'Characters all carrying dark secrets': Skemergrond to replace Arendsvlei as new Afrikaans telenovela on kykNET&kie from July.

by Thinus Ferreira

A new telenovela Skemergrond, set in a small Western Cape town will replace the popular Arendsvlei from July on kykNET&kie (DStv 145) with the new Afrikaans show also produced by Penguin Films and filled with characters "all carrying dark secrets".

Once the cancelled Arendsvlei ends, Skemergrond will also broadcast four episodes weekly from Mondays to Thursdays in the 19:30 timeslot on kykNET&kie. Casting that will include veteran actors as well as new faces is still to be announced.

The new telenovela is set in Gemoedsdrif, a small town in the Western Cape where the Louw family has a flower farm. 

The Louw lives are thrown into tumult when guests arrive unexpectedly, threatening to divulge shocking family secrets.

Roxanne Blaise who starred in Sara se Geheim and M-Net's upcoming White Lies is the principal director and also worked as director on Arendsvlei.

"We're ecstatic over this fantastic opportunity," says Roxanne Blaise. "The fresh and exciting cast will bring an epic family saga to television. Skemergrond is set in the rural Western Cape and the flower markets of Cape Town, filled with interesting characters who are all carrying dark secrets".

The other director on Skemergrond is Marissa Drummond who starred in kykNET series like Suidooster and Spoorloos: Die eiland. Bobby Stuurman who did director training on Arendsvlei is the dialogue coach and apprentice director on the new show. 

The Skemergrond writers' room consists of Jo-Ann Scholtz, Johann Davis, Alyzzander Fourie, Margaret Goldsmid, Meesha Aboo, Kanya Viljoen, Lauren Scholtz, Henry Cloete and Tristam Atkins.

Skemergrond's creative producers are veteran producer Roberta Durrant and Andrea Frankson-Titus.

"We've brought together an exceptional cast and a brilliant crew behind the scenes to tell a multi-faceted story filled with secrets, love and revenge," says Roberta Durrant. "Viewers will be captivated and surprised by all of the emotional twists and turns."

IN IMAGES. The Arendsvlei telenovela on kykNET & kie marks its 500th episode with cake and sparkling wine.

by Thinus Ferreira

The Arendsvlei telenovela on kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) will broadcast its 500th episode tonight at 19:30 and celebrated the milestone on Wednesday at Atlantic Studios in Milnerton with sparkling wine and cake.

The telenovela, produced by Penguins Films, made its debut on 1 October 2018 as a single season series but DStv ratings prompted kykNET to commission it for a further two seasons and to increase episode to four episodes per week from Mondays to Thursdays.

Arendsvlei, filmed at Atlantic Studios in Montague Gardens and Eersteriver, stars Jolene Martin, Jody Abrahams, Crystal Donna Roberts, Melanie du Bois, Kay Smith and many more with Vinette Ebrahim, Chris van Niekerk, Natalia da Rocha and Dann-Jacques Mouton who joined from the third season.

Roberta Durrant, creative producer of Arendsvlei, says she is incredibly grateful to kykNET that they gave Penguin Films the opportunity to tell this story.

"We were able to develop many talents in Cape Town through Arendsvlei. Young actors got their first roles on Arendsvlei and we were able to develop and train new directors, writers, editors and crew members."

Theltom Masimila, creative producer and creator of Arendsvlei, says he is extremely proud of the actors and production team for all the hard work they put in.

"We look forward to telling the stories of the people of Arendsvlei for a very long time to come. And most important of all, we are grateful to the viewers because without them such a production would not exist."

Shaleen Surtie-Richards as Arendsvlei’s Muriel: Return-story got fully filmed and wrapped last week with character that will be on screen again on kykNET & Kie from September.

by Thinus Ferreira

Shaleen Surtie-Richards (66) who unexpectedly died on Monday during her sleep finished filming her last scenes as retired nurse Muriel Foster in Arendsvlei last week on Thursday and when the character returns in September the character's latest arc will wrap with a complete story.

