Side by Side - Ligwalagwala FM: Recent Episodes
SABC Education
Side-by-Side is a heartfelt new drama series about pregnancy, parenting, finding love (and keeping it!) and the family ties that bind us. Side-by-Side was launched by the National Department of Health in 2019 to ensure that all children receive the nurturing care and protection they need to reach their full potential. Every episode is followed by a discussion with an expert health guest to answer any of your childcare questions
Episode 38: Litha has a runny stomach and Nurse Philiswa explains how important hygiene in the home is to prevent illness. The date is lukewarm from both sides…and BraSteps that he may actually prefer gogo!
Episode 37: The women learn how to feed their children now that they are a bit older and debate whether sweets are all that bad. BraSteps asks Joyce out on a date.
Episode 36 Lerato is discovering how baby Khayone is communicating with her and it amazes her to learn to how quickly his brain is growing. BraSteps tells gogo he is planning on asking Joyce out. Gogo starts thinking how much she would like Brasteps for herself.
Episode 35 The women try and set up a playgroup for the children but it ends in tears because it’s not well organized. MamSindi helps them plan a better one next time.
Episode 34 Joyce explains to her sister how important she is in her child’s development. BraSteps and Siviwe have a fight over Joyce.
Episode 33: MamSindi shows Joyce how to track Rathabile’s growth in the Road to Health book. BraSteps tries to romance Joyce.
Episode 32: Khayone is very sick. MamSindi spots the danger signs and helps Lerato take him to the clinic. Joyce rejects Siviwe’s proposal.
Episode 31: Gogo plots to set Joyce up with the local shopkeeper BraSteps but Siviwe is back on the scene and he asks Joyce the question she has been waiting for so long to hear. But there is a crisis because no one can find baby Rathabile.
Episode 30: Gogo smacks naughty Litha and she gets a dressing down on better ways to discipline. Gogo is very worried that Joyce is going to get back with cheating Siviwe so she comes up with a sneaky way to distract her.
Episode 29: Ayanda is worried about Bandile, he can’t do the physical things his peers can do so she takes him to the clinic for a check-up. Siviwe tries to get back into Joyce’s good books.
Episode 28: MamSindi teaches Joyce and Lerato about how to feed their children so they develop best. But she and gogo clash again.
Episode 27: Gogo, MamSindi and Lerato rally around Joyce in her depression about Siviwe’s betrayal. They go and get Rathabile dewormed at the clinic.
Episode 26: Joyce is worried about having been exposed to HIV by Siviwe’s cheating. She is most worried about Rathabile. She gets tested at the clinic, luckily she is negative.
Episode 25: Joyce is extremely hurt. Lerato persuades to get out of the house by coming with her to the clinic for Khayone’s immunizations.
Episode 24: MamSindi teaches Joyce how to care for Rathabile’s teeth, after she complains of a toothache. Joyce is taken by surprise when she finds out about Ayanda and Siviwe.
Episode 22 Little Khayone is babbling and the women learn that this is the signs of language development. Lerato and Joyce are dying to know who Ayanda’s boyfriend is but she tells them that he doesn’t live in town.
Episode 21 Gogo’s brother Wongama comes to visit and he is an absolute brute. The women tolerate him but when he hits Litha, they all take a stand against him.
Episode 25: Joyce is extremely hurt. Lerato persuades to get out of the house by coming with her to the clinic for Khayone’s immunizations.
Episode 20: Lerato, Joyce and Ayanda get their kids together for some playing. Playing is learning after all! Everyone is amazed how alike Rathabile and Ayanda’s boy Bandile look.
Episode 19: Naughty Litha burns himself with hot water under gogo’s watch. MamSindi gives her a lecture on preventing injuries at home and gogo loses it – she is sick of her interfering. Joyce mentions her new friend Ayanda to Siviwe and he looks very worried for some reason.
Episode 18: Lerato is struggling with Khayone and can’t shake the sadness that’s been following her around for weeks. Joyce urges her to get help from Mam’Sindi. There is a new hairdresser at Lerato and Joyce’s salon, her name is Ayanda and she has a small child as well. The girls get friendly.
Episode 17: MamSindi tells Joyce how important storytelling is for children’s development – even for small children who can’t understand. Joyce tries it and is surprised by what happens.
Episode 16: Khayone cries incessantly. Lerato has tried everything and she is exhausted. MamSindi gives her advice but her and gogo clash on whether babies should be left to cry or not.
Episode 15: Khayone won't latch onto Lerato’s nipple and it hurts whenever she tries to get him to latch. Her nipples feel raw and extremely sensitive. Nurse Philiswa and gogo support her through it.
Episode 14: Rathabile turns 1 and Joyce is worried that she can’t walk yet. MamSindi explains about development milestones, what to expect and why not to panic if children don’t hit them exactly on schedule.
Episode 13: Lerato’s baby is born prematurely but healthily. Nurse Philiswa shows her how to do Kangaroo Mother Care to nurture her little son, Khayone.
Episode 12: Gogo is worried about 3 year old Litha because he enjoys playing with dolls. The younger women attempt to break down her prejudices by educating on not discriminating by gender. Lerato’s waters break midway through the argument.
Episode 11: Lerato is still worried about the drinking she did before she knew she was pregnant – especially when she finds out how dangerous Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can be.
Episode 10 Joyce doesn’t want to breastfeed hungry Rathabile in the taxi because she is self conscious. She buys some formula milk but gogo gives her a big talking to about exclusive breastfeeding and shows her how to express milk.
Episode 9: Joyce takes a home pregnancy tests and Siviwe arrives while she is waiting for the result. He is being the model father but then spoils it all when he demands Joyce gives him Rathabile’s Child Support Grant. Joyce is relieved when the test comes out negative.
Episode 8: Nurse Philiswa examines Lerato and everything is fine. She warns her about danger signs during pregnancy. Joyce also has pregnancy on her mind: her period is late after the unprotected sex with Siviwe.
Episode 7: Rathabile has diarrhea and gogo gives her a home remedy which makes her even sicker. Mam’Sindi comes to the rescue. Pregnant Lerato arrives with her own emergency – she is bleeding!
Episode 6: Siviwe is back in Joyce’s life for the day and he wants to have sex without protection. He hints at leaving her so she gives in…and feels terrible about it afterwards especially once Siviwe shares his big news.
Episode 5: Joyce’s 4 year old nephew, Litha, throws a tantrum and his grandmother gives him a big hiding. Mam’Sindi explains how to discipline without physical punishment. Gogo is not impressed by her interfering.
Episode 4: Joyce is depressed because she is broke and can’t provide for Rathabile the way she wants to. Mam’Sindi tells her about the Child Support Grant and helps her register.
Episode 3: Lerato is convinced she has damaged her baby because she got drunk before she found out she was pregnant. Nurse Philiswa calms her down and lets her know how to take care of her health now that she is expecting.
Episode 2: Joyce’s baby daddy Siviwe comes to visit and disappoints Joyce by not being interested in spending time with his daughter. He claims that he can’t afford toys for her because he is broke. Community health worker Mam’Sindi gives him a talking to. Quality time with one’s children doesn’t require money or fancy toys. Lerato interrupts with an emergency – she is pregnant.
Episode 1: 1-year-old Rethabile cries and coughs. Her mom Joyce is worried she has TB and asks her best friend Lerato to come with her to the clinic. They are both scared of the nurse, Philiswa, but she actually turns out to be quite nice and helpful.