WHILE reality shows about wedding proposals or actual proceedings are flourishing, the issue of live-in partners is satirically explored in the sitcom Vat ’n Sit on eKasi+.
Once frowned upon in the past, many people are opting for the vat ’n sit set-up for several reasons. For some, marriage is just too much of a commitment so living together is a good way to give the relationship a test run. The thinking is that if things work out then maybe the marriage, when things reach that stage, will work out too.
Others feel that in this era when some marriages are for only convenience, it becomes costly to sign up for the “through sickness and health” route because, in most cases, when it doesn’t work out you have to split your assets in half.
So that’s the premise of Vat ’n Sit, and since it is back for a second season, it is worth looking at Trevor Gumbi’s role as the lead character, who is also called Gumbi.
Last season we met the hilarious Thomas Gumbi who had big dreams of marrying Mpho, the daughter of the Tswana Royal Bafokeng family. As expected, the family would not hear any of this as they expected their daughter to be married off to some family that was as classy as theirs. And so the conflict began.
Since some people are of the notion that you do not choose who to love, it becomes obvious that Gumbi will not let go of the love he has for Mpho.
To convince her family that he is worthy of Mpho, Gumbi plans to start a bakery. However, he soon realises that it takes more than just skill to run a business and since he knows nothing about the business side of his dreams, he realises just how much he still has to learn.
In this season we meet Gumbi, still as enthusiastic as ever, still blinded by his love for Mpho and driven to prove her parents wrong.
Look out for when he buys an old van to transport the goods for his business. What he overlooks is the fact that he doesn’t have a driver’s licence and that the vehicle’s age will be a problem in the smooth running of the business.
Hats off to Trevor who is undoubtedly the busiest man in the industry at present. Not only is he on Vat ’n Sit, but he can be found in several other shows. If he is not on stage killing it as a stand-up comic, the man is on Vuzu Amo’s reality mockumentary, Real Jozi A-Listers. He also has several movie projects so there is not a moment to spare in this South African talent’s life.
• Don’t miss Vat ’n Sit on Wednesday, January 14, at 9pm on DStv channel 105.