4 times Onica did the most horrendous things in Isibopho Season 1

Isibopho tells the story of a young widow whose life is in danger after she inherits the family fortune. 

Led by award-winning actress Zethu Dlomo-Mphahlele alongside celebrated actress Slindile Nodangala, the cast also includes Sicelo Dlamini, Dineo Lusenga and the award-winning Jerry Mofokeng, who got to share a screen with his real-life son, Lerato Makhetha.

Slindile Nodangala gives one of the best performances of her esteemed acting career in Isibopho. Slindile plays the role of Onica, a character that is as evil as they get.

Onica is the matriarch who will do anything and sacrifice anyone for what she believes belongs to her. She runs a gambling racket based on dream interpretations with her son S’goloza. On the side, the two also run a rhino horn smuggling business.

It’s true when they say: money is the root of evil, and Isibopho illustrates the lengths people go to retain or gain vast wealth. More than once, Mzansi shows have introduced us to some of the most evil characters on TV but currently, no character can compare to Onica. 

While there are too many scenes that prove Onica’s villainy to count, these are the moments that will leave you truly shell-shocked.

1. No one is safe – including her husband and step-son

From the very first episode, the ruthless Onica is already wreaking havoc and causing mayhem. She’s so evil that even her husband, Jacob, sleeps with one eye open.

When Jacob finds Onica and S’goloza carrying out their illegal dealings, he promises to call the cops on them. S’goloza hits his step-father with a spade, causing Jacob to fall to his death. When Jacob’s son, Mazwi, walks in and finds his father dead on the floor, Onica wastes no time and kills him too. Mother and son now have to fight tooth and nail to keep their secret and stay out of prison. 

2. Onica and Mumsy’s verbal showdown

Mumsy is S’goloza’s girlfriend and they are planning to get married. However, soon after Mazwi’s passing, Onica orders that S’goloza re-marry Thandi, Mazwi’s wife, to preserve the cultural practice of ungeno.

As part of tradition, Thandi has to marry her criminal brother-in-law after the death of her husband and her father-in-law. This is all part of Onica’s master plan to get her hands on the inheritance.

Mumsy isn’t happy about this arrangement and vouches to tell Thandi the truth surrounding her husband’s death since S’goloza told her everything.

Onica then realises that Mumsy is a threat and decides to pay her a visit – the visit turns into a verbal showdown. Moments later, Thandi gets the shock of her life when she finds Mumsy hanged: yep, Onica got rid of her son’s girlfriend.

3. When Onica uses her granddaughter as leverage

When she cannot get around silencing Thandi, Onica threatens her to do as she says or run the risk of losing her daughter, Amahle. What a ruthless woman!

Onica further makes Thandi’s life difficult when she demands full inheritance.

Thandi is the beneficiary of Jacob’s entire estate, and this doesn’t sit well with evil Onica. By law, Thandi, who was married to Mazwi, gets to inherit everything, including the house and the business. The inheritance arrangement leaves a bitter taste in Onica’s mouth hence her spiralling out of control with her evil behaviour.

4. Using poison to get rid of people is her thing

When Thandi begins to grow suspicious of the circumstances around her late husband’s death she then becomes Onica’s number-one target. 

Onica orders S’goloza to cook for her so that she can put poison in the food she plans on serving to Thandie. Shortly after Thandie arrives, she’s served a seven-colour meal and right after eating, she collapses.

There are so many shocking plot twists in this thrilling drama series. Make sure you add Isibopho to your binge-watch list – Season 1 is now streaming on Showmax.