South Africa's film and TV industry were shocked on Monday when news broke that the iconic actress had passed away, especially the cast and crew of the Penguin Films-produced Arendsvlei in Cape Town where Shaleen just days before still filmed scenes after she returned for on-screen work in a recurring role.

Shaleen Surtie-Richards made her first appearance in Arendsvlei in 2019 as the mother of Lionel Foster (Jody Abrahams) and returned in late May this year for another 3-week stint of filming.

DStv subscribers will see Shaleen Surtie-Richards again appear on kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) from September but Arendsvlei producers don't have to alter the script or do blunt editing - Shaleen filmed and completed her character's entire upcoming return story last week.

"She finished her last scenes on Thursday," Tarryn Joseph, Arendsvlei publicist told TVwithThinus.

"Shaleen's final filmed scenes haven't gone to editing yet, so it can still change but the character of Muriel will be seen in Arendsvlei on kykNET & Kie for roughly half a month."

"It is with the saddest heart we heard of the passing of our beloved Sharleen who has graced our screens and theatre boards with her extraordinary presence and talent over the years," says Penguin Films.

"Sharleen has just completed filming her part as Muriel Foster with us on Thursday in good spirits. So it was indeed a shock to hear of her passing. Sharleen tackled her role as Muriel with the same enthusiasm, generosity, and talent that she has tackled all of her roles, most noticeably as Fiela in Fiela se Kind and Nenna in Egoli: Plek van Goud."

"We wish her family and friends strength and deep condolences as we were all touched by Sharleen’s generous spirit. May her beautiful soul rest in peace."

ALSO READ: Shaleen Surtie-Richards’ funeral: 'An icon beloved by the people but abandoned by the system,' says friend Rif'at Browers; implores arts minister Nathi Mthethwa to launch a fund to support South Africa's suffering artists.

ALSO READ: Shaleen Surtie-Richards on her money struggles in last TV interview: 'I just pray very hard that I won't get ill'.

ALSO READ: kykNET’s Saturday edition of Ontbytsake will be a special tribute to Shaleen Surtie-Richards: 'We tried not to cry,' says presenter Eloise Cupido.

ALSO READ: Producer Diana Lucas on Shaleen Surtie-Richards’ final time on film in new bio doc: 'An intimate talk with a woman who was an amazing person.'

ALSO READ: South Africa's TV and film industry's 'darkest secret': Why the beloved actress icon Shaleen Surtie-Richards died poor - when she didn't have to. 

ALSO READ: Fiela se Kind film director Katina Heyns on Shaleen Surtie-Richards: 'She had all of us laughing the one moment, and weeping the next.' 

ALSO READ: Shaleen Surtie Richards: I Am Who I Am documentary scheduled for Wednesday night on M-Net as MultiChoice's TV tribute collection of content expands after iconic actress' death - latest programming listing across channels.

ALSO READ: Shaleen Surtie-Richards' family on her death and legacy of love: She not only lived in our hearts but in the hearts of this great nation.

ALSO READ: Actress Shaleen-Surtie Richards found dead in a Cape Town guest house. She was 66.

Shaleen Surtie Richards: I Am Who I Am documentary scheduled for Wednesday night on M-Net as MultiChoice's TV tribute collection of content expands after iconic actress' death - latest programming listing across channels.

by Thinus Ferreira

MultiChoice, M-Net and kykNET are expanding the tribute collection of content this week scheduled to honour the on-screen legacy of actress Shaleen Surtie-Richards (66) who unexpectedly died on Monday, with the documentary Shaleen Surtie-Richards: I Am Who I Am that will be shown on several TV channels, a Carte Blanche insert, as well as a newly-added Saturday morning retrospective about her life on Ontbytsake.

