Jacob's Cross

Femi emerges from the chaos and smoke with a badly wounded child in his arms. Lerato is devastated by the violence and is once again forced to weigh the safety of her family against Jacob's dream. Chichi and Femi continue to see each other romantically despite her father's disapproval.

A recap into the Abayomi's family, Jacob trying by all means to keep the family business afloat whilst also protecting his family and friends from power hungry enemies. Meanwhile Bola's need for power is still causing havoc amongst his family.

Bola is furious about Jacob's connection to the IFF. Prospero is in love. Zanele confronts Jacob who is reeling from discovering Ambrose's connection to the power deal. Lerato is planning a honeymoon with the entire family. Tragedy strikes.

Andile has been kidnapped in the Delta; who has captured Andile and why? A suspicious Thembi confronts Zanele about her pregnancy. Busi refuses to leave Nigeria without her husband. Bola arranges a rescue mission for Andile's release however, Andile chooses to accept the assistance of the IFF instead. Jacob strikes a deal that will lead him back into his rightful place on the Abayomi throne.

A fire rages at one of the Abayomi Hotels. A dark discovery is made about the Abayomi business. Bola launches a propaganda campaign to blacken Jacob's name. Busi worries about the safety of her husband and is determined to visit him in Lagos whilst he and Jacob play Bola at his own game.

In the face of Bola's gross exploitation of the Abayomi Oil Fields Jacob's plans to outmaneuver his half-brother. Bola uses violent methods to uncover Jacob's weaknesses. Prospero suffers punishment and pleasure at the hands of the beautiful French investor, Marie.

Jacob faces a difficult decision. He must choose between his best friend and his ideals. Finally, Jacob and Lerato have a heart to heart; is what they learn about each other going to strengthen their relationship or tear them apart?

Olufemi is suspicious of Jacob's offer and the Abayomi uncles are furious. Jacob explains his actions to Folake, Prospero and Andile. The offer is accepted. Lerato's show is a hit. Folake criticizes Jacob's deal. Jacob asks Andile to stay in Lagos. Bola calls Bigelow to Lagos, vengeance will be his. Jacob returns home to try and save his marriage.

Jacob tries to broker peace via Olufemi, she rejects him. Lerato does her first TV show. Jacob meets with the family to seek support but is rejected. Lerato finally breaks down about baby Joe's Kidnapping. Jacob dons the robes of chief and shocks the family with a decision.

Jacob and Bola have a showdown. Bola hands over the baby and runs from the police. Thembi confronts Jacob on Andile's safety. Bigelow takes Bola to Prospero. Jacob tries to reconcile with Lerato. Lerato is offered her own TV show. Bola wakes up to find Jacob at by his bedside.

Lerato and Jacob are distraught about the kidnapping of baby Joe. Bola has gone into hiding with baby Joe. Jacob turns to Prospero who leads them to Bola's hotel, but they don't find him. Bola gets Bigelow to hide him, and Bigelow "sells" Bola to Jacob however, Bola leaves the hideout before Jacob gets there. Bola takes Jacob's family hostage, but Andile has the antidote.

Lerato meets Thembi in the hospital waiting room and tells her that Jacob was shot in their driveway. Jacob is operated on successfully and, while in recovery, tells Andile to guard Lerato and Joe. Lerato questions Andile about Jacob’s attack, he claims it’s a hijacking but they are both sceptical. Folake flies in early from Lagos to check on Jacob and tells him the good news - NNPC approved the Abayomi bid for the new offshore concession. Andile convinces Jacob to let him station men outside his house to guard Joe and Lerato. Bigelow meets with Bola in a Lagos hotel where Bola is now living – Bola wants African oil acreage. Zanele visits Jacob in hospital.. Thembi questions him of her suspicions that he is having an affair, Jacob admits to it but says that it’s over. Lerato’s friend tells her Jacob has been seen out with Zanele – Lerato is furious. She confronts Jacob about Zanele; she threatens to leave, he promises it is over. Jacob sleeps with Zanele again.

