TV presenter and actress Franci Swanepoel dead at 50.

by Thinus Ferreira

The prolific Afrikaans TV presenter, news reader, producer, director and actress Franci Swanepoel died in her sleep on Sunday morning. She was 50.

The cause of her death is not yet known.

Franci Swanepoel who was born in Johannesburg and matriculated at Linden high school in 1989, graduated with a drama degree from the University of Stellenbosch. 

Franci Swanepoel was busy portraying a latest role in an upcoming new drama series on M-Net's Afrikaans kykNET channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV service and is known for her years as a continuity presenter on SABC2, roles in the Afrikaans soaps Binnelanders and Getroud met Rugby on kykNET, and as the presenter-producer of the festival magazine show Fiësta also on kykNET.

In a statement kykNET boss Waldimar Pelser told TVwithThinus that "Franci was busy filming a drama series for kykNET. She was a valued colleague and a dear friend to many and we are incredibly shocked and saddened over the news of her death".

Franci Swanepoel was the entertainment industry daughter of news anchor Nic Swanepoel who had passed away in 1998 and mother Marida Swanepoel who is one of the creators and producers of kykNET, and is survived by her husband Max Baer, mother, older brother Jan Adriaan and older sister Elsje.

Franci Swanepoel who lived in Auckland Park was one of the new crop of SABC2 continuity presenters in the mid-1990s when the South African public broadcaster relaunched its three SABC TV channels and the then-TV1 changed to SABC2. 

In 2003 she created the Makiti production company with Marius de Wall and produced the festival magazine show Fiësta for kykNET that is still on-air and for which she was a full-time presenter for many years and still did occasional inserts on an ongoing basis including into 2022.

On TV, Franci Swanepoel who had also directed and starred in several television commercials, had roles in numerous Afrikaans TV series on SABC2 and kykNET over decades ranging from Woestynblom and Vierspel to Pottie Potgieter, Hartland, Arsenaal, Iemand om lief te He, Die Vierde Kabinet, Bloedbroers, Sterlopers, Donkerland and Elke Skewe Pot. 

She was also the presenter of the travel magazine show Swerftyd on kykNET.

She made her South African TV debut in 1980 in Ntinzini Spa, followed by a role in 1983's Kooperasiestories as Gesie, while her two longest-running drama appearances were for characters like Toeks Joubert in kykNET's Afrikaans soaps Binnelanders as well as Getroud met Rugby. 

After existing her on-screen character she was also a dialogue coach for many years at Getroud met Rugby where she also directed over 50 episodes.

Her last dramatic TV show appearances were in an episode of the kykNET mockumentary series Hotel and in the anthology series Spoorloos 3, both in 2021, and she appeared in the made-for-TV movie Boetie Ontmoet 'n Alien on kykNET in July. 

Franci Swanepoel produced shows like 10 uit 10 and Jan se Karretjie for kykNET and the documentaries Ko lat ons Fees, Hanna se Krismis and Krismis in die Klein Karoo, and did extensive dubbing work for television while also doing voice work for numerous radio TV dramas since the age of five in 1976. 

She also appeared as one of the narrators in kykNET's documentary series about the history of South African television, Oppi Kassie.

In theatre Franci Swanepoel appeared on stage in Car Cemetary, P.M. Slet se Kabaret, Sneeuwitjie en die Sewe Dwergies, Women Behind Bars, Liewe Heksie, Ipekonders, Die Renoster, Die Vampier, Lappies die Lappiesmous, Pinnochio, Junkiedrome, 2002's Siener in die Suburbs, Staal Burger, Aantrekkingskrag, Janneman and 2012's Boksballade, and was on stage opposite Sandra Prinsloo in Soebatsfontein at Innibosfees in 2018.

In film, Franci Swanepoel had supporting and leading roles in 2012's Lien se Lankstaanskoene, Pad na Jou Hart, Lya se Karoo, the kykNET shortfilm Stom, Abraham, and Stroomop. 

In made-for-TV films she had roles in Hartstog, Boesman my Seun, Aantrekkingskrag, 2019's Die Dag is Bros, Fladder and 2021's Apokalips.