Initially announced, her iconic film Fiela se Kind will no longer be shown this weekend, replaced with one of her latest films, Swirl that will be broadcast on fliekNET (DStv 149) on Sunday at 20:30.

South Africa's TV and film industry was shocked yesterday about the passing of the iconic actress who died in her sleep in a guest house in Edgemeade, Cape Town where she stayed while filming scenes for a recurring role on the Penguin Films produced telenovela Arendsvlei on kykNET & Kie (DStv 145).

MultiChoice will broadcast a never-before-seen documentary Shaleen Surtie-Richards: I Am Who I Am on M-Net (DStv 101) on Wednesday 9 June at 19:30.

Shaleen Surtie-Richards: I Am Who I Am on M-will again be shown - and simulcast - on kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) on Sunday 13 June at 20:00. 

Shaleen Surtie-Richards: I Am Who I Am will become available on MultiChoice's video streaming service Showmax on Thursday 10 June 2021.

"The documentary was commissioned to celebrate a South African icon and was in its final stages of post-production when the news of her passing was announced," says Diana Lucas, director and executive producer of the film.

"It was an honour for the team to pay tribute and spend time with Shaleen in the making of this film. Her incredible story is historically significant for the people of South Africa."

Shaleen Surtie-Richards: I Am Who I Am revisits Shaleen's life from her childhood in Upington and her first baby steps on the Upington school stage to far grander stages and greater audiences.

Marc Lottering, Sandra Prinsloo, Pieter-Dirk Uys, Brümilda van Rensburg, Katinka Heyns, Patricia de Lille, Bobby Heaney, Kevin Smith and others share their memories and stories of a woman who lived her life in defiance of stereotypes.

"I don’t have time for pretence in my life. So, if you ask me who am I. Then, I will tell you, I am who am," says Shaleen Surtie-Richards in the film.

Shaleen Surtie-Richards was also recently interviewed by fellow Egoli: Place of Gold co-star Hannes van Wyk for a special Kwêla: Hannes aan Huis episode which will be broadcast on Tuesday 8 June 2021 at 21:00 on kykNET (DStv 144).

On kykNET & Kie (DStv 145), the team of KLOP! will be paying tribute to the legendary icon with friends and colleagues such as South African actors Christo Davids, Zenobia Kloppers and her Arendsvlei co-stars. The kykNET telenovela Arendsvlei was the last production Shaleen Surtie-Richards worked on.

Here's the latest adjusted and updated Shaleen Surtie-Richards tribute programming for this week:

Tuesday 8 June

21:00 Hannes aan Huis kykNET (DStv 144)
 
Wednesday 9 June
19:30 Shaleen Surtie-Richards: I Am Who I Am M-Net (DStv 101)
20:30 KLOP! kykNET & Kie (DStv 145)
 
Thursday 10 June
Shaleen Surtie-Richards: I Am Who I Am will be available on Showmax
 
Saturday 12 June
Ontbytsake, kykNET and kykNET & Kie (DStv 144, DStv 145)
 
Sunday 13 June
19:00 Carte Blanche M-Net (DStv 101)
20:00 Shaleen Surtie-Richards: I Am Who I Am on kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145)
20:30 Swirl fliekNET (DStv 149)

ALSO READ: Shaleen Surtie-Richards’ funeral: 'An icon beloved by the people but abandoned by the system,' says friend Rif'at Browers; implores arts minister Nathi Mthethwa to launch a fund to support South Africa's suffering artists.

ALSO READ: Shaleen Surtie-Richards on her money struggles in last TV interview: 'I just pray very hard that I won't get ill'.

ALSO READ: kykNET’s Saturday edition of Ontbytsake will be a special tribute to Shaleen Surtie-Richards: 'We tried not to cry,' says presenter Eloise Cupido.

ALSO READ: Shaleen Surtie-Richards as Arendsvlei’s Muriel: Return-story got fully filmed and wrapped last week with character that will be on screen again on kykNET & Kie from September.

