by Thinus Ferreira
kykNET has revealed the cast of its upcoming new Afrikaans telenovela Diepe Waters, with several faces from the cancelled Getroud met Rugby soap staying put and treading water in the same TV timeslot, while several new and veteran actors have been added to the Penguin Films produced series.
Set around a competitive South African swimming club, Diepe Waters will start on Monday 3 October in the 18:00-timeslot on kykNET (DStv 144).
Diepe Waters makes use of the existing Coronationville indoor swimming pool in Glencairn Street in Johannesburg for exterior scenes, as well as new studio-based sets constructed in Johannesburg.
On Tuesday evening kykNET revealed the cast at a poolside media event at the Hotel Sky in Sandton, Johannesburg, that included a Q&A with the cast and crew, as well as kykNET executives.
The Diepe Waters cast includes veteran actors like Justin
Strydom, Sandi Schultz, Nadia Valvekens, Neels van Jaarsveld, Lea Vivier,
Werner Coetser, Altus Theart, Lizz Meiring, Rika Sennet and Eloise Cupido, alongside a crop of new actors.
Justin Strydom plays Gys Swarts who lives beyond his means with his ambition and drive causing him to hurt
people close to him.
Sandi Schultz is the scheming Zelda, bent on taking revenge on Gys.
Lea Vivier is Meghan, with Werner Coetser in the role of Jacques, one of Gys' sons. Altus Theart plays the role of
Gys' eldest son, Rossouw. Rossouw is married to Sanet (Nadia Valvekens). These
two seem happy on the surface, but their true colours show behind closed doors.
Rossouw and Sanet have two
children, Johan (Liam Bosman) and Karla (Danielle Swanepoel).
Reandi Grey plays the role of
Anja, who left the country 20 years ago. Now she is suddenly back in South
Africa and has a lot on her mind.
Lizz
Meiring has been cast as Auntie Bybie Bekker, who
carries a big secret with her.
Stephanie
Baartman plays the role of Lettie who owns the coffee shop,
Lettie's Keffie.
"We asked the actors together to see if they work well together. You have to get the cast right, because I believe it is 90% of the success of a series," says Roberta Durrant, creative producer.
Lucia Meyer-Marais, kykNET commissioning editor, says "because a large part of the story
revolves around a swimming school, many of the characters had to prove they
could swim".
"The group of actors fit each role like a glove. To be able to see and
hear how they interpret the storylines we've been working on for months and
months, is wonderful."
