) for Ntokozo, and Thathi (Katlego Danke) for Buhle – is hard to watch. Especially in episode 101.

It starts with Ntokozo back-chatting Gladys, saying, “If I had a mother who loved me, she wouldn’t be happy to see her child unhappy.” Not only does Gladys admonish her son and ask him, “You’re 17, what do you know of love?” Melusi walks in and orders Ntokozo to apologise.

“Hey hey! Who do you think you are talking to like that? This is your mother. That’s not how we raised you. Apologise now,” orders Melusi. And when the teen refuses, the belt comes off and Ntokozo gets a beating… not for loving the wrong girl, like he believes, but because he is being a petulant brat towards his mother.

Seeing the rage in Melusi’s eyes and the combination of fear and anger etched on Ntokozo’s face is heart-breaking. His parents aren’t cruel or vindictive and they only want the best for their son, whether he wants to believe it or not.

The C-ween’s arrival

Thought that Gomora couldn’t get more dramatic? Boom – they threw everything AND the kitchen sink at us later in episode 101 with the arrival of Cleopatra aka Cleo aka the CEO of Pusha Investments (played by none other than Nonhle Thema).

She’s head-to-toe flash and sass when she walks into Mam’Sonto’s (Connie Chiume) shisanyama, standing in her sparkly stiletto heels and designer handbag.

“I heard you serve the best bunny chow. The best in Alex. Is it true?” she asks Pretty (Siyasanga Papu). “And bring me your best whiskey.” When Pretty says, “It’s R1,000 a bottle,” you can see the look of bewilderment when Cleo orders two bottles. And that’s the beginning of the trouble – because Cleo and her investment business are a scam. It’s a full-on pyramid scheme and she’s on the hunt for suckers to invest.

Suckers like Pretty’s hubby Sbonga (Khaya Mthembu) who can’t afford to lose the cash in their wallet. Shame, if only Sbonga used the head on his shoulders when he looked at his childhood friend Cleo…

Bad-girl attitude

It’s not just Ntokozo who’s getting on his parents’ bad side – Buhle pushed her luck in episode 105. It’s not bad enough that Thathi has repeatedly told the teen that she’s forbidden from dating Ntokozo, she’s also grounded. But rather than stay in her room, fly under the radar and do as she’s told, she gets glammed up like she’s about to walk a catwalk… for breakfast.

“Good morning everyone, I’m glad to see you left me some breakfast,” says Buhle, sashaying her way to her seat while mom Thathi, gran Mam’Sonto and little brother Langa (Siyabonga Xaba) look on stunned.

“Okay Langa, please pass me the bread,” is the last thing Buhle is able to utter before Thathi lashes out. And from the look on her face, it’s not going to be pretty. “You’re testing me, aren’t you? She must be testing me. Why is she dressed like this on a school day?” demands Thathi.

Not even Mam’Sonto, who’s seen it all, can believe what she’s hearing when Buhle looks her mother dead in the eye and says, “You know what, Thathi? I might actually miss this, you telling me what I can or can’t do. Who I can and can’t see.”

Yoh yoh yoh – the battle line has been drawn.

Buhle can’t take it any more

The real drama comes later in the episode – a teary Buhle has scribbled a note about her love life in her diary. When the camera pulls back, tears are streaming down her face as her mom Thathi’s voiceover plays. “What got into you to make you take pictures naked? What will Gladys and Melusi think of me? They already think less of you, Buhle. Now you do this?”

Other voices tear through Buhle’s head: “This girl decided to share her nude pictures for the world to see. Ah, the main road. You’re famous for being a floozy.”

And that’s when you realise that Buhle has written a suicide note. The teenager cannot go on any longer like this. She’s at breaking point as she picks up a handful of colourful pills from a bowl. Even flashbacks of Ntokozo professing his love doesn’t help Buhle.

As the screen fades to black later, Buhle’s body is lying on the floor and a suicide helpline phone number scrolls up over the screen. Is this the end for Gomora’s Juliet?

Watch new episodes on Showmax every weekday to find out.