ALSO READ: Producer Diana Lucas on Shaleen Surtie-Richards’ final time on film in new bio doc: 'An intimate talk with a woman who was an amazing person.' 

ALSO READ: South Africa's TV and film industry's 'darkest secret': Why the beloved actress icon Shaleen Surtie-Richards died poor - when she didn't have to. 

ALSO READ: Fiela se Kind film director Katina Heyns on Shaleen Surtie-Richards: 'She had all of us laughing the one moment, and weeping the next.' 

ALSO READ: Shaleen Surtie-Richards' family on her death and legacy of love: She not only lived in our hearts but in the hearts of this great nation.

ALSO READ: Actress Shaleen-Surtie Richards found dead in a Cape Town guest house. She was 66.

‘Beloved’ Arendsvlei actor Ceagan Arendse (34) dies from suicide after losing his battle against depression.

by Thinus Ferreira

Ceagan Arendse (34) known for his portrayal of the character Woelag in the Afrikaans soap Arendsvlei has died from suicide after he lost his battle against depression.

The actor from Paarl died this weekend. According to TV industry insiders who spoke to TVwithThinus, Ceagan Arendse took his life in a nearby Goodwood park where he hanged himself at a tree, following braai with family and friends.

Besides his role in Arendsvlei produced for kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) by Penguin Films, he also appeared in kykNET's Suidooster as Frankie and Projek Dina as Theo, as well as SABC2's miniseries Riemvasmaak in 2008 as the character of Willie Hendriks.

He was also recently a prison guard in the British series Bulletproof seen on Universal TV (DStv 117) when it filmed a new season in Cape Town. 

He's also set to appear in the new 13-episode Showmax Original series, Skemerdans in the role of Warren, the black sheep of the family.

Suzaan Keyter, kykNET spokesperson, described Ceagan's passing as "an enormous shock" to the kykNET family.

According to kykNET "we received the bad news this weekend that actor Ceagan Arendse has passed away. He was a beloved actor who appeared in several series like Arendsvlei, Suidooster and Projek Dina. We're thinking of his loved ones and family".

Roberta Durrant from Penguin Films says "Penguin Films and the Arendsvlei family are devastated to hear about Ceagan's passing. It was always a pleasure working with him on various productions. He will be remembered as a kind, hardworking artist. Our hearts and prayers are with his family and friends at this time".

The family in a statement confirmed that Ceagan Arendse died from a suicide.

In the statement, the family says that "It is with sad and heavy hearts we inform friends and fans that our beloved Ceagan Arendse passed away early hours of Sunday morning, 14 February 2021. Ceagan unfortunately lost his battle with depression and succumbed to the disease through suicide".

"He leaves behind his wife Ziggy Arendse, children, his parents Desmore and Bertram and Bevan Arendse, his brother. We wish to take this time to thank everyone for their condolences and although we are unable to respond to everyone at this time, we appreciate the well-wishes."

■ If you or someone you know needs help with suicide, anxiety or depression, call the South African Depression and Anxiety Group's 24-hour helpline at 0800 456 789 or 011 234 4837 or the Whatsapp chat number 076 882 2775, the Suicide Crisis helpline at 0800 12 13 14, or Lifeline SA at 0861 322 322. 

kykNET’s Cape Town set Arendsvlei telenovela from Penguin Films adding a 4th weekly episode from it's third season.

by Thinus Ferreira

M-Net's Afrikaans channels division kykNET has decided to extend its Cape Town set telenovela Arendsvlei to 4 episodes per week from the upcoming third season on kykNET & kie (DStv 145) with a unspecified changes also coming to its talk show Tussen Ons.

From 1 October Arendsvlei, produced by Penguin Films, will increase the weekly episodes from 3 to 4, with a new group of high school pupils at High School Arendsvlei joining the cast, as well as other new characters.

kykNET made the announcement about the longer third season during MultiChoice's 2020 DStv Showcase media presentation that took place on Wednesday afternoon.

