Could Katlego and Lincoln Sibeko’s marriage of convenience evolve now that she has a bun in the oven, asks Debashine Thangevelo
KGOMOTSO Christopher’s is a household face. Aside from her role as Katlego Sibeko on SABC3’s Isidingo, she is one of the nicest homegrown celebrities to chat to. She is smart, funny and warm and also a consummate professional. This explains why she has been one of the principal actors on the soap for almost five years.
Admirably graceful in everything she does, Christopher is also the epitome of stylish – always spotted on the red carpet in the most head-turning outfits. And don’t even get me started on that perfect gym-bunny body. Beyond all of that, though, she is also an exceptional actress.
We have witnessed her character evolve from the stereotypical gold-digger trophy wife to one who has serious moxie. Although the soap’s writers have cunningly teased her as a villainess-in-the-making, that hasn’t as yet manifested.
The actress views it as a blessing, though, as it makes her a bit of a wild card. Christopher offers: “It’s never definite. Is she evil, is she not? She is dangerous, but she also wants to have a family. She is supposedly an independent woman, but we have seen her hang on to men for money. So it has that kind of dichotomy… She always has the nuances of a potential villain, but it is never really taken to fruition.” As a TV critic, I have to say she has done a commendable job in blurring those lines to great uncertainty. And she has had some intriguing storylines that have helped her to do so.
The 30-something actress reflects: “Gosh, it has been wonderful to play her. Clearly because she didn’t have a character bible. She was there as an ‘accessory’. I had so many diverse storylines. First, it was the attempted murder of the Sibeko son. Then, it was the surrogacy story, which was a nice dynamic to play as Katlego revealed a more sensitive and maternal side that was never seen. Of course, the major one was the abuse storyline. Oh… and her sexy toyboy one. I got to play a character with so many dimensions, which stretches me as an actor and strengthens my craft.” Once again, she finds herself in a Catch-22 situation – she is pregnant but hasn’t told Lincoln that he is the baby daddy yet.
As theirs is a marriage of convenience, her procrastination is understandable. Christopher says: “It is still very early days at the moment. She will eventually tell him. But they have a complicated arrangement and it creates an awkwardness on how she has to break the news. She doesn’t know how he will receive it.
“I think it is possible that both characters, through this pregnancy, could end up developing a normal loving relationship.”
Of course, the news will also have a domino effect on Lincoln’s daughter, Nikiwe. After all, she is still dealing with losing Frank and her baby in the mining disaster.
She offers: “They haven’t had the easiest relationship. Again, maybe the pregnancy will help to resolve it.
“In real life, pregnancy can be a form of conflict, but it can also help people to focus on the positives of it. It does unify people sometimes.”
Being a mother to a 6- and 8-year-old in real life, this is one storyline Christopher didn’t have to research at length as she normally does.
Now we just have to wait and see how Lincoln takes the news that he is going to be a daddy again…
• Isidingo airs on SABC3 on weekdays at 7pm.