Karabo's clumsy exit from Generations

THE departure of Karabo Moroka (Connie Ferguson) from Generations is very clumsy to say the least. The soapie's producers could have done better.

Viewers understand that their favourite character is leaving, but the Generations producers should not behave as if they want to get rid of her so badly that they suddenly dish out muddled and clumsy episodes.

For starters, the Karabo character has grown over the years. She started out as a spoilt brat who slept around, fooled with drugs and at some point smoked dagga.

Archie, her eldest brother (played by Sello Maake kaNcube), used to manipulate her by offering her cocaine so he could have his way around the boardroom.

Her other brother, Busang, was an unsuccessful musician who cared little about matters of the corporate world.

But over the years the character grew like any normal teenager, straightening up into adulthood.

She suddenly became aware of the legacy posed by her father's vast corporate empire in one of the few black-owned advertising agencies.

She worked her way to respectability as she became a savvy businesswoman, a model and a loyal friend to those who were close enough to her.

She might have had her share of affairs but who does not move on into a new relationship when one bombs up?

It seemed as if she had found the love of her life when she fell head over heels for Tau Mogale.

After mourning him for years, she moved on with Paul, the man who made her stomach crawl with butterflies and her knees go weak with desire, while her shining eyes spoke of the love she felt for him. They adored each other.

So how come, now that she is leaving, she is portrayed out of character, like a woman of loose morals?!

The Karabo we know, mourning Tau, would not have fallen into the eager arms of Lungile and indulged in a sizzling affair with him in India.

What happened to Paul's convictions and his opinion of Dineo as a slut who had cheated on his brother with her son to the extent of giving him a baby?

What happened to Dineo's ubuntu after Karabo cared for her after her miscarriage?

I've never seen people so in a hurry to break and create new affairs among friends, bringing this acrimony into great friendships.

The producers could have been gracious and built the storyline into an intriguing plot we would have eagerly followed to its end, instead of this sleaze we are forcibly fed until the last episode when Karabo bows out at the end of October.

Lungile (Buyile Mdladla) first came to Generations as a biker whose paths and Karabo's were poles apart. It is obvious he has been brought back as a high-flying businessman to eventually float into the sunset with Karabo.

I am amazed that Karabo's exit was allowed, after making the same mistake with her family.

The pillars of a successful soapie revolve around a protagonist and an antagonist.

Generations need the Moroka family and another dissenting one so that the story can revolve around the two.

So don't be surprised when, after a few seasons, producers plead with Karabo to come back, unless of course they are already in talks with Archie.

Fergusson will officially leave Generations off-screen in October, with the shoot stopping in August.