Ilse Klink arrives to play the mother of Bmpbie Galant (Jarrid Galant), while Captain Krige (Brendan Daniels) arrives from Clanwilliam. Natalie (Carmen Maarman) uses her charm to get what she wants at all cost and other people's happiness.

Arendsvlei, originally commissioned as a single-season telenovela was eventually turned into an ongoing telenovela series.

"Since the beginning of the second season viewers have been asking for a third season," says Roberta Durrant of Penguin Films and Arendsvlei executive producer.

"Penguin Films and Arendsvlei are excited to now broadcast 4 episodes per week and to keep surprising viewers. Thanks to our viewers for your support and thanks to the writers, talent and crew for your dedication and passion."

Theltom Masimila, Arendsvlei head writer, says he feels privileged to be able to tell the story of the characters of Arendsvlei for another year and to dig even deeper into their stories.

"Now that we have the chance to broadcast for 4 days on television viewers can get ready to be captivated for longer in the love and tragedy of the high school, its community and the families that we've got to know, as well as the new faces who will ensure drama like never before."

Arendsvlei's third season starts on 28 September 2020 on kykNET & kie with the first 4th weekly episode that will be broadcast on 1 October.

Due to the additional weekly Arendsvlei episode kykNET will be announcing news shortly about the weekly Afrikaans female-fronted talk show Tussen Ons, also done from Cape Town.

Coronavirus: Growing collection of kykNET shows impacted by positive Covid-19 cases; current affairs show KN Verslag and primetime soaps to remain on-air.

by Thinus Ferreira

Multiple shows on M-Net's Afrikaans division channels kykNET (DStv 144) and kykNET & Kie (DStv 145) are now also affected by Covid-19 positive cast and crew cases behind-the-scenes.

Positive Covid-19 cases are now impacting the production of a growing number of kykNET programming.

This stretches from weekday primetime soaps and series like Suidooster and Arendsvlei produced in Cape Town, to Johannesburg where the soap Binnelanders, the call-in music show Kom Ons Jol, and even its current affairs strand KN Verslag are all done from; as well as Pretoria where the hybrid radio-on-TV shows like Die GROOT Ontbyt, GROOTPlaas and Kom Ons Praat Daaroor are produced.

After just two episodes back on the Johannesburg set following months of doing remote episodes from home, the Friday night sports variety show Toks & Tjops produced by CSAW Media is abruptly back to doing Zoom episodes from the various presenters' homes after Covid-19 positive cases at the Randburg studio.

This coming Saturday evening the weekly edition of the Kom Ons Jol call-in music video programme - already making heavy use of video conferencing technology because of Covid-19 - will now be done from the presenters' homes after co-host Hamilton "Hammie" Wessels tested Covid-19 positive.

This week Die GROOT Ontbyt went into repeats while kykNET altered the schedule for the other two shows after The Pretoria community radio station shuttered for a deep-clean after Covid-19 in the studio.

It follows after eMedia's eNuus done from Hyde Park on Saturday evening had to broadcast a pre-recorded episode and had to shut the studio for a deep-clean also because of Covid-19.

Die GROOT Ontbyt will resume with a new episode on Monday 6 July.

Both Suidooster filmed at Atlantic Studios in Cape Town and produced by Suidooster Films and Arendsvlei produced by Penguin Films have now had positive Covid-19 cases.

Covid-19 is also affecting Binnelanders produced by Stark Films at Stark Studios in Johannesburg, as well as KN Verslag produced by Idea Candy and also making use of Stark Studios floorspace.

