Producer Danie Odendaal dead at 77

by Thinus Ferreira

Veteran TV producer Danie Odendaal has died. He was 77.

The creator of SABC2's long-running 7de Laan through his Danie Odendaal Productions died in Langebaan after a short sickbed.

The cause of his death on Wednesday evening isn't immediately known.

Danie Odendaal suffered a stroke five years ago in December 2019 while at his home in Pervillac, France and returned to South Africa. His health deteriorated over the past few months.

His family in a statement says "It is with deep sadness that we announce the passing of Danie Odendaal who died peacefully on 30 October 2024, in Langebaan, where he resided for the past 6 years, with his beloved wife, Annie Odendaal".

"Danie lived a life full of creativity and warmth, quietly shaping the world around him through his story telling. Known for his humour and wit, he had a way of speaking his mind that inspired those fortunate enough to know him."

"His contributions to television and theatre in South Africa paved the way for countless others, and his legacy shines brightly through 7de Laan, a beloved soap opera that captured the hearts of so many. It stands as a lighthouse to his artistic spirit and people-first approach."

"We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Thandi Ramathesele, a friend and business partner to Danie, who held his dreams and vision for 7de Laan close, honouring his legacy with dedication and respect."

"Our thanks also go to Candice Moodley- who was much like a daughter to Danie and Annie - who cared for Danie's well-being and managed his portfolio with grace, bringing comfort to his later years."

"Danie will forever be remembered for his kindness, humour, and creative spirit. You were all in some shape or form, his family."

Besides 7de Laan, the producer, director and writer wrote the TV series Saartjie, Dennekruin 12 and the script for the film Galery.

He was the director of Dennekruin 12, Galery, Die man met 'n lyk om sy nek, Beelde, Saartjie, Okovango: The Wild Frontier and the miniseries Veldslag.

Danie Odendaal studied at the University of Stellenbosch as well as the Sorbonne University in France and Trinity College in Cambridge in the United Kingdom and joined the SABC as a director when television started in South Africa.

When Franz Marx started Egoli for M-Net (DStv 101), Danie Odendaal was appointed as head writer in 1992. After eight years in this role, he crafted 7de Laan - an idea he had for several years - for SABC2 which started in 2000.

Danie Odendaal remained executive producer for 15 years until he stepped away from 7de Laan and became co-producer after the SABC ordered the mandate and style of the soap to change.

Henry Mylne, who worked with Danie Odendaal at Egoli and then as director at 7de Laan until the SABC2 soap ended, told RSG on Thursday that Odendaal's death was a shock.

"It's a shock. We were not prepared. He died peacefully."

SABC orders urgent investigation into alleged 7de Laan racism on the set of the SABC2 soap after actress Mbali Mlotshwa says she suffered racial abuse.

The SABC is ordering an urgent investigation after allegations of on-set racism at 7de Laan has rocked the set of the public broadcaster's SABC2 soap.

The racism investigation comes after the walk-on starlet Enhle Mbali Mlotshwa who recently joined the show as the character of Nandi for a temporary bit-role, claimed she suffered racial abuse on the set of the Danie Odendaal Productions soap broadcast on weekdays on SABC2.

Mlotshwa and Werner Coetser, who portrays Bernard and who has since left the show to join kykNET's (DStv 144) new soap Getroud met Rugby starting Monday, have been the subject of racial slurs since their interracial relationship started a few weeks ago.

The racial abuse from viewers however ramped up when "Bernandi"'s first on-air kiss was broadcast on SABC2 last week.

Mbali Mlotshwa says she was however shocked by the unexpected racial abuse she suffered on set. She didn't specify whether the alleged racism was from on-screen talent and actors or from production staff behind the scenes.

She says the show expected some racial slurs from viewers over the interracial romance portrayed on 7de Laan,  but on social media revealed that "the crazy thing is racial slurs happened on set with people I thought were educated and open-minded".

Mbali Mlotshwa did clear her romance co-star from racism, referring to him by his character's name, saying "thank you Bernard for being the perfect gentleman throughout".

Mbali Mlotshwa has not named any specific names from on-set people she experienced the racial abuse and the SABC has not yet received any formal complaint from anybody. So far 7de Laan has also not publicly commented on the alleged racism the actress says she experienced on set.

The SABC says Danie Odendaal Productions has been now been asked to investigate the allegations of racism "to get to the bottom of it".

SABC2's 7de Laan soap and Danie Odendaal Productions settles out of court with fired freelance scriptwriter Amor Tredoux.

Danie Odendaal Productions, producing the Afrikaans soap 7de Laan for the SABC's SABC2 channel settled out of court with scriptwriter and actress Amor Tredoux which Daniel Odendaal fired allegedly due to a "conflict of interest" although she was and is a freelance artist and writer.

On Wednesday morning before the dragged out battle between scriptwriter and producer were to be heard in the High Court in Pretoria, Danie Odendaal Productions settled out of court with Amor Tredoux.

Amor Tredoux was dismissed as a freelance scriptwriter for 7de Laan after she "dared" to also accept a role as actor in Binnelanders, the weekday soap on M-Net's kykNET (DStv 144) channel on MultiChoice's DStv satellite pay-TV platform.

Amor Tredoux claimed R108 330 including interest and legal fees from Danie Odendaal Productions for the undue cancellation of her contract.

Although Amor Tredoux is an independent contractor working as scriptwriter and actress, Danie Odendaal Productions claimed that she wouldn't be able to make the writing deadlines for scripts, and that taking a TV role in a soap like Binnelanders would be a conflict of interest.

It's not clear how being a behind-the-scenes freelance writer on one TV show would have clashed with being a part-time actor and on-air talent in a non-permanent role on another TV show, but Amor Tredoux was shown the door at Danie Odendaal Productions at the end of March 2011.

The only similarity between the one soap set in the fictional hillside in Johannesburg on a free-to-air channel and the other in a fictional hospital in Pretoria on a pay-TV channel and targeting different TV audiences, is that they're both half hour soap productions, and both predominantly Afrikaans.

Colin Howard jumps ship from SABC2's 7de Laan to commissioning editor at kykNET; Frances Maposa new line producer for weekday soap.

Colin Howard (right) has jumped ship as line producer at the SABC2 weekday soap 7de Laan to become a commissioning editor at kykNET (DStv 144), he is being replaced by Frances Maposa (left) as new line producer for the soap produced by Danie Odendaal Productions.

Colin Howard left 7de Laan as line producer after 15 years, leaving a void now filled by Frances Maposa.

Colin Howard and Danie Odendaal (middle) first worked together on M-Net's weekday soap Egoli.

"It's not often that one finds a business brain and a creative mind in a single person," says producer Danie Odendaal. "We will miss him as a stalwart in the work place and as a friend".

Frances Maposa joined Danie Odendaal Productions in August 2008 as an accountant and became financial manager in July 2012.

"Frances is an intelligent, highly efficient and anchored woman. Her excellent people skills and the ability to remain calm in a crisis are exactly what we need in a line producer," says Danie Odendaal. "We wish Colin Howard and Frances Maposa the very best for the future".