Rhythm City clocks 1 000th episode

Debashine Thangevelo looks at the key characters that drove the storyline with their artfulness and the nausea-inducing love triangles that cropped up along the way.
Calling the shots
l David Genaro (Jamie Bartlett): Think of almost every despicable crime in the soap and David Genaro will invariably be at the helm of it.
His brutal actions go back to him killing his golden boy Sam Sedibeng, who was contemplating switching recording labels.
Then, in trying to take out his arch-nemesis Miles Vilakazi, he inadvertently killed gospel star Rachel Phakati.
He also assisted Diphuka (Lucilla aka Lu’s niece) who was madly in love with him, when she committed suicide. Aside from kidnapping Lu, who learned of the extent of his psychopathic deeds, and forcing her to walk down the aisle, he faked his death . . . and came back as his camp twin, Franco.
Of course, he eventually dropped the charade and is back to his Machiavellian self.
Killed off
l Rachel Phakati (Lucia Mthiyane): Rachel Phakati was a diva of note and the biggest selling gospel artiste in South Africa. Aside from her estranged relationship with her daughter, Thembi, Rachel struggled with her feelings for Miles, who was married to Lu.
She also married Pastor Ngidi, a conman, at a time when she was at an all-time low, spiritually and emotionally. She was eventually killed in a car crash meant for Miles.
l Diphuka (Tshepiso Mashego): A nubile young thing – she caught the eye of David Genaro, who was engaged to Lu at the time. Given his voracious sexual appetite, it wasn’t long before he seduced her. Big mistake.
Diphuka fell madly in love with him to the point of Glenn Close obsession and, to force his hand in choosing between Lu and her, decided to overdose in the hope that he would save her. He didn’t – instead he nibbled on chips and watched her take her last breath.
l Nonti (Refiloe Seseane): Nonti, David’s assistant, ended up being an impediment to him when she decided to make him atone for his crimes. So, he shot her when he learned that she had dug up incriminating information on his involvement in Rachel’s murder.
The Wild Card
l Naomi (Moshidi Motshegwa): This is one of the most engaging dark characters in the soap by far. Naomi’s arrival promised drama and viewers weren’t disappointed, After romancing Miles “the love of her life”, she wasn’t about to allow Lu back into his life.
On learning that Miles was the father of Lu’s baby, Naomi flew into a jealous rage. Stopping at nothing to have Miles all to herself, she tried to kill Ronnie and Kop, killed the fake nurse she hired to get close to the baby – and kidnapped the infant.
Don’t be surprised to find Naomi surfacing again – viewers haven’t seen the last of this villainies.
Good girl gone wild
l Tshidi Khuse (Nokhuthula Ledwaba): A far cry from Miss Congeniality . . . Tshidi went from a naïve schoolgirl to aspirant doctor, only to be derailed when she decided to try out for the reality show, Star Struck. Aside from her affair with scumbag host Siya, she, thanks to befriending Sunay, succumbed to the pitfalls of stardom and got hooked on cocaine.
She eventually cleaned up her act but managed to get herself pregnant by her white boyfriend, Dylan.
Instead of getting married, she got an abortion and that spelled the end of their relationship. She rebounded with Thula, who had a big crush on her brother Stone.
Out of the closet
l Stone Khuse (Zenzo Ngqobe): He started out as a promising soccer player, who used poetry to Charlotte.
But he becomes confused about his sexuality after Charlotte’s guy friend Thula planted a wet one on him.
After calling off his wedding to Charlotte, which traumatised his mother, Stone moved to Pretoria and embraced his homosexuality.
Past menage a trois
l Miles, Sunay and S’bu: Miles and his son S’bu were played by the women in their lives several times. Sunay, in her quest to land a record deal, decided she would use her feminine wiles on Miles and S’bu.
Her deception was uncovered when Gail spilled the beans. Father and son also ended up in bed with Naomi, who had her own agenda.
l Stone, Charlotte and Thula: Stone and Charlotte were about to walk down the aisle when Thula (Charlotte’s friend) threw a spanner in the works by making his feelings for Stone known.
l David, Miles, Lucilla: While living with David Genaro, Lu jumped into the sack with her ex and conceived son Buhle with Miles.
l Lucilla, Miles and Ivan: Ivan was merely a means to an end for Lucilla, who wanted to protect her family from David Genaro. But sleeping with him did little to resolve the issue, with Miles hiring a hitman to take care of the “problem”. – The Star.