Binnelanders, Suidooster and Arendsvlei will however continue to broadcast new episodes.

kykNET couldn't immediately tell TVwithThinus on Friday afternoon when Binnelanders, Suidooster and Arendsvlei individually shut down production because of Covid-19 cases but said it would source the information.

kykNET that says "No disruption of daily dramas and telenovelas is expected because these programmes are filmed months in advance. Since the start of level 3 regulations, some of these productions have also adjusted their shooting schedules to six working days a week, using smaller, rotating crews."

The current affairs show KN Verslag will also continue.

Anchor Waldimar Pelser will continue to present the show either from his home in Cape Town or the studio in Johannesburg. The other KN Verslag anchors, Lourensa Eckard and Heindrich Wyngaard, will broadcast from the studio in Johannesburg.

"kykNET is committed to the safety of all crew and cast on productions, as well as that of our viewers. We wish to thank crew and cast members who are working hard under trying circumstances to keep kykNET viewers informed and entertained," says the channel.

South Africa's struggling TV and film industry has already shed thousands of jobs in the three months since April that cameras were first turned off and studio doors closed and now haltingly try to make a go of it as Covid-19 cases keep popping up everywhere forcing new shutdowns.

The kykNET Covid-19affected shows join a growing list of other South African local TV productions that had also already shut down and been negatively impacted by the coronavirus.

e.tv's Imbewu produced by Grapevine Productions in KwaZulu-Natal has now also shut down because of a Covid-19 positive case.

M-Net's The River (produced by Tshedza Pictures) on 1Magic (DStv 103) was the first show to shut down in May after local productions geared up again following the 2-months shutdown because of the national lockdown period which started in late-March.

That was followed by Skeem Saam on SABC1. Both The River and Skeem Saam are back in production again.

After them followed Muvhango (produced by Word of Mouth Productions) on SABC2; as well as Rhythm City (Produced by Quizzical Pictures) and Scandal! (produced by Ochre Media) both on e.tv and will all three of these who are still shut down.

7de Laan (produced by Danie Odendaal Productions) on SABC2 also shut down because of Covid-19 but is now back in production. Generations - The Legacy (produced Morula Pictures) on SABC1 and Lithapo (produced by Quizzical Pictures) on SABC2 were the next two shows to shut down and both are still closed.

Coronavirus: e.tv and kykNET soaps temporarily shutting down production for 21-day national lockdown in South Africa because of Covid-19.

by Thinus Ferreira

e.tv's locally-produced drama series and soaps, as well as the soaps and drama series on M-Net's kykNET (DStv 144) are now shuttering production ahead of the 21-day national shutdown in South Africa to try and minimise the rapid spread of Covid-19 cases as the novel coronavirus pandemic continues to spread globally.

Mzansi Magic shuttered its HomeGround sports magazine show produced by SuperSport last week, with the talent search reality show Maak My Famous with Emo Adams that postponed in-studio audience filming of the second season season until April.

This was followed by Danie Odendaal Productions that shut down its 7de Laan weekday Afrikaans soap filmed at Sasani Studios on Tuesday. The cinema chains Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro have now also shuttered in South Africa.

Until last week all locally-produced weekday soaps seen on the SABC's SABC1 and SABC2 channels, e.tv, M-Net's 1Magic, Mzansi Magic and kykNET channels continued with production, as well as locally-produced magazine and current affairs shows.

SuperSport also continued with its locally-produced magazine and talk analysis shows, while reality shows like M-Net's second season of The Bachelor SA produced by Rapid Blue and Survivor SA: Immunity Island produced by Afrokaans for M-Net (DStv 101) and the 16th season of Idols produced by [SIC] Entertainment for Mzansi Magic (DStv 161) also remained in production.

On Wednesday kykNET told TVwithThinus that it is shutting down its Afrikaans soaps and drama series in production.

These include Binnelanders produced by Stark Productions, Suidooster produced by Gambit Films, Arendsvlei produced by Penguin Films and Getroud met Rugby produced by Overberg Productions.

kykNET says that all of its locally-produced shows "will adhere to preventative measures that have been announced by president Cyril Ramaphosa on Monday 23 March 2020".

kykNET says that the announced 21-day lockdown that will last until 16 April 2020 will not impact the current broadcast schedules of the daily dramas due to the fact that they are filmed in advance.

