In creating a rift between Doc Dandala and his niece Thandeka, David Genaro has successfully driven her into his arms, writes Debashine Thangevelo
WHEN Daddy issues are in play, a maelstorm of upsets generally follow. This is Thandeka’s (Hlubi Mboya) state of affairs right now and she is clueless that this was the machination of David Genaro (Jamie Bartlett), who has serious beef with her uncle, Doc Dandala (Dumisani Mbebe).
After believing for a long time that her father was dead, imagine Thandeka’s surprise upon learning he is alive. Adding insult to injury, her uncle, who has been more like a surrogate father, kept this truth from her.
Mboya, who tied the knot in real life last month, is excited about this particular storyline of hers. More so, as it is a year that she has been with Rhythm City.
She shares: “At the moment, there is a sense of closure about this man who disappeared from her life. And it is thanks to David Genaro. But it soon becomes apparent that it is a web of lies and a whole lot of dirty laundry.”
And the latter part of that statement is linked to Doc, her own flesh and blood.
Mboya adds: “It completely destroys her and, in that sense, makes her terribly vulnerable, driving her into the arms of David.”
Now getting into bed with the Devil might not be the smartest move in the eyes of those around her. But that’s where Thandeka becomes defensive.
The seasoned actress explains: “I think they have a relationship whereby she is the only woman to really get a glimpse of the man behind the mask. She sees the real David Genaro for who and what he is. He is a badass, yes. But, at the end of the day, he is like her, too. He has put up these walls and façades, to protect his heart. And that is their commonality.
“And it explains why they relate to each other so well: they have come from broken homes and are loners in society. This opens up avenues to explore many emotions.
“He sees her as he sees himself – that’s a first for David. So there are lots of opportunities for romance and a highly-charged physical attraction.”
Interestingly, Hlubi and Bartlett go way back – they both worked on Isidingo. So it wasn’t difficult finding a rhythm with him.
Mboya laughs: “Listen, I might look young, but I’ve been in the game for 15 years, you know? We are from that Isidingo era. Remember Mike O’Reilly?”
On her year with the soap, she offers: “I came into Rhythm City very clear on the direction I wanted to have as an actress and a creative. I didn’t want to play it safe and I wanted to grow my craft.
“I think this storyline has really demonstrated my capabilities as an actress. It captures my passion for great storytelling and also allows the actors to feed off each other’s energy and creativity.”
While she is looking forward to things wrapping up for the festive break in the next two weeks, she hasn’t been able to switch off, having other projects on the go.
Mboya shares: “We have just pitched a short film called Making a Killing with Brandon Auret. Also, an ex-Isidingo star. We keep close as Isidingo people! There is another movie called Dora’s Peace. In the first movie, I play a Major Gizenga, shooting in the Congo. It’s a South African war film. And in Dora’s Peace, I play a drug-addicted mother. And I’m busy shooting season two of Jozi Streets.
“The more different each character I play is from the last, the better. I want to be out-of-the-box. To be doing something people have never seen me do. I like to work in extremes as I’m an extremist by nature. A renegade. My scope is 180° to 360°.”
And while Mboya looks forward to the holidays, the plot thickens in the storyline. Let’s just say that David, in attempting to take out Doc, leaves his house of cards dangerously exposed.
Rhythm City airs on e.tv at 7pm on weekdays.