Housekeepers S2: Clive Ngubane, husband, father, chauvinist

Housekeepers S2 has been nothing short of amazing, with certain elements of the show reminding us of the Emmy-winning crime series How To Get Away With Murder. Once again, we’ve been thrown into Linda’s disturbing world filled with murder, mayhem, lies and corruption.

What we’ve also come to love about Housekeepers S2 are the new characters that have come on board, such as Noli Ngubane played by Xolile Tshabalala and Mkhonto played by Lorcia Kumalo.

But there is one character we’ve come to really dislike – Clive Ngubane played by Lindani Nkosi.

Clive is known to be a man of few words, and comes across as very intimidating. Not only is he a shrewd businessman but he’s also an unapologetic male chauvinist. Married to Noli and father to Sydney and Thuli, Clive is a man who gets his way by any means necessary, even if it means disregarding his own children’s dreams.

Clive’s way or the highway

In the second episode, Sydney finally comes home after completing his law degree overseas. Although Clive is delighted that his son has graduated, he is adamant that Sydney forms part of the family’s questionable business empire.

During a disagreement between father and son, Clive has the final world and simply says, “Welcome to the family business.”

Clive blatantly disregards Sydney’s wishes to not be involved.

Clive shows his true colours

During Sydney’s welcome-home dinner party, Clive makes it clear several times that he does not see his daughter as fit to run the family business. Despite the many times Thuli has proven herself, Clive is convinced that Sydney is the one.

“Thuli is getting married. She’ll be growing another man’s legacy,” he tells his wife.

At the dinner party, he then makes a cringe-worthy speech that proves that he is a firm believer in women belonging to the kitchen and men bringing home the bacon.

“You know, a man is nothing without his family. Without a wife that is going to keep the home warm… a daughter to fill up his kraal with cows. Without an heir (Sydney) that is going to take his legacy into the future,” he says.

The speech may come across as sincere, but Clive is not willing to hand over the business to his daughter or to any woman, regardless of her experience or her skills.

“Thuli, you need to dream bigger”

Being the feisty woman that she is, Thuli approaches Clive for the second time in an attempt to change her father’s mind about letting her lead their business into the future.

As expected, Clive won’t hear of it.

“I’ve always loved this office. And I wish one day for it to be mine. When, of course, you no longer occupy it,” says a hopeful Thuli.

“Oh, but you need to dream bigger than that. It is Sydney’s duty to carry the legacy of this family. My baby, these hands, they will be handed over to another man, in marriage. We are going to lose you, my baby, to your Prince Charming. My dream is to walk you down the aisle and hand you to another man. One thing I cannot do is hand over the business to your husband.”

You can almost see Thuli’s skin crawl when she hears her father uttering those words. Clive may think he is being a caring and loving father to his daughter but it is clear that he considers men to be far superior than women.

Catch Housekeepers S2 every Monday at 20:00 on Mzansi Magic and express to Showmax and DStv Now.