Reggy Moalusi, MultiChoice South Africa's executive head for corporate affairs, told TVwithThinus on Wednesday that "producers are in constant communication with the kykNET content team who are working on strategies to limit the impact of Covid-19 on the video entertainment industry, including actors, technical teams and viewers, to the absolute minimum".

Marlon Davids, e.tv managing director, told TVwithThinus on Wednesday morning that e.tv is temporarily shuttering its soaps Rhythm City produced by Quizzical Pictures, Scandal! produced by Ochre Moving Pictures and Imbewu produced by Grapevine Productions, as well as other drama series as well.

e.tv said that viewers don't need to worry since the free-to-air commercial broadcaster has enough already produced episodes.

"All production companies who work on our daily dramas and soaps will not be filming during the national lockdown but will continue on-air during the national lockdown."

He said that e.tv will continue to deliver news and entertainment programming during the national lockdown period.

It's not yet clear what will happen to SuperSport's locally-produced magazine shows or M-Net's Carte Blanche. 

SuperSport was asked but referred the media enquiry to MultiChoice on Tuesday who didn't respond with any answer. M-Net said it would provide an answer later in the week. The SABC said it would answer on Wednesday.

Mzansi Magic didn't give an answer as to what's happening with the production of Idols when asked with the show that just completed the initial round of nationwide auditions to prepare for the Johannesburg first group round.

kykNET & kie debuts new Cape Flats based Afrikaans telenovela, Arendsvlei; issues-filled high school drama will range from murder and revenge to depression and teen pregnancy.

The new Afrikaans telenovela, Arendsvlei will make its debut tonight at 20:00 on kykNET & kie (DStv 145) with the 156-episode series that has a fictional Cape Flats high school as backdrop and comes front loaded with drama as teachers and pupils confront issues ranging from depression and addiction to homosexuality, murder, revenge and teen pregnancy.

Arendsvlei (Eagles' Valley), filmed in Cape Town and produced by Penguin Films, is the name of the fictional community and the Cape Flats high school where the Cupido family who runs the school tries to make a difference in children's lives.

Arendsvlei, kykNET & kie's first original Afrikaans telenovela, will run for a year and be broadcast from Mondays to Wednesdays at 20:00 until it ends in September 2019, following principal Beatrice (Jolene Martin) who is trying to run the school after her dad's death.

The Arendsvlei cast includes Oscar Petersen (David), Ernest St Clair (Christopher), Maria Valente (Samantha), Jody Abrahams (Lionel), Melanie Du Bois (Ronel), Crystal-Donna Roberts (Janice) and Sherman Pharo (Thys), Dillon Windvogel (Vernon), Gretchen Ramsden (Nicolene), Dean Richard Olivier (Anton), Ann Juries (Claudia), Rehane Abrahams (Wendy), Christian Bennett (Emile), Kay Smith (Debra), Craig Adriaanse (Wesley), Roberto Kyle (Lee-Roy), Celeste Matthews (Aunty Gertie) and Joseph Mitchell in the role of Uncle Johnny.

"Viewers can expect a lot of drama because not everyone in Arendsvlei have good intentions," says Janine Cornelius, supervising producer.

"We have a fantastic cast and viewers can look forward to seeing familiar old faces, but we're also very excited to introduce viewers to new, talented actors, especially the younger characters."

Roberta Durrant, creative producer, says Arendsvlei will offer something for everyone. "The story lines are universal. The telenovela primarily focuses on family. It's the tale of a brother and sister who want to make a difference in the community, but who have their lives irrevocably changed after a shooting incident."

Theltom Masimila, script writer says "the language use is authentically Cape based, very comfortable and belonging to the people whose stories we are telling".