Feeling the pressure of his Nigerian and South African interests, Jacob has the added burden of his pregnant wife, who has been rushed to hospital. Folake informs Jacob that she must fight the battle on her own in Lagos, despite his concerns for her safety. Zanele tells Jacob that they must put their history behind them and move on. Despite all these other concerns, Jacob is also focused on getting a good deal for his mother’s record album. Andile is still torn between his loyalty to Jacob and his new job with Prospero – Jacob’s best friend and betrayer. Jacob’s tension at work and his renewed relationship with Zanele drives a greater wedge between him and his wife. Lerato begins to get suspicious of his late nights. Back in Lagos, Folake finally makes a break through in her battle against Bola, but her brother will not give up easily.

Folake struggles to come to terms with Prospero’s betrayal, which causes a rift within the normally unshakeable friendship of Prospero and Jacob. Bola strengthens his proposal with Prospero. Jacob’s preoccupation takes its toll further on his relationship with Lerato as he finds himself pushing away everyone close to him. Thembi warns him to make amends with Andile. Despite his tense relationships with his family, Jacob and Zanele are drawn closer and closer together. Folake calls for her father’s body to be exhumed as she is not happy with his undignified burial. Jacob and his half-sister realise they are going to have to start playing by Bola’s rules if they are going to save the Aboyami empire.

As Bola cements his control in Lagos, Folake and Jacob realise they must pick their moment to fight for the Aboyami power that is rightly theirs. Folake convinces Jacob to return to Joburg, while she remains in Nigeria. The question of their father’s burial hangs over each of the siblings’ heads. Back in Joburg, Mokoena is still trying to solve the mystery of Chief Aboyami’s body disappearing from the police mortuary and Jacob finds himself once again bumping into Zanele. Lerato, meanwhile, feels neglected and makes up for it by taking control of Jacob’s flat. Prospero is in negotiations to better his business and oil prospects, while his relationship with Folake grows. Folake and Jacob begin their battle to contest Bola’s refusal of their father’s will

Folake arrives at the Chief’s safe house to discover it in a shambles. Bola has managed to track down and exact revenge on his father.Folake and Jacob both know Bola had a hand in their father’s murder, but now they must convince the police of their suspicions. Thembi blames herself for Jacob’s loss and Lerato is more and more frustrated about Jacob’s distance from her and their baby. Meanwhile, Folake and Prospero find themselves drawn closer to each other. Folake and Jacob fly to Lagos and the power struggle between Jacob and Bola begins.

Lerato and Andile struggle to share Jacob’s flat and attention. Prospero challenges Jacob’s family loyalty to his two fathers. Bola pays an unexpected visit to Johannesburg, forcing Folake and Jacob to protect their father again. Jacob becomes more dependant on Andile than he ever expected. Thembi tries to build a relationship with her new daughter-in-law, while Lerato stamps her authority in Jacob’s life. Jacob finds himself spending time with his old love, Zanele. Busi and Andile work hard to recover their family life and Jacob and Lerato go house-hunting. Chief Abayomi offers Jacob yet another position of great stature and power. Bola is determined to find his elusive father.

Lerato tells Jacob that she wants to keep the baby. Jacob feels pressure from all sides as Thembi asks him to attend a memorial unveiling for his father (Luyanda). Chief Abayomi questions Jacob’s loyalty to Prospero and Prospero finds himself on the receiving end of another energy bid offer. Jacob decides to give Lerato a chance. Jacob makes an announcement that hurts his mother. Thembi pays a visit to Chief Abayomi. Prospero offers Andile a job on one of his plants.

Folake discovers her brother in Chief Abayomi’s room and suspects the worst. Jacob avoids all contact with his South African family and breaks up with Lerato, while Prospero tries his best to bring Jacob’s mind back to their issues at work. Thembi tells Jacob the truth about her time in Nigeria. Jacob and Thembi fetch Andile from prison and take him back home to his wife. Lerato insists on speaking to Jacob, but Jacob won’t talk to her. Folake shares her concerns about Bola with Jacob.

This epic South African story takes the form of a riveting drama series about one man’s quest to build the next great African empire. A gripping exploration of African identity, legacy and belonging – the story centres around Jacob Makhubu, the son of a South African mother and Nigerian father. Jacob is a high powered executive in a Nigerian-owned oil company based in Johannesburg, who longs for New York’s more worldly pleasures. Unexpectedly, Jacob inherits the family business empire and an African dream when his boss and benefactor reveals himself to be his father.